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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    5 ways retirees in Thailand lose money (and how to stop it)

    Retiring in Thailand can be affordable and enjoyable, but many retirees lose money due to common mistakes. High living costs, scams, and unexpected expenses can quickly drain savings. There are five ways that retirees in Thailand can lose money and...

  • Villas in Phuket offering fabulous views of the island

    Villas in Phuket offering fabulous views of the island

    Phuket is an adaptive and dynamic island that continues to evolve and its elegance unceasingly expands. Its real estate landscape changes from year to year as new developments match the demand for the most recent and biggest trends. Phuket is home to arguably the world’s most stunning private villas. In addition to stunning vistas, private pools, and uninterrupted privacy, these…

  • PM refuses to discuss possibility of early elections or confirm he will complete term

    PM refuses to discuss possibility of early elections or confirm he will complete term

    The Thai PM has refused to rule out the possibility of House dissolution and an early end to his tenure, in a change to his usual stance. Prayut Chan-o-cha has always reiterated his plan to remain in office until the end of his term next March and possibly beyond, ruling out any chance of early elections. However, while responding to…

  • 21 million baht lawsuit filed against resort after man trampled to death by elephant

    21 million baht lawsuit filed against resort after man trampled to death by elephant

    Almost a year has passed since an elephant trampled a man to death at a hotel resort in the Isaan province Nakhon Ratchasima. Today, a lawyer, authorised by the man’s wife, has filed a lawsuit amounting to 21 million baht in damages against the resort. 53 year old Raja Thiraphitthayatrakul was trampled to death by an elephant which came loose…

  • Professional Muay Thai fighter trains Thai and US troops

    Professional Muay Thai fighter trains Thai and US troops

    As a special instructor, Thailand’s internationally known Muay Thai boxer, Buakaw Banchamek, has been coaching Muay Thai to Thai and US soldiers participating in the joint exercise Hanuman Guardian 2022, which is taking place in Thailand’s central province of Lop Buri. Buakaw, who is currently an army officer, taught theoretical and practical techniques on Monday in the 31st Infantry Regiment’s…

  • Fire breaks out at luxury hotel in Bangkok, no injuries reported

    Fire breaks out at luxury hotel in Bangkok, no injuries reported

    A fire broke out at the 18-storey luxury hotel in Bangkok early this morning. There were no reports of deaths and injuries. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but firefighters say it may have started at a pile of trash outside the hotel and moved up the electricity pole to the wires connected to the eighth floor…

  • Bangkok football player sacked after elbow strike to opponent

    Bangkok football player sacked after elbow strike to opponent

    A Bangkok Football Club player was sacked after he left his opponent needing 24 stitches after an elbow strike to the face, knocking him to the ground during a Thai League 3 match on Sunday afternoon. The referee sent Aitesaret Noichaiboon off immediately and the club proceeded to terminate his contract. Bangkok FC were losing 3-0 against North Bangkok University…

  • Tuesday Covid Update: 19,742 new cases; provincial totals

    Tuesday Covid Update: 19,742 new cases; provincial totals

    70 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 23,848 with 2,150 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 19,742 new Covid-19 cases and 24,125 recoveries. There are now 221,436 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of…

  • Young Swiss man needs O negative blood donations after heatstroke on Thailand island

    Young Swiss man needs O negative blood donations after heatstroke on Thailand island

    A 25 year old Swiss man needs donations of the blood type O negative (O-) after he went running on Koh Chang off the coast of the eastern province Trat and suffered a heatstroke. Theo Zwahlen is in a coma in the ICU at Bangkok Hospital in Chanthaburi. Theo has kidney failure, acidosis, brain damage, rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and a…

  • Phuket tourism official reports low number of calls to Russian, Ukrainian helpline

    Phuket tourism official reports low number of calls to Russian, Ukrainian helpline

    An official from the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Phuket office says most Russian and Ukrainian tourists on the southern island appear to be “coping”. Nanthasiri Ronasiri says there have not been that many calls to a hotline set up specifically to help tourists stranded by cancelled flights or facing financial problems as a result of sanctions on Russia. Russia’s invasion…

  • Bangkok eases alcohol restrictions, large events and shopping centres allowed to serve booze

    Bangkok eases alcohol restrictions, large events and shopping centres allowed to serve booze

    Bangkok is loosening its rules on alcohol sales. Starting today, shopping centres and event venues can serve alcoholic beverages until 11pm, according to a document signed yesterday by Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang. The venues serving beer, wine, and cocktails will also need to be certified through SHA+ and Thai Stop Covid 2 Plus, which are both safety and health standards…

  • Police investigate after photos of university entrance exam papers shared on app

    Police investigate after photos of university entrance exam papers shared on app

    Police in the central province of Pathum Thani have been asked to investigate after images of university test papers were posted online. Thammasat University’s Professor Chalie Charoenlarpnopparut, who manages the Thai University Central Admission System, says the photos of the General Aptitude Test and the Professional and Academic Aptitude Test were shared on the Snapask app. The app is used…

  • Elephant camp in Chiang Mai put up for sale due to drop in tourists during pandemic

    Elephant camp in Chiang Mai put up for sale due to drop in tourists during pandemic

    Elephant parks and sanctuaries relying on foreign tourists for an income and funds to feed the animals have been hit hard during the pandemic. One elephant park in Chiang Mai is now up for sale due to the drastic drop in the number of visitors over the past two years. The owner says she’s been unable to afford the 2…

  • Thai officials suspect 4 patients are infected with new Omicron strain found in Hong Kong

    Thai officials suspect 4 patients are infected with new Omicron strain found in Hong Kong

    Four new Covid-19 cases appear to be the new mutated Omicron BA.2.2 subvariant that was first found in Hong Kong, according to the Department of Medical Sciences. Authorities have insisted that the public should not worry about the spread of the new subvariant as there has been no confirmation of any severe symptoms and the Global Initiative on Sharing Avian…

  • Thai FDA finds harmful levels of nitrite in sausages following blood disorder reports

    Thai FDA finds harmful levels of nitrite in sausages following blood disorder reports

    Following reports of various children developing a blood disorder after eating sausages, the Thai FDA found that a number of sausages sold in Thailand contained harmful amounts of nitrite and benzoic acid. More than 20 manufacturers are now facing fines and penalties for using harmful amounts of the substances in sausages. The investigation into sausage ingredients was prompted by the…

  • Swimming pools built for monkeys in Lop Buri to prevent aggression from heat

    Swimming pools built for monkeys in Lop Buri to prevent aggression from heat

    With Thailand entering the summer season, macaque monkeys in the country’s “Monkey City,” Lop Buri, have a swimming pool to cool them off – and to prevent another as the war between the groups of macaques. As temperatures rise, so do tempers, and hot weather has possibly played a part in the massive clashes between groups of hundreds of monkeys.…

  • Officers search forest for ranger who allegedly shot and killed ex-wife’s son

    Officers search forest for ranger who allegedly shot and killed ex-wife’s son

    A senior forest ranger allegedly shot and killed his estranged wife’s 20 year old son in the Isaan province Buriram yesterday. A team of 50 police officers and wildlife officials have been searching for the ranger who is suspected to be hiding at the Dong Yai Wildlife Sanctuary. The suspect, who is head of the forestry team at Dong Yai…

  • Monday Covid Update: 22,130 new cases; provincial totals

    Monday Covid Update: 22,130 new cases; provincial totals

    69 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 23,778 with 2,080 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 22,130 new Covid-19 cases and 23,508 recoveries. There are now 225,889 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of…

  • Health Ministry says to keep traditional Songkran activities dry

    Health Ministry says to keep traditional Songkran activities dry

    Thai officials have yet to set regulations on the massive water celebrations for Songkran, the Thai New Year, but the Public Health Ministry is recommending dry activities for the traditional ceremonies. To prevent the spread of Covid-19, the ministry is advising that Thais avoid the traditional act known as “rod nam dam hua,” where water is poured on the hands…

  • Deaths due to Covid-19 pandemic much higher than reported figures, study shows

    Deaths due to Covid-19 pandemic much higher than reported figures, study shows

    The Covid-19 death toll is much higher than what has been officially reported, according to a recent analysis published in The Lancet, a medical journal. The analysis estimates that the global number of fatalities related to the Covid-19 pandemic reached 18.2 million by December 31, 2021, which triples the number of deaths reported at 5.94 million. The findings were based…

  • 8 passengers killed, 20 injured after bus headed to Bangkok crashes into bridge pillar

    8 passengers killed, 20 injured after bus headed to Bangkok crashes into bridge pillar

    Eight bus passengers were killed and more than 20 injured after a double-decker bus crashed into the concrete pillar for the overhead bridge. A total of 32 passengers were on the Bangkok – Suwannaphum bus operated by the state-run Transport Company. Five people died immediately at the scene and three later died at the hospital. 22 people, including the driver,…

  • Tourism officials in South encouraged by opening of Yala’s Betong Airport

    Tourism officials in South encouraged by opening of Yala’s Betong Airport

    The newly opened Betong Airport, in the southern province of Yala, has inspired hope of a tourism revival in the town. The Bangkok Post reports that the airport received its operating licence from the Aviation Authority of Thailand on January 28. The 920-rai facility can handle up to 300 passengers an hour, or 80,000 a year. The airport is seen…

  • Pattaya opens hotline to support stranded Ukrainian and Russian tourists

    Pattaya opens hotline to support stranded Ukrainian and Russian tourists

    The Pattaya Tourist Police have launched a hotline to help Ukrainians and Russians facing financial issues or cancelled flights due to the conflict in Ukraine. Tourists and expats in Pattaya can call the hotline number at 1155 or use the application Tourist Police i lert u. Thousands of Russian tourists are stranded in Thailand due to flight cancellations and sanctions…

  • Transfer money from Thailand to banks overseas fast with DeeMoney

    Transfer money from Thailand to banks overseas fast with DeeMoney

    Press Release DeeMoney Looking for a better and easier solution for sending money overseas from Thailand? Look no further, than DeeMoney! The problems people face with the traditional and modern-day banking system is that its expensive, opaque and usually involves a lot of intermediaries. Before your money reaches your overseas bank account, you sometimes don’t realise how much money has…

  • Tangmo’s mum demands second autopsy, visits police in Bangkok

    Tangmo’s mum demands second autopsy, visits police in Bangkok

    The mother of deceased actress ‘Tangmo’ is demanding a second autopsy on her daughter’s body by the Justice Ministry’s Central Institute of Forensic science. The mother, Panida Sirayuthyothin, went with a lawyer to the First Region Provincial Police Bureau in Bangkok yesterday to make her demand. Panida’s lawyer says Panida is suspicious about wounds on Tangmo’s body. While a forensic…

  • Son of national police figure hits and kills Pakistani refugee with Porsche, Bangkok

    Son of national police figure hits and kills Pakistani refugee with Porsche, Bangkok

    The son of a former national police chief has allegedly struck and killed a Pakistani refugee whilst driving his Porsche, driving in Bangkok. The driver, 29 year old Pornmet, reported to police after he was treated for head and face injuries. He admitted that he carelessly changed lanes suddenly while driving near Thaksin Bridge at around 1am yesterday morning. A…

  • Tangmo: Watch her memorial services online (livestream link)

    Tangmo: Watch her memorial services online (livestream link)

    Three days of Christian memorial services for Thai actress Nida Patcharaveerapong aka “Tangmo” (แตงโม) are scheduled to take place this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, March 11-13, from 6:30pm to 8:30pm each day, at Liberty Church Bangkok in Saphan Sung district, near Suvarnabhumi Airport east of Bangkok. The services are open to family, fans, the general public and the media. There…

  • Four Afghan women win scholarships to Bangkok university

    Four Afghan women win scholarships to Bangkok university

    Despite living under the Taliban’s grip, four Afghan women have won scholarships to study at Asian Institute of Technology in Bangkok. The women were chosen based on their academic records, and determination to promote women’s participation in Afghan society. The executive director of the Thai Pipe Industry told the Bangkok Post the women will be role models and mentors to…

  • VERSO International School – Thailands Future Ready School

    VERSO International School – Thailands Future Ready School

    SPONSORED: Welcome to Verso International School. This exciting new learning experience centre is the largest school in the BKK metropolitan area. It is the first truly innovative American future- ready school in Thailand. With a syllabus rarely found amongst current Thai education institutions, they offer something unique, modern and designed for today’s international youth. VERSO puts your child in the…

  • Thailand’s price cap on diesel will last through May

    Thailand’s price cap on diesel will last through May

    In the midst of skyrocketing fuel prices around the world, Thailand’s diesel price cap at 30 baht per litre will last until the end of May. After that, a loan of 40 billion baht that supports the subsidy allowing the cap is expected to run out. Thailand’s deputy prime minister, who is also the energy minister, said the country must…

  • Federation of Thai Industries wants gov to scrap Test & Go, stop fuel price crisis

    Federation of Thai Industries wants gov to scrap Test & Go, stop fuel price crisis

    The Federation of Thai Industries has called on Thailand’s government to scrap the Test & Go scheme, and stop the ongoing fuel price crisis. On Thursday, the president of the federation suggested easing Test & Go to support tourism and a recovery for the Thai economy. The FTI suggested that Thailand only require fully vaccinated travellers to show proof of…