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.
-
No… Eating loads of holy basil won’t protect you from Covid-19
In case you were eating loads of holy basil to protect yourself from Covid-19… Stop. Sounds a bit crazy, but the Thai public health officials and the Anti Fake News Centre Thailand are warning people not to believe the claim spread online that eating 50 grams of fresh holy basil each day will boost immunity and protect against the coronavirus.…
-
Deputy PM says pandemic exposed problems in Thai economy, time to improve
As the Covid-19 pandemic hit economies all over the world with business closures and travel bans, issues with Thailand’s economy were exposed, according to Deputy PM Supattanapong Punmeechaow. The country cannot go back to the way it was before the global outbreak, he says. Thailand’s large tourism industry was battered by the lack of foreign visitors. Small and medium businesses…
-
US Senate support for protest movement won’t impact Thailand – Foreign Minister
The United States Senate’s support for Thailand’s pro-democracy movement won’t have any impact, according to the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Don Pramudwinai. The US Senate recently introduced a resolution supporting the movement and calling on the Thai government to uphold human rights and refrain from “harassing, intimidating or persecuting those engaged in peaceful protests.” The US resolution is…
-
Thailand sends smuggled orangutans back to Indonesia
After being smuggled through Southeast Asia, seized by Thai border officials, and then cared for at a Thailand wildlife centre for 3 years, a pair of endangered Sumatran orangutans are being sent back to Indonesia. Back in June 2017, border officials seized the orangutans, Ung Ing and Nathalie, from smugglers at a customs checkpoint in the southern province Songkhla, near…
-
WHO praises Thailand’s unity as key to successfully tackling Covid-19
Unity between Thailand’s public and social sectors, healthcare workers, local organisations, and individuals, has been key to tackling Covid-19, according to the World Health Organisation. WHO director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was speaking yesterday at an online address to Thailand’s National Health Commission Office when he made his remarks. According to him, unity between all sectors in the country, coupled with…
-
24 hour alcohol ban for provincial elections part of a “ridiculous war on alcohol”
The sale and distribution of alcohol in Thailand, even parties serving alcohol, are banned from Saturday 6pm to Sunday 6pm, all in aid of the Provincial Administration Organisation elections. Unless you’re Thai, you don’t need to worry about the voting although the alcohol ban will affect everyone who lives in the Kingdom. Having a party or a wedding on the day?…
-
Thailand to ease travel restrictions for some countries
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration has confirmed the government intends to ease travel restrictions for arrivals from some countries, but the 14 day quarantine remains in place for now. Spokesman Taweesilp Visanuyothin says the easing of restrictions will be applied to 56 countries, including Australia, the US and France, whose nationals will not require visas to enter Thailand. However,…
-
End-of-quarantine party for 28 Thais who returned from Myanmar
An end-of-quarantine party was held for 28 Thais who were just released from quarantine after returning to Chiang Rai from Myanmar. Not many details were reported about the event, just that it was a ceremony at a riverside resort with the provincial governor Prajon Prachsakul… Definitely a lot different than the parties just across the border in Tachileik. Many Thai…
-
Bank of Thailand says being on US currency “watchlist” won’t have a “material impact”
Thailand being added to the United States Treasury’s “watchlist” for suspected currency manipulation won’t impact foreign trade and investment too much, the Bank of Thailand says. Now that Thailand is on the “monitoring list,” US government says it will keep “close attention” on the country’s currency practices to determine if any measures are intended to gain an unfair advantage in…
-
Siam Commercial Bank issues warning to customers after mobile app scam
Siam Commercial Bank has posted a statement on its Facebook page, urging customers to beware of phishing attempts via text message. The warning comes after the arrest of 3 Chinese nationals accused of sending messages to SCB customers advising them to update their details. Customers were then taken to a fake platform and asked to input their ID card number,…
-
Covid-19 found on doorknobs at quarantine facility where health workers tested positive
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration has confirmed that traces of the virus have been found on doorknobs at an alternative state quarantine facility, where a number of healthcare workers tested positive. CCSA spokesman Taweesin Wissanuyothin has called on cleaning staff in the facility to disinfect door handles and not just floors. Yesterday, Thailand reported 15 new cases in quarantine,…
-
Thailand on US Treasury’s “watchlist” for suspected currency manipulation
Thailand is now on the United States Treasury’s “monitoring list” for suspected currency manipulation, unfair policies to gain an advantage in international trade. Vietnam and Switzerland were both labeled currency manipulators in the US Treasury’s recent report “Macroeconomic and Foreign Exchange Policies of Major Trading Partners of the United States.” Along with Thailand, the Treasury also added Taiwan and India…
-
New Year bookings slow amid delay in tourism subsidy
The Tourism Authority of Thailand says the delay in extending the domestic travel stimulus scheme is hurting bookings over the western New Year period. The addition of 1 million room nights has been postponed while officials look into multiple claims of fraud. TAT and the Tourism and Sports Ministry have filed a police report against more than 500 hotels and…
-
Thailand News Today | ‘Digital Nomad’ visa, ‘Property’ visa, Huge drug bust | Dec 16
BOI proposes new smart visa rules to lure foreign talent, digital nomads The Board of Investment in Thailand is asking the Cabinet to approve new smart visa rules designed to attract more overseas talent to work in Thailand. The aim is to allow digital freelancers currently working in Thailand to exchange their tourist visas for smart visas. To be eligible,…
-
Monk arrested for firing gun at Chon Buri temple
A monk was arrested for allegedly firing a gun at a temple in Chon Buri’s Ban Bueng district after a drunk and heated argument between the other monks. The monk, 42 year old Kritsana Yoosi, actually hasn’t been a monk for very long. Just about 2 months… and only because he told his family that if he wins the lottery…
-
Thailand’s #BestofTweets 2020
The following is a statement from Twitter announcing the winners of the social media company’s #BestofTweets 2020 Thailand awards. 2020 has been a year of disruption and disconnect across economies, industries, and communities. For marketers, there’s never been a more challenging year. Campaigns, events, and creative shoots had to be moved online, postponed, or cancelled, tearing up a year’s worth…
-
Thai Protesters Vs Thai Government, the latest situation
OPINION In 1932, the old Siam Kingdom went through a fundamental change when, on June 24 the King, Rama 7, woke up to find his powers as an absolute monarch stripped from him by a new democracy movement. A new constitution would limit the King’s powers, under a constitutional monarchy. In 1933 there was a military coup, the first of…
-
Cannabis no longer a Category 5 narcotic… except for the buds
Cannabis plants and extracts are no longer classified as a Category 5 narcotic in Thailand’s Narcotics Act. Don’t spark up a joint just yet… cannabis buds containing high amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, which causes the euphoric effects, are still illegal. The leaves, stems, stalks and roots of cannabis as well as hemp have been removed from the narcotics list.…
-
Protest leader Parit distances himself from Free Youth’s justification of communism
Pro-democracy protest leader Parit Chiwarak, aka “Penguin”, has sought to distance himself from the Free Youth group, following the movement’s defence of republicanism and communism. Thai PBS World reports that Parit’s move comes after a statement by the group, declaring that communism does not mean dictatorship. The statement, which appeared on a banner posted online by Free Youth, came shortly…
-
Recover from Covid-19, then go to jail: Illegal returnees could face charges
After they recover from Covid-19, at least 3 Thai women who crossed the border illegally from Myanmar’s Tachileik will face criminal charges, according to Provincial police Region 5 commissioner Prachuap Wongsuk. If found guilty, the returnees could go to jail. The Thai women worked at entertainment venues at the border town, many at the now-infamous 1G1-7 Hotel, a so-called “Covid-19…
-
Thailand News Today | Herbal Covid vaccine, HM answers questions, Thailand goes to moon | Dec 15
Thai Covid-19 experimental vaccine to proceed to human testing from April 2021 A Thai start-up developing a herbal Covid-19 vaccine has reported that they’re making good progress, with the candidate passing the first phase of testing. ใบยาไฟโตฟาร์ม, a Thai firm developing a vaccine from plant leaves, is to sign an agreement to begin production for use in human trials. The…
-
Foreign diver deported following eco-vandalism arrest off Koh Pha Ngan
Thai Immigration deported a foreign diver who was arrested in September for disturbing marine wildlife off Koh Pha Ngan. Photos and videos of himself and another diver holding, poking and tickling sea creatures were posted on Facebook, leading to their arrest. Attila Ott, a Hungarian national and owner of the island’s Pink Panther Scuba Dive Club, was deported after his…
-
Looking for love? Tourism Authority partners with Tinder to host dating trips
Single and looking for love? Oddly enough, the Tourism Authority of Thailand can help. They’ve partnered with the dating app Tinder to launch “Single Journey” tours… which could end up being a romantic getaway, or a really awkward date you can’t get out of. TAT says the dating trips are only for Thais. The first trip will be on Sunday.…
-
Ministry investigating multiple cases of corruption in government’s co-payment scheme
The government’s “Let’s Go Halves” (Khon La Khrueng) co-payment stimulus campaign has fallen foul of 100s of incidents of fraud, according to the Finance Ministry. Under the scheme, the government subsidises 50% of the cost of food, drink, and other products, up to a maximum of 150 baht per person per day, capped at 3,000 baht per person for the…
-
Thai Covid-19 experimental vaccine to proceed to human testing from April 2021
A Thai start-up developing an experimental Covid-19 vaccine is said to be making good progress, with the candidate passing testing on laboratory animals. Baiya Phytopharm, a Thai firm developing a vaccine from plant leaves, is to sign an agreement to begin production for use in human trials. Thewin Wongwanich, from the State Enterprise Development Planning Subcommittee, says the firm is…
-
No “drink voting” – Alcohol ban on Saturday and Sunday during elections
CORRECTION: Dates for the alcohol ban were incorrect in an earlier report. The correct dates are Saturday, December 19 to Sunday, December, 20. Possibly in an effort to make sure no one stumbles to the voting polls and casts their ballots drunk, alcohol will be banned from 6pm Saturday until 6pm Sunday during Thailand’s municipal council elections across the country.…
-
Thailand News Today | Bangkok air pollution, 28 Covid cases, Lao dam protest | December 14
Bangkok starts the new week with ‘unhealthy’ air quality Waking up in Bangkok today you would have been surprised that the sun had disappeared to be replaced by a grey sky and views across the city limited to less than a kilometre. Across the city the air quality readings for most of the day have been aver the 150 mark…
-
Covid-19 cases could lead to a drop in revenue for New Years, economist says
A rise in local Covid-19 infections could discourage many people from travelling and going out for New Years celebrations, costing Thailand’s tourism industry 14 billion baht to more than 16 billion baht, according to economist Anusorn Tamajai. Recently, 17 Thais tested positive for Covid-19 after returning from the Myanmar border town Tachileik, crossing the border illegally and dodging the mandatory…
-
Thai man could get $4.2 million USD for whale vomit known as “floating gold”
NOTE: Readers with a sensitive stomach are advised not to eat while reading this article. Floating gold… sounds mystical. Actually, it’s just hardened whale vomit known as the more elegant name “ambergris.” It’s a rare find that can cost thousands of US dollars. Recently, a man in the southern province Nakhon Si Thammarat found what might be the world’s largest…
-
Geminids meteor shower visible tonight from 8pm
Tonight you may want to step outside from 8pm onwards as one of the most abundant meteor showers will grace the sky. The Geminids can be viewed nationwide tonight starting at 8 and will last until the early hours of tomorrow. The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand says about 120 bright meteor showers per hour will be visible with…
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.