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.

  • Sponsored

    Is Swedish snus a good alternative to smoking in Thailand?

    With approximately 106,000 people in Thailand succumbing to smoking-related illnesses annually, people are exploring alternatives in pursuit of a safer option. And for many, the answer is Swedish snus (pronounced snoose and rhymes with goose), a traditional Scandinavian tobacco product...

  • Bangkok port’s move stalled pending government clarity

    Bangkok Port’s transformation into a mixed-use development has been put on hold by the Port Authority of Thailand (PAT), as it awaits further instructions from the Transport Ministry. The decision follows an order to relocate the port to Chon Buri, which was proposed to mitigate pollution and congestion in the city. However, it is presently unclear whether the entire port…

  • Road safety concerns rise as upcountry travel surges for Songkran

    Amid the forthcoming Songkran holiday, a surge in upcountry travel has sparked apprehension among road safety champions, who fear a rise in road mishaps outside the designated seven dangerous days of travelling. The seven dangerous days were initiated today and will conclude on April 17, and it is during these days that the highest incidents of road accidents are expected.…

  • Thai government’s digital wallet scheme faces legality verification

    The Government of Thailand‘s plan to partially finance its 500-billion-baht digital wallet handout scheme through a 172.3 billion baht loan from the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperative is set to undergo legality verification by the Council of State. The announcement was made by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who also stated that the government will seek advice from its legal…

  • Thai PM says legal casinos will prevent illegal gambling

    Thai Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, has come out in support of legalising casinos in the country, stating that the move would allow the government to properly control gambling and allow them to “collect taxes properly”. Under current law, gambling in the country is prohibited, except on state lotteries and government-backed horse races. Although online gambling is not explicitly covered by…

  • Poh Teck Tung Foundation distributes 3,000 fans during Songkran

    The Poh Teck Tung Foundation initiated a heartwarming gesture by distributing 3,000 hand-held fans to the public during the scorching Songkran festival. The foundation, under the leadership of Vichai Techapaibul, has taken this step to alleviate the discomfort of citizens travelling back to their hometowns or embarking on holiday trips during one of the hottest times of the year. The…

  • Family’s holiday nightmare: Luxury villa turns out to be scam

    A family’s excitement for their Hua Hin holiday took a turn as they fell victim to a cunning Facebook scam, leaving them high and dry. Amidst the bustling holiday anticipation, a family, with an individual named Kukkai as their representative, eagerly planned their annual retreat, scouring for a pet-friendly haven to accommodate eight to 10 people. Their quest led the…

  • Chinese influencer’s food poisoning sparks Thai food hygiene row

    Chinese netizens criticised Thai food as “unclean” after a Chinese influencer suffered food poisoning after eating at a night market in Thailand and issued a warning to his followers on Weibo. The Chinese food blogger, Liu Yu Xin, also known as Jason, posted a video of himself enjoying food at a night market in Thailand on his Weibo account. Most…

  • Phuket house fire leaves residents reeling: Investigation heats up

    A destructive house fire yesterday ravaged a residence in Srisoonthorn, Phuket, leaving devastation in its wake. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. An electrical short circuit is believed to have ignited a fire that caused extensive damage to a house in Srisoonthorn last night around 9.30pm. Firefighters from Srisoonthorn Fire Station rushed to the scene, located in…

  • Lisa from BLACKPINK hits right note with RCA Records

    BLACKPINK’s Lisa hits the right note, striking a harmonious chord with RCA Records, an American record label giant. This partnership marks a significant milestone in the K-pop star’s career, as it will allow her to release new solo music with RCA Records and gain full ownership of her song rights. The collaboration between Lisa, whose full name is Lalisa Manobal,…

  • Hua Hin water woes won’t dampen Songkran spirit

    To quench concerns over water scarcity threatening the Songkran festival, Hua Hin Municipality is taking swift action to ensure the festivities flow smoothly without parching tourism enthusiasm. Mayor Nopporn Wutthikul, flanked by municipal bigwigs and key officials, huddled to hash out strategies to navigate the drought as the region gears up for the traditional Thai New Year festivity. Pranburi Dam,…

  • Page turners: Survey reveals shift in Thai reading habits

    A recent survey by the Publishers and Booksellers Association of Thailand (PUBAT) and Chulalongkorn University revealed that Thai people spend nearly two hours per day reading, contradicting the long-held belief that Thais read less than eight lines of text a year. Despite widespread belief, there is no solid evidence to support the notion that Thai residents rarely read books and even…

  • Crypto crackdown: Regulatory bodies unite to reel in P2P fraud

    Regulatory bodies are rallying together to develop stringent rules to monitor the buying and selling of cryptocurrencies via peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions. These authorities have observed that fraudsters, seeking to cover their tracks after illicit activities, tend to use cryptocurrencies purchased P2P. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is being urged to revise or create regulations related to digital assets, to…

  • Songkran sparks water wars in Pattaya’s beachfront bars

    Water wars erupted on Pattaya’s Soi 7 and Soi 8 as Songkran festivities kicked off, transforming the beachfront bars into battlegrounds of fun and frolic. The spirited water play of Songkran burst into life on April 10, igniting the lively bar areas along Pattaya’s Soi 7 and Soi 8. This marked the eagerly anticipated start of the annual celebration, with…

  • Paetongtarn criticised for holiday plans during Songkran

    The holiday plans of Pheu Thai Party leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra have ignited a fiery debate as she opts to fly to Hong Kong during the Songkran festival, leaving tongues wagging and eyebrows raised. Amid preparations for a grand celebration of Songkran, Thailand’s New Year and a UNESCO-recognised cultural treasure, questions loom over Paetongtarn’s decision to venture abroad instead of staying put.…

  • PM Srettha pays surprise visit to Bangkok bus terminal

    Prime Minister and Finance Minister Srettha Thavisin, along with a team of top officials, descended upon Mo Chit 2, Bangkok’s bus terminal, to ensure a smooth ride for Songkran travellers. As Thailand gears up for its traditional new year celebrations from April 12 to 15, the pressure is on to ensure the safety and comfort of millions hitting the roads…

  • BBC’s campaign to bring Thailand’s Songkran to global audiences (video)

    To dazzle global audiences with the splendour of Thailand’s Songkran festival, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has teamed up with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for an unprecedented campaign. Scheduled to kick off this April, the campaign aims to thrust Songkran into the limelight, capitalising on its recent nomination for UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status. Fronted by a captivating…

  • Thai Vietjet unleashes cheap ‘Songkran’s Splash Deals’

    In a sensational offer set to electrify travel enthusiasts, Thai Vietjet launched its Songkran’s Splash Deals, boasting irresistible fares starting at just 67 baht (excluding taxes and fees) across all domestic and international routes. The booking frenzy kicked off yesterday, April 10, and will continue its whirlwind trajectory until the stroke of midnight on April 13. Seize this golden opportunity…

  • American man arrested for smashing Thai man’s car in Phuket

    Police arrested an American man, who appeared to be drunk, after he smashed the window of a Thai man’s car in Phuket in the early hours of this morning. The 33 year old Thai victim, Tharathit Na Pattalung, filed a complaint at Wichit Police Station at around 5.30am today, April 11. He told police that a foreign man damaged his…

  • Bangkok battles hazardous levels of PM2.5 dust pollution alone

    A robust surge of PM2.5, particulate matter 2.5 micrometres or less in diameter, descended upon the Thailand capital Bangkok this morning, setting the city apart as the only one battling seriously hazardous red-coded levels of fine dust pollution. This stark revelation came from the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA). The state space agency’s report at 10am highlighted the…

  • Thai Lion Air flies into Cochin with Çelebi India as ground partner

    In a move set to revolutionise Cochin’s aviation scene, Thai Lion Air has soared into the region, with Çelebi India at the helm as their chosen ground handling service provider. Kicking off their passenger flights from Bangkok to Cochin on April 4, Thai Lion Air’s selection of Çelebi India underscores a commitment to excellence and reliability in the skies. Tauseef…

  • Thai tuk tuk driver fails to help Vietnamese woman after fatal fall

    A Thai tuk tuk driver fled the scene after a 76 year old Vietnamese woman fell out of his vehicle in the Isaan province of Udon Thani. The driver claimed he did not notice the passenger falling, and unfortunately, she later died en route to the hospital. Udon Thani Hospital Rescue Team was alerted to the incident around 3.30pm on…

  • Thailand soft-power: ASEAN + India shoppers to boost tourism

    The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has unveiled the ASEAN + India Shoppers in Thailand campaign, enticing tourists to choose their top Thai soft-power element while scoring shopping vouchers. Running from April 29 to June 15, this initiative spearheaded by TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool aims to transform Thailand into a regional tourism hotspot while showcasing its cultural prowess. “This initiative…

  • Bangkok: Filipino couple arrested for shipping 10 kilos of cannabis

    A couple from the Philippines were taken into custody in Bangkok yesterday on suspicion of mailing a package containing 10 kilogrammes of dried cannabis to their home country to sell it. Bangkok’s Immigration Police apprehended the couple at a townhouse on Soi 65 On Nut in the Prawet district. The arrest came after information received from the Philippine authorities. In…

  • Kanchanaburi man arrested after violent restroom assault

    A brutal incident of violence has shaken the community of Tha Maka in Kanchanaburi Province, where a 38 year old man turned methamphetamine agent was arrested for a savage attack. The altercation, which occurred on October 22, 2023, resulted from a seemingly minor incident where the victim, Anek (surname withheld), inadvertently bumped into Udon (surname withheld) near a restroom, prompting…

  • Thai man discovers MP wife’s adulterous monk-ey business (video)

    A Thai man caught his Democrat Party politician wife committing adultery with a Thai monk who was also their adoptive son. The Democrat Party stated that woman would be expelled within three days if found guilty. Local news Facebook page, Esor News, yesterday accused the 45 year old wife of a former Thai politician of adultery with a 24 year…

  • Thailand Video News | Woman sparks backlash for vaping on flight, PM unveils airport upgrades ahead of Songkran

    In this video, Alex and Jay delve into the comprehensive Roundup of Recent News from Thailand. Beginning with Prime Minister Srettha’s surprise inspection at Suvarnabhumi Airport sparks upgrades before Thai New Year, while a woman’s vaping on a flight from Chiang Rai triggers social media outrage. Thailand readies to host 100,000 refugees from Myanmar’s conflict, as a British tourist faces…

  • Five Russians jailed in Phuket for kidnapping and crypto extortion

    Five Russian men have been sentenced to two years each in prison for kidnapping and extorting a Russian couple. The incident took place in Phuket Town earlier this year. The verdict was confirmed by the Phuket Provincial Court yesterday. The names of the culprits were not disclosed in the court’s announcement. They were initially sentenced to a jail term of…

  • Thailand sets target to recycle all plastic waste by 2027

    Thailand’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is optimistic about recycling all plastic waste by 2027, as part of an initiative to curb the use of plastic. This plan forms part of the ministry’s plastic waste management roadmap from 2018 to 2030. The strategy was devised in response to concerns over the growing use of single-use plastics, according to Thalerngsak…

  • Bangsaen Beach restaurant platform collapses, injures three

    In the coastal town of Bangsaen, Chon Buri, a sea-viewing concrete platform under construction at a restaurant suffered a structural failure, injuring three workers on Tuesday. The platform, located on Soi 18 in the Saen Suk Municipality, Saen Suk subdistrict, Mueang district, was intended to extend over the serene waters of the Bangsaen Sea, providing a panoramic view for the…

  • Fake gold sales soar as Thai baht-weight hits 40,000 baht record

    Gold prices have recently skyrocketed, touching a record high of 40,000 baht per baht-weight, prompting a surge in sales for fake gold shops as genuine gold becomes less accessible for many consumers. Amidst these soaring prices, the allure of fake gold that doesn’t tarnish but cannot be pawned has captured a diverse customer base, from luxury car drivers to factory…