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

    8 Pneumonia prevention tips for expat families in Thailand

    With World Pneumonia Day on November 9, it’s the perfect time to consider how you can protect your family from this serious illness, especially in Thailand, where unique climate and seasonal factors come into play. Pneumonia can be especially dangerous...

  • Bangkok scorched at 38°C with thunderstorms looming

    Bangkok scorched at 38°C with thunderstorms looming

    Bangkok and its surrounding regions are experiencing scorching temperatures today, with highs reaching a blistering 38 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, thunderstorms are predicted in some areas of the northeastern and eastern provinces. The latest forecast by the Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) indicates that a low-pressure system, caused by intense heat covering the upper parts of Thailand, is contributing to the…

  • Thai govt accelerates Thai-European FTA negotiations

    Thai govt accelerates Thai-European FTA negotiations

    The Thai government is speeding up negotiations for the Thai-European Free Trade Association (EFTA) to conclude within the current year. This information followed a discussion between Commerce Minister Phuntham Wechayachai and Swiss Ambassador Pedro Zwahlen. The minister revealed that the talks are being hastened following the policy of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s administration, which desires to expand opportunities and bolster…

  • Rising risk of influenza and dengue amid Covid-19 warns DDC

    Rising risk of influenza and dengue amid Covid-19 warns DDC

    The Department of Disease Control (DDC) issued an alert about the escalating risk of influenza and dengue fever this year, amidst the persisting threat of Covid-19. The department’s recent communicable diseases report highlights the significance of these health risks. The department’s spokesperson, Dr Jurai Wongsawat, disclosed that the beginning of the year saw substantial clusters of influenza in schools, prisons,…

  • Thai police forms special unit to tackle aggressive monkey menace

    Thai police forms special unit to tackle aggressive monkey menace

    In the central plains province of Lop Buri, Thailand, a special police unit has been established to apprehend aggressive macaque monkeys causing havoc for the local populace. The head of the Lop Buri Provincial Police, 45 year old Apirak Vetkanchana, gave orders to 38 year old Kantaphon Wanna, the superintendent of Tha Hin Police, to organise a monkey suppression unit.…

  • Koh Larn wind energy project under scrutiny for misuse of funds

    Koh Larn wind energy project under scrutiny for misuse of funds

    The dream of harnessing wind energy to provide a sustainable power source for Koh Larn in Pattaya has sputtered to a halt, amidst allegations that the turbines stand broken and idle due to insufficient funds for repair. The wind turbine project, situated on Khao Nom Sao mountain near Samae Beach, was conceived back in 2006. With a hefty budget of…

  • Thai tourism federation calls for urgent supply development

    Thai tourism federation calls for urgent supply development

    The Federation of Thai Tourism Associations (FETTA) has revealed its intention to present an urgent demand for supply development to the government. The appeal is due to a rising demand that is overburdening the existing infrastructure. This was disclosed by FETTA Secretary-General Adith Chairattananon. Adith explained that while the government has been keen on stimulating demand by granting visa exemptions…

  • Fraudulent calls and messages surge by 18% in Thailand in 2023

    Fraudulent calls and messages surge by 18% in Thailand in 2023

    Whoscall, the caller identification application, reported that fraudulent calls and messages plagued Thailand’s communication channels in 2023, with Thai citizens receiving an alarming 79 million dishonest messages and calls. This figure presents a notable 18% rise from the 66.7 million deceptive calls and messages recorded in 2022. The 2023 statistics were broken down into 20.8 million dubious calls and 58.3…

  • Buriram celebrates BLACKPINK Lisa’s 27th birthday

    Buriram celebrates BLACKPINK Lisa’s 27th birthday

    Buriram celebrated BLACKPINK Lisa’s 27th birthday with a feast of meatball consumption and the unveiling of themed pants. Buriram came alive as it threw a grand celebration to mark the 27th birthday of Lalisa Manobal, better known as Lisa from the globally renowned girl group BLACKPINK. The event included the launch of Buriram’s special standing meatball consumption pants. Lisa, born…

  • Pattaya halts national ID card issuance due to card shortage

    Pattaya halts national ID card issuance due to card shortage

    Pattaya City Registration Office has been forced to slam the brakes on issuing national ID cards to Thai citizens due to a shortage of blank cards. Bunchaya Charoenphot, the astute Manager of the Registration and ID Card Operations Office, revealed that the scarcity of cards from the Provincial Registration Center in Chon Buri province has thrown a wrench into their…

  • British court’s ruling on Julian Assange extradition is life-threatening

    British court’s ruling on Julian Assange extradition is life-threatening

    Stella Assange, the wife of Julian Assange, vehemently condemned the British court’s decision to approve her husband’s extradition to the United States, describing it as “an attack on Julian’s life.” Alongside Amnesty International and a number of human rights activists, she criticised the judgement made by the British court, yesterday, March 26. The court announced that it would seek assurances…

  • Thailand house of representatives approves same-sex marriage bill

    Thailand house of representatives approves same-sex marriage bill

    Thailand has taken a monumental leap forward in the quest for marriage equality, with the House of Representatives approving a same-sex marriage bill on its final reading. The bill, backed by all significant political parties, secured a resounding victory with 400 of the 415 members present voting in favour. A mere 10 representatives opposed the motion. Danuphorn Punnakanta, a Pheu…

  • Thai durians go hi-tech with Tencent

    Thai durians go hi-tech with Tencent

    Thai trade representative Narumon Pinyosinwat held talks with a Tencent executive in Hong Kong, alongside a representative from Shanghai East Best Foreign Trade (SEBFT), a leading durian importer from China. In a post-meeting address to the press, Narumon revealed a monumental deal: SEBFT committed to purchasing a staggering 3,000 containers of Thai durians, amounting to a whopping 10 billion baht.…

  • Huai Yang Waterfall National Park to close from April 1

    Huai Yang Waterfall National Park to close from April 1

    The Huai Yang Waterfall National Park in Thap Sakae, Prachuap Khiri Khan province is set to lock its gates to tourists from April 1 onwards. Somjet Chantana, Director of the Administration Office for Conservation Area 3 (Phetchaburi Branch), stated that the decision was reached after extensive discussions with Rakpong Boonyoi, the Head of Huai Yang Waterfall National Park. The closure,…

  • Luxury vans intentionally crash in Pattaya pub drama

    Luxury vans intentionally crash in Pattaya pub drama

    Local police in Pattaya are unravelling a startling incident involving luxury vans carrying Chinese tourists intentionally crashing into each other outside a secretive pub early yesterday morning. Police Colonel Nawin Theerawit, Pattaya’s police chief, revealed that the perpetrators could face charges of physical assault causing serious injury and attempted murder. According to the police chief, drivers purposefully collided with each…

  • Gay couple arrested in Bangkok for drug and extortion operations

    Gay couple arrested in Bangkok for drug and extortion operations

    Police yesterday arrested a gay couple at a condominium in Nonthaburi province for drug sales and money extortion operations, targeting medical workers and high-flyers in the educational field. A Thai doctor sought help from the Investigation Division of the Metropolitan Bureau (IDMB) after falling victim to a 37 year old gay man named Krittaphat, also known as Top. Top got…

  • Viral photo: Power pole piercing through sewer in Sisaket

    Viral photo: Power pole piercing through sewer in Sisaket

    A snapshot showing a power pole piercing a drainage pipe beside Highway 226 in Sisaket’s Uthumphon Phisai district has taken social media by storm. Within a day, the post, shared by the Watchdog.Act Facebook page, amassed a staggering 28,000 likes, accompanied by over 3,200 comments, and shared a whopping 2,400 times. Critics lambasted the contracted builders for their apparent oversight, failing…

  • Phetchabun: Cannabis-induced hallucination triggers police chase

    Phetchabun: Cannabis-induced hallucination triggers police chase

    A 23 year old man experienced a hallucinatory episode after consuming cannabis, leading to a high-speed chase and subsequent arrest by local police. The incident began when the young man, identified only as Amorn, rode his motorcycle through a community area without a helmet, number plate, or necessary documentation. His erratic behaviour and modified vehicle caught the attention of police…

  • Thai drama’s similarities with Korean series sparks controversy

    Thai drama’s similarities with Korean series sparks controversy

    A Thai drama’s debut has sparked buzz online as netizens compare its premiere shots to those of the Korean series Lovestruck in the City (2020). Titled Until We Love, the romantic comedy revolves around an unconventional relationship that develops between a stepson and his stepmother, portrayed by the popular duo Mark Prin and Yaya Urassaya. Directed by Nok Thanthaphon, the…

  • Pathum Thani condo site fire swiftly doused, no injuries reported

    Pathum Thani condo site fire swiftly doused, no injuries reported

    A construction site fire at a condominium in the Khu Khot area of Pathum Thani province was swiftly contained, with no injuries reported, according to Noble Development Plc. The company confirmed the incident occurred yesterday in a temporary storage area and not in residential zones, reassuring that business operations would continue as usual today. Yesterday, a fire broke out at…

  • Thai state personnel to receive Chinese language training

    Thai state personnel to receive Chinese language training

    A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between the King Prajadhipok’s Institute (KPI), the Thai-Chinese Cultural Relationship Council (TCCRC), and the Beijing Chinese Language and Culture College (BLCC). The agreement, centred on Thai-Sino cooperation, aims to provide Chinese language training for Thai state personnel. The signing ceremony took place at the King Prajadhipok Museum on Lan Luang Road in…

  • Thailand braces for storms and record heatwave with 43C highs

    Thailand braces for storms and record heatwave with 43C highs

    The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasted 10 days of tumultuous weather, starting with thunderstorms from today, March 27 to Friday, March 29, followed by a severe heatwave that could see temperatures soar to a scorching 43 degrees Celsius. The predictions for this period, which extends to April 5, have been sourced from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF).…

  • Major drug network busted 5.6 million meth pills seized

    Major drug network busted 5.6 million meth pills seized

    A significant drug patrolling operation, conducted in Pathum Thani’s Lat Lum Kaeo district, resulted in the apprehension of six individuals linked to a major drug network. The operation also led to the confiscation of 5.6 million methamphetamine pills and 200 kilogrammes of ketamine. The individuals were arrested from a property within the Nattanun Home housing estate in Tambon Khu Kwang,…

  • Young motorcyclist perishes in Samut Songkhram accident

    Young motorcyclist perishes in Samut Songkhram accident

    A tragic collision in Samut Songkhram province claimed the life of a young motorcyclist after a pickup truck made a sudden turn in front of him, leading to a forceful impact. The incident occurred at 9.45am today, March 27. Police Lieutenant Chanathip Ongkleub, the deputy inspector at the Mueang Samut Songkhram Police Station, received a report of a vehicular collision…

  • Migrant workers get free pass home for Songkran celebrations

    Migrant workers get free pass home for Songkran celebrations

    To ease the journey home for migrant workers from Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar, Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn announced yesterday that they will be exempted from re-entry fees if they wish to return to their home countries to celebrate Songkran between April 1 and May 15. The decision, greenlit by the policy committee on the management of alien workers, aims to…

  • Bangkok scoops best city prize in travel magazine survey

    Bangkok scoops best city prize in travel magazine survey

    Bangkok scooped the best city award in the Asia-Pacific region from the travel magazine DestinAsian, while Suvarnabhumi International Airport secured the second-best airport among 51 countries. Prime Minister Office spokesperson Chai Watcharong encouraged Thai people to celebrate the country’s recent successes following the acknowledgement by DestinAsian in its Readers’ Choice Awards. The rankings cover various aspects of travel including best islands,…

  • Chiang Mai ranked among top budget-friendly retirement locations

    Chiang Mai ranked among top budget-friendly retirement locations

    The lively and diverse city of Chiang Mai in Thailand has been listed among 13 budget-friendly global locations where couples can retire and live comfortably on a modest sum of US$1,500 per month, according to a new survey from International Living. The city, an eclectic mix of Thai, Chinese, Indian, and foreign residents, is celebrated for its rich history, culture,…

  • Bamboo barges battle plastic pollution in Bangkok

    Bamboo barges battle plastic pollution in Bangkok

    To tackle Thailand’s plastic pollution crisis, a pioneering project has been launched on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. Black flies scattered as plastic waste cascaded from bamboo conveyor belts onto solar-powered barges, marking a significant step towards cleaner waters. Dubbed the “interceptor,” this innovative boat-like structure, trailing a floating barrier, utilises the river’s currents to guide plastic debris into…

  • Surin ex-headman’s incense ritual unveils lucky lottery numbers

    Surin ex-headman’s incense ritual unveils lucky lottery numbers

    A revered former village headman ignited incense sticks that revealed auspicious numbers in Surin province yesterday, continuing a streak of providing winning lottery numbers over several draws. The ex-village headman, 61 year old Bai Kannula, led relatives and his family in a ritual to honor the household spirits at his residence, No. 52 in Ban Ka, Nong Khawaw sub-district, Sikhoraphum district,…

  • Ptyas found on deity’s palanquin sparks Thai lottery frenzy

    Ptyas found on deity’s palanquin sparks Thai lottery frenzy

    An unexpected visitor, a nearly 2-metre-long Ptyas snake, was discovered lounging atop a palanquin meant for the revered Mother Goddess at the Thapthim shrine in Chai Nat, central Thailand, spurring a wave of lottery number seekers at the site. The incident occurred on March 23, when firefighters from the Chai Nat Municipality were called to the shrine situated behind the…

  • BAAC to back 50,000 tech-savvy farmers with 55 billion baht

    BAAC to back 50,000 tech-savvy farmers with 55 billion baht

    The Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC), a state-owned entity, outlined an ambitious plan to foster a new breed of technologically adept farmers. The bank intends to support 50,000 young, smart farmers over the next five years, offering low-interest loans that total 55 billion baht (US$1.5 billion). BAAC president, Chatchai Sirilai, announced the project’s key objective following a memorandum…