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.

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    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...

  • 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…

  • Freshman student beaten to death in hazing incident at Isaan Thailand university

    Freshman student beaten to death in hazing incident at Isaan Thailand university

    A freshman university student died during a hazing incident where he was reportedly beaten by students and forced to drink lao khao, a Thai distilled spirit. The 19 year old was punched in the stomach and face. At one point, he became unconscious. He died on the way to the hospital. The activist group ANTI SOTUS, which is against the…

  • 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…

  • 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 say no cause for concern as 4 cases of Hong Kong sub-variant reported

    Thai officials say no cause for concern as 4 cases of Hong Kong sub-variant reported

    The Public Health Ministry says there’s no cause for concern after the BA2.2 Omicron sub-variant was reported in 4 Covid-19 patients in the kingdom. According to a Bangkok Post report, the patients are 3 Thai nationals and a foreigner. The BA2.2 sub-variant was first discovered in Hong Kong, which is battling its worst Covid-19 wave since the start of the…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • Tangmo: Police examine ‘fresh evidence’ — CCTV video of person on speedboat

    Tangmo: Police examine ‘fresh evidence’ — CCTV video of person on speedboat

    Police are examining “fresh evidence” from a CCTV camera that recorded footage of the speedboat TV actress Nida “Tangmo” Patcharaveerapong fell from before drowning in the Chao Phraya River last month. The video taken from a riverside building reportedly shows a person at the stern (rear) of the speedboat standing up and sitting down, as the boats moves along the…

  • 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…

  • 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,…

  • Thai Armed Forces warn that Russia will sanction APEC trade bloc if war continues

    Thai Armed Forces warn that Russia will sanction APEC trade bloc if war continues

    With Thailand chairing the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation trade bloc this year, the Thai Armed Forces have warned Russia is likely to impose sanctions if the war on Ukraine continues. “If the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues, economic sanctions on APEC will emerge.” The trade block is made up of the US, Russia, China, Japan, Australia, Canada, South Korea, Hong Kong, New Zealand,…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • What Happens When Foreigners Die In Thailand?

    What Happens When Foreigners Die In Thailand?

    Do you need a will as a foreigner or expat living in Thailand? What roles do the embassy have to play in such a case? What if you don’t have a will? Does all your money and assets go to the state if you don’t have a beneficiary? Is it cheap or expensive to have a will? Tim sits with…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • Bangkok doctor warns of healthcare collapse if Covid-19 is not dealt with

    Bangkok doctor warns of healthcare collapse if Covid-19 is not dealt with

    A Bangkok professor at Chulalongkorn’s Faculty of Medicine warns that Thailand’s economy isn’t strong enough to handle Covid-19 if the situation gets out of hand. He noted that Thailand’s economy is weaker than the economies of European countries. “With fewer economic resources than wealthy countries, the impact of the outbreak will be too tough to handle”. Several healthcare resources in…

  • 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…

  • Driver focused on GPS accidentally drives into canal in Korat

    Driver focused on GPS accidentally drives into canal in Korat

    A driver focused on the GPS accidentally drove into a canal, sinking his pick-up truck. The driver and the other four passengers managed to safely get out of the vehicle. The driver says he was in an area that he wasn’t familiar with in the northeastern province Nakhon Ratchasima, also known as Korat. With his eyes focused more on the…

  • Thai citizens donate over 5 million baht to Ukraine

    Thai citizens donate over 5 million baht to Ukraine

    Over 5 million baht has been donated by Thai citizens to help with humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. As of yesterday, 5,306,750 baht had been collected by the Embassy of Ukraine in Thailand, which has been transferred to the National Bank of Ukraine. The donations will help people affected by the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The news follows yesterday’s…

  • Convenient Covid-19 testing – say hello to ATK vending machines

    Convenient Covid-19 testing – say hello to ATK vending machines

    In Thailand, you can find a range of items in vending machines including instant noodles, snacks, drinks, CBD-infused coffee, condoms, SIM cards, electronic gadgets, and even ice cream. In the coronavirus era, face masks and Covid-19 tests have been added to the list. Vending machines filled with rapid antigen Covid-19 test kits has been set up outside a hospital in…

  • Columbia Pictures Aquaverse water park to open in Chon Buri next month

    Columbia Pictures Aquaverse water park to open in Chon Buri next month

    The new Columbia Pictures Aquaverse water park in Chon Buri is officially opening to the public next month after plans were delayed due to Covid-19. The themes for attractions are based on popular movies and animations like Jumanji, Ghostbusters, and Hotel Transylvania. The water park also offers the world’s first wave pool cinema, allowing guests to watch movies on a…

  • PM Prayut to board first official flight to Yala’s new airport, chair opening ceremony

    PM Prayut to board first official flight to Yala’s new airport, chair opening ceremony

    PM Prayut Chan-o-cha will be onboard the first flight to the new Betong Airport in the southern province Yala to preside over the opening ceremony on Monday. The prime minister hopes the airport will stimulate the southern border provinces’ economic development, encourage domestic and international commerce and improve security in the area. The airport, under construction from 2017 to 2019,…

  • Farmers sleep on the streets of Bangkok for 42 days calling for action on debt

    Farmers sleep on the streets of Bangkok for 42 days calling for action on debt

    Farmers from all over Thailand are sleeping under a busy expressway in Bangkok to call on the government to solve the problem of farmers’ debt. So far, the protestors have slept on the streets for 42 nights. The farmers request that their debt be transferred from central government banks, which charge high interest rates, to the Farmers’ Rehabilitation and Development…