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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Sponsored Promoting sustainable tourism at Blue Tree Phuket: Initiatives and impact
Blue Tree Phuket has been offering experiences that are both fun and environmentally conscious for many years. The comprehensive entertainment hub and waterpark has implemented numerous programs to enhance the sustainability of its practices, with its most recent endeavour being...
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30,000 methamphetamine pills seized, drugs rife due to decreasing prices
Four drug dealers have been arrested with more than 30,000 methamphetamine pills. The use of methamphetamine pills is on the rise in the region, indeed right around Thailand, due to decreasing prices and increased availability. At a media briefing held yesterday (June 7) at the Krabi Provincial Police Station, Krabi Provincial Police Deputy Commander Col Tharatcha Tommapat said, “the four…
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Police going to visit 3,900 members of ‘organic marijuana’ Facebook group
Pol Maj-General Panumart Boonyalak, commander of the Patrol and Special Operation Division 191, has threatened a Facebook group promoting ‘organic marijuana’ during a press conference held at 8.30pm last night (Thursday). He also announced the arrest of three suspects. Police are vowing to trace and take legal action against over 3,900 members of a closed Facebook group that encourages members…
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Crazy school songtaew driver slapped with 5,000 baht fine and suspension
CCTV footage from an intersection near Kabinburi, east of Bangkok, showed a fully loaded school songtaew almost collide with other vehicles as the driver plowed through a red light. Thai Rath reports the songtaew almost topples over, such is the speed and swerve. The children came from three area schools – Kabin Withaya, Jiamin School and Ruksasap School in Prachinburi. Following…
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The final straw – say NO to plastic straws
You walk into your nearest convenience store. You grab a drink and go to pay for it. You’re offered a straw (packaged in a plastic wrapper), or maybe two straws, thrown into your carry bag (also plastic). Or maybe you’re grabbing an iced coffee on your way to work from the roadside vendor. The coffee, in a plastic cup, carried…
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Help on the way for Lampang woman who cares for 400 stray dogs
There’s been a lot of interest in the story from yesterday about the woman in Lampang, Pongrueduee Rasi, who had been caring for 400 stray dogs but was in despair because she’d run out of money. We’ve tracked down the account number of her Foundation that cares for the dogs. Pongrueduee Rasi told several TV channels yesterday that she had only…
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Premchai wants to move the case to another court. The Prosector’s not happy.
Haven’t heard much about the Premchai Karnasuta case in the past month? There have been moves behind the scenes to have the case moved to the Region 7 Criminal Court in Samut Songkhram province. Thai PBS is reporting that the public prosecutor in charge of the Thungyai illegal hunting case has objected to the request of Italian-Thai Development boss Premchai Karnasuta…
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Krabi elephants reporting for treatment at animal hospital
Many elephants have been brought to receive medial treatment at the elephant hospital in Krabi province after they fell sick, Benjatham Thaitham, a veterinarian at the Krabi elephant hospital, says the arrival of the rainy season has caused many elephants to be brought to the hospital by their mahouts for treatment. She says she’s worried that the elephants may been…
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Ban on political activity to stay, for now
Despite the roadway being cleared by the Constitutional Court on Monday, putting the February 2019 election back on track, the Thai PM is still being cagey about forthcoming meetings between the NCPO and political parties and scrapping of the ban on political gatherings. The PM said yesterday that bans on political activities will remain in place despite all the legislation…
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Last hurdle to Thai election cleared
FILE PHOTO: The Nation Activists sceptical over a promise of a poll next February, say they’re still insisting on Thailand going to an election this year. After several postponements, the Thai PM has promised Thailand’s first election in five years is set to be held next February. All legal hurdles were finally cleared yesterday with the approval by the Constitutional…
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Thailand Event Round-Up – June 2018
by Paul Poole, PAUL POOLE (SOUTH EAST ASIA) June is the month for runners in Thailand. One of Thailand’s most hotly anticipated sporting events take place on June 9 & 10, the popular Laguna Phuket International Marathon. Now in its 13th year, the race is one of the most well-attended races in Asia with runners flying to Phuket from all…
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Thai industry declares war on plastic pollution
It seems the relentless media reporting, photo evidence, social media and horrendous stories about sea creatures being washed ashore consumed by plastics, has now forced Thai leaders to push the issue of plastic use to the top of their priority list. 20 ministries and the private sector have launched a campaign to reduce the use of plastic bags to mark…
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Paraquat and other farm pesticides to be phased out – PM assures protesters
The Thaig government is promising to phase out the use of Paraquat as an farm chemical. The PM was responding to a ramping up of protests outside Government house and in social media where opposition was growing following a decision not to ban the use of Paraquat and two other agri-chemicals. PM Prayut Chan-o-cha says the government will now set 2019…
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Kalasin pagoda collapse – Initial investigation points to three factors
The collapse of an ancient pagoda under restoration at Wat Kud Wa in Kalasin’s Kuchinarai district yesterday morning, resulting in the death of one worker and four others being injured, stemmed from three main causes. Authorities begun a probe into the Pagoda’s collapse almost immediately yesterday. Kalasin’s public works and city planning officer, Weerachai Kaewhawong, cites three factors: construction work…
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Two rangers injured in grenade attack – Yala
Two para-military rangers in Yala have been injured after two M79 grenades, launched by suspected militants, exploded in their barracks. The attack took place near a village in Bannang Sata District of Yala province last night (Monday). The two rangers, Cpl Thoranin Insuan and Witthaya Sriraksa, were on duty in the barracks when the two grenades were fired into…
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Protests planned outside Government House over ‘hazardous chemicals’ decision
Anti-paraquat protesters are going to rally out the front of Government House today. Around 300 rubber planters are set to join members of a network of organisations protesting against anti-hazardous substances being allowed in Thai agriculture. They say they are protesting against the continued use of the agro-chemicals paraquat, chlorpyrifos and glyphosate. President of the association of rubber planters, Sunthorn…
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Tour bus collides with concrete truck in Khon Kaen
20 passengers on a Nakorn Panom-Bangkok bus are shaken but unharmed following a tour bus crash with a concrete truck. A report from MCOT shows CCTV footage from an intersection in Khon Kaen of the two vehicles colliding. The footage shows cars coming through the intersection then the cement mixer. The cement mixer didn’t appear to give way to the right…
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Pilot whale beaches itself in Songkhla
PHOTOS: ThaiWhales’ Facebook page A pilot whale has died in Songkhla after being cared for by a team of vets and villagers over four days. What they found in a subsequent autopsy shocked everyone. The 4.5 metre pilot whale beached itself on the shore in the Chana district of Songkhla on May 29. Villagers and veterinarians from the local marine and…
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Southern monsoon has arrived – rain predicted around the country
All parts of Thailand are likely to see heavy rains this week with the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) ordering its offices to prepare accordingly. During June 4-7, according to the Thai Meteorological website, the southwest monsoon prevails over the Andaman Sea, the South and the Gulf of Thailand. They say this will cause more rain and isolated heavy showers. “The…
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BMW eyes bright future for electric cars in Thailand
That growth makes Thailand number three in the world in terms of market acceptance of PHEVs, according to Krisda Utamote, BMW Group Thailand’s director of corporate communications. Christian Wiedmann, president of BMW Thailand, says the German carmaker would continue churning out new electric vehicle models due to confidence in its global market expansion, with Thailand included. “In Thailand, BMW is…
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Thai teen pregnancy education gets real
The Education Ministry will include a test on sex education and life skills in the Ordinary National Educational Test (Onet) from this year forward as a part of efforts to prevent teen pregnancy. “We will soon inform all students about this decision via their schools,” Deputy Prime Minister General Chatchai Sarikulya said on the weekend. The decision was reached at…
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New business model proposed for elephant attractions
Canadian-based World Animal Protection has released details of their plan to sign a MoU that will “remove all physical interaction between tourists and elephants” at the Chiang Mai elephant camp. The Happy Elephant Care Valley is about to launch into a landmark agreement that will transform it into a “truly elephant-friendly” tourist attraction. The animal welfare charity says changing the…
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“Don’t arrest us. We just work here.” Activists call for ban on sting operations targeting sex trade
By Pratch Rujivanarom Stings and raids staged to crack down on human trafficking in the sex industry violate human rights, and lead to stigmatisation and discrimination against women who are working as sex workers of their own volition, an activist organisation said yesterday. Empower Foundation yesterday exposed the problems of discrimination and rights violations faced by women working in the…
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15,000 smuggled cigarette packs seized in Hat Yai
FILE PHOTO: The Nation (from January this year) Excise officials have seized 15,000 packages of smuggled cigarettes in Songkhla’s Hat Yai district last night (Thursday). The goods were found at a house in a rubber plantation in Tambon Klong U-tapao following a tip-off, says Thammasak La-or-iam, an official of the Excise Area 9 Office. The 25 cartons of cigarettes were…
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’11 months’ until the next election. Do the maths….
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Kreangam election will take place about 11 months from now after the Constitutional Court ruled the organic bill on the election of MPs as ‘constitutional’. The 11 month timeline puts next years election around April, at least two months after PM Prayut promised the next general election for Thai voters. Bu the deputy PM assured that…
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Durian being sent into space. Yes, really.
PHOTO: Thai Residents Thais are set to send durian into outer space in July. The fruit – that has people either delighted or revolted by its smell and taste – will be sent into space in what scientists say will be the first Thai food to leave earth. (We can confirm that there have been no Pad Thai or Som…
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Phra Phromsitti surrenders over alleged embezzlement of temple funds
The former abbot of Wat Sa Ket has become the latest senior monk to become a guest of the Bangkok Remand Prison after surrendering to police yesterday. Previously known as Phra Phromsitti (Thongchai Sukhayano), the former abbot had absconded for nearly one week before he contacted police. “He claims he did not report himself to police earlier because he wanted…
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76 year old ambushed and killed in Chumpon
A 76 year old man has been snared by a cable while riding his motorcycle on a Chumphon road and then stabbed to death. His gold necklace and amulet worth 300,000 baht were stolen. This happened yesterday morning (Wednesday). Ban Nai Hood police say Somporn Chubanna was found dead on the Ban Khuan Hin Mui-Huay Sai Khao road in…
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Three arrested with drugs and firearms in Phang Nga
More than 10 police from the the Phang Nga Provincial Police raided a house in the Muang Phang Nga District. Police arrested 47 year old Wirat, 44 year old Aditep and 47 year old Kamon. Police seized 378 methamphetamine pills, 21.6 grams of crystal methamphetamine, nine firearms and some ammunition. “Wirat and Aditep have been charged with illegal possession of…
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Police poised to introduce new points demerit system
Police are getting closer to linking their computer networks to marry speed and traffic cameras, and traffic tickets with vehicle registration data, making it possible to start automating fines in the hope of having a more thorough and accurate penalty system. The Royal Thai Police say they plan to introduce a penalty point system to deal with traffic offences in…
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Coral bleaching found off Krabi
On Monday (May 28) divers from Local Diving Krabi Company posted a video clip of coral bleaching underwater at Koh Ya Wa Sam (Koh Koo) near Separated Sea (Thale Waek) which is one of Thailand’s lesser-known highlights in the Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park. Dive instructor Parinya Pantajit says, “We found that coral has been ‘bleaching’ since the beginning…
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