News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. The Thaiger delivers the latest national news that matters.
-
Sponsored Where to travel in Thailand in April [2025]
Travelling in Thailand is peak during April if you are looking for a real taste of summer. With high temperatures, amazing beaches, and exciting events, April is an amazing time to visit the country as a whole. Due to the...
-
Thailand launches “The Big Catch-Up” campaign to boost child immunisation rates
The Public Health Ministry in Thailand is ramping up the rollout of essential vaccines, including polio and measles, to children nationwide. This comes after a recent study revealed that the immunisation rate among Thai children has declined to around 80%. In statements made to commemorate World Immunisation Week, the Director-Generals of the Department of Disease Control, Tares Krassanairawiwong, and the…
-
Myanmar’s snake rescue squad’s mission to protect reptiles and humans
Shwe Lei and her team were outside a monastery in Yangon at 4am, struggling with 30 squirming pythons. They put them into old rice sacks and then loaded the sacks into a van. They were continuing their daily duty as part of Myanmar’s leading snake removal squad, tasked with freeing pythons and coaxing cobras from dangerous encounters with humans and…
-
Deputy interior minister criticizes tap water fee hike plan amid rising energy prices
Deputy Interior Minister Naris Khamnurak spoke out against the Metropolitan Waterworks Administration’s (MWA) and Provincial Waterworks Administration’s (PWA) plan to hike tap water fees yesterday. Naris was responding to media reports suggesting both agencies intend to raise bills to counterbalance the higher expenses brought about by rising energy prices. The Deputy Interior Minister emphasised that neither the MWA nor the…
-
Lucky fisherman finds whale puke worth 3 million baht on Thailand beach
A lucky fisherman stumbled across 3 kilogrammes of rare whale puke – or ambergris – while taking a stroll on the beach in Rayong, eastern Thailand, on Sunday. If genuine, he can sell the “floating gold” for 3 million baht (US$87,931). Ambergris (“grey amber” in French) is a rare and valuable material produced in the digestive system of some species of…
-
Driver who rammed car at Patong massage shop faces multiple charges
UPDATE The driver who rammed his car into parked motorbikes following a conflict at a Patong massage shop is now facing multiple charges. The charges include causing loss of property, bodily harm causing injury, and reckless driving causing injury, The Phuket Express reported. Four people were injured, and four vehicles were damaged in the incident on Rat-U-Thit 200 Pee Road on Monday…
-
Actress Halle Bailey faces backlash for posing with animals at controversial Bangkok zoo
Animal rights activists have criticized US actress Halle Bailey, known for her upcoming role in Disney’s The Little Mermaid, after she posed with wildlife at a controversial Bangkok zoo. Bailey and Disney were accused of promoting animal exploitation and cruelty at Safari World in Bangkok, which has been under international scrutiny for years for their treatment of animals, particularly orangutans…
-
Another Uyghur refugee dies after 9 years in Thailand detention centre
Human rights groups are urging Thai authorities once more to end forced prolonged detention for Uyghur refugees following the death of a Uyghur man who spent nine years inside a detention centre in Bangkok, Thailand. Mettohti Matturson, a 40 year old Uyghur refugee from Xinjiang in China, died of suspected liver failure at Bangkok’s Suan Phlu Immigration Centre (IDC) on…
-
Chinese tourists return for May Day holidays, boosting international bookings
After a long hiatus due to travel restrictions and pandemic-related concerns, Chinese tourists are gearing up for international travel once again. According to DidaTravel, a tech-driven global travel distribution company, Chinese travellers are eager to explore the world and bookings for trips abroad are recovering fast. The upcoming May Day holiday, which runs from April 29 until May 3 and…
-
Elephant moves fallen tree blocking road in Thailand (video)
An elephant moved a fallen tree blocking the Lampang – Phrae Road in northern Thailand during a storm on Monday, allowing traffic to resume as normal. The moment was captured on Facebook Live. The owner of the elephant, Weerawat Triyot, said that he was on his way back to Chaiyaphum province after taking his 16 year old elephant Dan Siam…
-
Secret Myanmar crisis talks held in New Delhi with neighbouring countries
Representatives from Myanmar and its neighbouring countries, including Thailand, China, and India, have been secretly holding talks to de-escalate the bloody crisis unfolding in the military-led nation, according to anonymous sources. The discussions, known as the Track 1.5 dialogue, commenced in Thailand last month and continued in New Delhi yesterday, amid growing discontent within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations…
-
Thai and German nationals arrested for smuggling drugs into Koh Pha Ngan
Thai authorities arrested a Thai national and a German man on Monday for smuggling drugs into Koh Pha Ngan in the southern province of Surat Thani. The arrest was made after the officers found drugs hidden in scented candles delivered from Germany. The Permanent Secretary of the Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), Wichai Chaimongkon, released details of the arrests,…
-
Man caught smuggling 45 crab-eating macaques out of Thailand
A Thai man was arrested on a highway in Udon Thani province in northeastern Thailand yesterday with 45 crab-eating macaques stuffed into 13 boxes inside his car. He confessed that he was taking the monkeys to the border to be smuggled into neighbouring countries, most likely to be experimented on or killed for their brains. The monkey trafficker, 44 year…
-
Over 800,000 Bangkok residents register for early voting in May 14 General Election
Some 800,000 citizens in Bangkok have registered to cast their ballots ahead of the May 14 General Election, as they intend to engage in early voting on May 7. Among the 2.35 million voters nationwide who have registered for advance voting, numerous are located in Thailand’s capital city, with 74 polling stations available. The largest number of early voters registered…
-
Japan’s population predicted to fall to 87 million by 2070, with foreign residents making up 10.8%
Japan’s population is expected to experience a significant decline over the next few decades, with predictions that the total number will fall to 87 million by 2070, representing a 30% decrease from 2020 figures. As the nation grapples with the challenges of an ageing population, this decrease suggests that in the coming years, the government will likely need to rely…
-
Thai politician foresees Phuket and Phang Nga as new global business centres
Thailand’s Phuket and Phang Nga provinces, according to an imaginative proposal by Thai politician, Settha Taweesin, could become the new global business destinations and potentially draw in talented individuals from around the world to work in these areas while simultaneously enjoying the natural beauty and tourist attractions on offer. Settha Taweesin, a candidate for prime minister representing the Pheu Thai…
-
Child prodigy creates mesmerizing Sak Yant tattoo in Khon Kaen, Thailand
The skills of a child prodigy went viral on Thai social media after he created a traditional Thai tattoo (or Sak Yant) on a customer in the Isaan province of Khon Kaen. The 10 year old child prodigy, Nakrob “Puen” Sooksusi, is considered the youngest tattoo artist in Thailand. Sak Yant is a popular form of tattoo art in Thailand.…
-
Thailand plans to relocate macaque monkeys from Phra Nakhon Khiri historical park
Phetchaburi authorities are currently working on a plan to relocate the large and mischievous macaque population at the Phra Nakhon Khiri historical park, better known as Khao Wang, to a place where they can live a more natural life and cause no disturbance to the peace, provincial governor Natthachai Nampoonsuksan announced on May 1. The number of monkeys in the…
-
Conflict at Patong massage shop leads to car ramming and injuries (video)
A conflict at a Patong massage shop led to a car ramming and injuries on Monday night, The Phuket News reported. The incident happened at around 8pm. The driver, Panudet, had a dispute with the co-owner of a luxury massage shop, Chatchanan “Patty” Charoenjai. Panudet previously reported to police that Chatchanan had slapped him across the face. The reason for…
-
Singapore ignores UN’s pleas and executes man over 1kg of cannabis
Singapore ignored pleas from the United Nations and executed a man this morning found guilty of conspiring to traffic 1 kilogramme of cannabis. At dawn, 46 year old Tangaraju Suppiah was hanged at Changi Prison in eastern Singapore, the Singapore Prison Service reported. His family received his body and a death certificate at the prison this morning. Tangaraju was sentenced…
-
Increase in international fights expected for Hua Hin Airport this year
The number of international flights to and from Hua Hin Airport is expected to increase in the near future, according to John LaRoche, CEO of the Phoenix Group, which is leading the upgrade of the airport. Speaking at the recent meeting of the Royal Coast Riviera Club on Friday, April 21, LaRoche said that despite various setbacks, including the pandemic,…
-
Chinese doctor arrested for selling herbal medicine without permit
Thai authorities arrested a Chinese doctor for selling herbal medicine in Thailand without a permit and seized 60,000 herbal medicine tablets and pharmaceutical machines. The Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released details of the Chinese doctor’s arrest during a press conference yesterday. The 45 year old doctor, Lijun Cheung, reportedly operated a clinic…
-
Stray dogs intimidate foreign tourists at Krabi’s Ao Nang Beach
There’s been more drama involving stray dogs at Ao Nang Beach in Krabi province. A pack of stray dogs intimidated two foreign tourists on the beach, The Phuket Express reported yesterday. The couple was walking their pet dog along the beach when the pack of five to six strays aggressively barked at them. The couple tried to chase the dogs away, but…
-
India’s girl power: Newborn tops population milestone
India has officially become the world’s most populous nation, with a newborn baby girl marking the milestone moment. Manu Bala, a 22 year old housewife, gave birth to her as-yet-unnamed daughter in a government hospital in the country’s Himalayan region on Monday. The mother and her child were among the more than 67,000 born across India that day when the United…
-
China accelerates nuclear arsenal expansion amid potential future conflicts with the US
China’s nuclear arsenal is expanding at an unprecedented rate, with experts suggesting that the nation is increasingly focusing on the potential for future conflicts with the United States. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), China’s stockpile currently comprises around 350 warheads, a small number compared to the US and Russia. However, the Pentagon has predicted that this…
-
EU to unveil major pharmaceutical reform for cheaper drugs and faster access
The European Union is set to announce significant reforms to its pharmaceutical regulations today, aiming to reduce costs, prevent drug shortages, and expedite the introduction of new medicines. These changes represent the EU’s most extensive overhaul of pharmaceutical legislation in two decades, partly inspired by the benefits of more streamlined processes, joint action, and improved transparency observed during the Covid-19…
-
Thailand welcomes new controversial Chinese-built amphibious assault ship
Thailand yesterday welcomed a new Chinese-built amphibious assault ship to its naval fleet. The HTMS Chang, a Type 071E landing platform dock, arrived at its homeport in southern Thailand a week after its official handover at the Chinese shipyard. The ship, which left Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding’s facility in Shanghai on Tuesday, April 18, travelled through the Taiwan Strait before arriving at…
-
New Balance kicks out of Thailand
American sports footwear brand New Balance closed all of its stores in Thailand after the contract with its importer and distributor in Thailand, CRC Sports, expired. CRC Sports, a retail company under the Central Group, was established on December 26, 1996, with a registered capital of 370 million baht. It operated under the Supersports brand and offered sports products. According…
-
Pattaya tourism boom leads to a traffic nightmare
As tourism in Pattaya continues to recover at an incredible pace, the city is faced with a downside – heavy traffic. Two significant bottlenecks were observed this month: one on Thepprasit Road, close to the Kaan and Colosseum theatres, and another on Second Road close to the South Road intersection. Additionally, areas such as Soi Regional Land in south Pattaya…
-
Kanit Sangsubhan joins Palang Pracharath Party to boost southern Thailand’s economy
The Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) recently announced the appointment of Kanit Sangsubhan, previously a special adviser to the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Office, as a member of its economic team. This move is intended to bolster the economy in Thailand’s southern border provinces. PPRP leader Prawit Wongsuwon expressed his delight at welcoming Kanit as a key member of the party,…
-
Woman arrested for stealing from foreigners at Bangkok airports and malls
The Thai Tourist Police arrested a woman for stealing money and assets from foreigners at Don Mueang International Airport and shopping malls in Bangkok. The officers also discovered 293 tablets of methamphetamine and 1.26 grammes of crystal meth at her accommodation. The arrest was made after a Chinese woman reported that her designer YSL (Yves Saint Laurent) handbag worth over…
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.