Thailand News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, and lifestyle—get breaking updates from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. Stay informed on Thai society, economy, tourism, and expat life with The Thaiger.
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Sponsored Where to travel in Thailand in August [2025]
There’s no better way to experience Thailand than through its cuisine. In the rainy season, flavours bloom alongside the landscape, steam rises from market pots, the snap of chilli echoes through alleyways, and rain makes every bite more vivid. “I...
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Pro-election activists released on bail
Fifteen political activists have been granted bail shortly after the Criminal Court ordered their 12 day detention following charges resulting from participation in last Tuesday’s pro-election assembly in the capital. The activists were released yesterday on 100,000 baht bail each with the condition that they must not take part in political gatherings that will “break laws and put society at…
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Asian boat shows merge
The local boating industry’s been calling for it for years – a single boat show to showcase the best of Phuket and Thailand’s boating opportunities, destinations and marine lifestyle. In a joint statement issued today by Andy Treadwell, CEO of Verventia, owner of the Singapore and Thailand Yacht Shows, and Gael and Olivier Burlot, owners of Asia RendezVous, organisers of…
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No ban on controversial toxic agriculture chemicals
By Pratch Rujivanarom A verdict on the use of herbicides and pesticides paraquat, glyphosate and chlorpyrifos has been handed down following a long debate between farmers, officials and environmentalists. This, despite opposition groups pointing out connections between some of the Committee members making the decision and the Agri-chemical companies. The use of the controversial farming chemicals will continue to be…
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Special Report: Saving Maya Bay
By Pattarawadee Saengmanee The island, Koh Phi Phi Ley, made famous by the movie “The Beach”, is due to get a complete makeover as part of a new project designed to protect the environment and the ocean. As I step out of the boat on the shore of Maya Bay, my brain goes into overdrive. Where, I ask myself, is…
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12 million meth pills seized in Chiang Rai
Police in Chiang Rai, far north Thailand, say they’ve seized a huge cache of 12 million methamphetamine pills from an abandoned vehicle. National police adviser Pol General Thanitsak Thirasawat said that the pickup truck was found on the Chiang Rai-Wiang Chai road in Wiang Chai district loaded with 57 sacks of narcotics weighing 1,425 kilograms. The truck’s licence plate number…
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10 good news stats from today’s economic forecast
The first four months of 2018 have seen the Thai economy surge ahead, Some key numbers were released today about the good news in the country’s financial report card. The value of exports rose 12.3% in April, year-on-year. • This month’s rise in exports is the 14th consecutive month of growth. In April Thailand shipped out 120,000 tonnes of durian,…
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NCPO Four Year anniversary – Has Prayut brought happiness back to Thailand?
COMMENT Today is the fourth anniversary of the NCPO (National Committee of Peace and Order) coup which overthrew the elected Yingluck Shinawatra government in 2014. At the time it was claimed that the coup was necessary to stop Thai protesters harming each other and ‘to bring happiness back to the people’. General Prayut rode into the capital, Army in tow,…
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Tight security in Bangkok and Northeast ahead of pro-election rallies
Authorities are tightening security in Bangkok and the Northeast provinces today as pro-election activists gather to march to Government House with an ultimatum to hold a general election by late this year, not next year as the junta plans. A few hundreds activists led by the Democratic Restoration Group gathered yesterday at Thammasat University’s Tha Prachan campus less than 5…
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20 baht fake gun bank robber arrested in Krabi
A lone 45 year old robber, Attasit Sriwattana, who robbed a Bangkok Bank brach at the Big C in Muang Krabi on May 18 and escaped with 119,781 baht in cash, was doing a reenactment last Saturday (May 19). On May 18 Attasit robbed the bank at 6.41pm. Attasit used a fake gun to point at a teller forcing her…
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Paraquat – Decision to be made about a ban in Thailand this week
Thailand’s National Committee on Hazardous Substances Control will decide whether to ban the domestic use of Paraquat, a herbicide used to control weeds, after consumer protection and industrial groups joined hands to support the ban. The announcement is set to made this Wednesday. At least three of the country’s 47 sugar refineries say they support the proposed ban on Paraquat,…
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More bombs rock the South – three injured
Three people have been injured following suspected insurgent attacks in the South yesterday. Explosives were placed in or near to ATM machines and bank branches in 14 locations in Yala, Songkhla, Pattani and Narathiwat. At this stage, as with most attacks in the deep south, there has been no claim of responsibility. The fasting month of Ramadan started last week. Video…
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Thai Airways profits up nearly 50% for Q1
Thai Airways International and its subsidiaries have been able to notch up an operating profit of 3,836 million baht for the first quarter of 2018. This represents a 49.4% improvement over the same period last year, despite rising fuel costs. That cashes out as a net profit of 2,737 million baht, still 432 million baht (13.6%) short of last year’s Q1…
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Renting out rooms daily or weekly? You better read this.
SCREENGRAB: AirBnB website Illegal short-term holiday rentals, advertised and promoted by online portals like AirBnB, are coming under increasing scrutiny from authorities. Although there has been laws preventing short-term property rentals acting as ‘hotels’, the law has been loosely enforced with some condo developments around the country acting as defacto hotels and listing in many online booking websites. In May…
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PHAB 2 raises 4.5 million baht for local scholarships
The Phuket Hotels Association recently hosted a hugely successful benefit evening and raised a total of 4.5 million baht for young hospitality professionals in Phuket. On April 28 the “Phuket Hotels Association Benefit 2 (PHAB 2) – Glam, Glitz and Glitter” event was held at Latitude Laguna. This marked the second annual edition of the benefit, following the inaugural event…
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Five years of commitment to keep Phuket’s beaches clean
Phuket’s Clean the Beach Boot Camp (CBBC) has been cleaning the island’s beaches for five years. Each two weeks, on a Saturday morning, volunteers assemble for a free beach workout from island fitness leader Krix Luther and then, in return, they put on their gloves, grab a big bag and pick up rubbish on the beaches. Yesterday the team assembled…
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The cheapest places in the world to live – Is Thailand on the list?
PHOTO: Sam Kittner Compared to what you’re paying in the west, in some countries you can have a palatial house, a maid, personal chef, good health care and a driver for the same cost of a struggling life in your home country. Thailand has long been seen as a retirement haven with its low cost of living, great food and…
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Maya Bay – let the healing begin
By Piyaporn Wongruang – The Sunday Nation It was around 10 in the morning. There was peace and tranquility at Maya Bay and its beach with just a few speedboats docking in front of the bay. The crystal clear deep blue turquoise sea water filled the vision of Plianprasop Khaonual, a long-time park ranger and among the first who explored…
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Emerald Development Group addresses accusations of fraud and mismanagement
CEO of the Emerald Development Group Sawit ‘Mai’ Ketroj held a press conference yesterday (Saturday) at the Dara Hotel to address accusations of fraud and mismanagement. In reports to the Court the amounts involved in the alleged fraud case mount up to more than a billion baht with more than 300 buyers filing complaints with the Emerald Development Group. He opened…
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Fly cheap to Oz with AIS on QANTAS
Use AIS mobile. You could be flying to Australia with a discount. QANTAS is offering AIS mobile phone users in the capital an 8% discount on airfares on all routes from Bangkok to Australia, or New Zealand, until 31 July. The offer is valid on routes Bangkok to Australia (Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, and Melbourne) and Bangkok to New Zealand (Auckland,…
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4-month breathing space – DNP officially closes down Maya Bay
Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) has officially announced that Maya Bay in Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park will not allow visitors during a much-needed four-month rejuvenation period from June 1 to September 30 this year. The DNP announced at a press conference held on May 15 that access to Maya Bay will…
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73% of Thais are buying online – Experian
Three quarters of Thai consumers are making online purchases, with Beauty and Fashion, and Electronics being the top categories. However, as consumers continue to look towards convenience, fraud exposure will likely increase – these are the findings of the Digital Consumer Insights 2018 by the world’s leading information services company Experian, co-authored with leading ICT market research and advisory firm…
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Suspect arrested with over 100,000 meth pills after road accident in Krabi
Krabi Police have arrested 36 year old Supat ‘Bao’ Pueaksom. Police seized 115,150 methamphetamine pills along with a handgun and 10 bullets. The arrest came after Tuesday (May 5) when Plai Phraya Police in Krabi were notified of that a car collided with a kilometre marker on the side of the Route 44 Southern Seaboard road in Krabi. The car…
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French cybercrime suspect arrested in police raid – Samui
PHOTOS: Samui Police Frenchman Jonathan Verron, an alleged leader of a hacker group that stole data from a British financial institution and demanded a ransom to keep it secure, has been arrested on Koh Samui this morning (Friday). Crime Suppression Division Fifth Command and Technology Crime Suppression Division police had French embassy staff on hand when they raided a house…
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EU maintains yellow card over Thai fishing
Continuing systemic flaws in the protection of the rights of workers and sustainable fishing policies has kept Thailand on the European Union’s “yellow flag” watch list for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. A source at the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry revealed that the EU has decided to maintain Thaialnd’s yellow flag for on IUU fishing. Activists from the Civil…
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The Andaman’s first artificial seaweed installation in Khao Lak
An installation of ‘artificial seaweed’ took place at Bang Neang Beach in Takua Pa, led by Phang Nga Vice Governor Pakpoom Intarasuwan yesterday (May 16). There were 25 volunteer conservationists across different occupations such as teachers, doctors, soldiers, police, local politicians and foreigners joining in the installation which is happening over four days. Diving instructor Songwut Kwongming, who is the…
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Five ‘Monkey Islands’ to be established
Five uninhabited small islands off Phuket have been chosen as possible monkey colonies. Public hearings for the plan to release wild monkeys from various provinces that are overcrowded with monkeys to these small islands will be held later this month. “Surveys show there are five islands off Phuket that should be able to serve as monkey colonies. These islands have…
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Seven pit bull dogs attack Monk
A 68 year old Buddhist monk has had a lucky escape after being mauled by sevenpit bulls while on a morning alms round in Samut Songkhram province. This information from a local police Facebook page. The photos of Phakhru Samutkhanisorn Panyawichuro’s 50 bitemarks, including several wounds that required up to 20 stitches were circulated in Thai social media. The Nation…
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Companies like AirBnB ‘illegal’ for daily and weekly rentals in Thailand
PHOTO: Wan Vayla Condos in Khao Tao A court ruling handed down in Hua Hin effectively confirms that people who rent out their rooms via companies like AirBnB on a daily and weekly basis are acting illegally. A letter has been sent to the Wan Vayla condos in Khao Tao from the local authorities outlining the court’s decision in two…
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COMMENT: What does it take to change driving habits?
Yesterday we had to report the sad news of 12 year old Chinnarat Kajatroka who fell off the motorbike he was driving whilst his 12 year old passenger had to watch in horror as his friend’s head was crushed by a tour bus which was following behind. On his own admission the two were travelling very fast, apparently racing another…
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No more beatings, and turn off your cameras – Royal Thai Army
In a tacit admission of the extent of the mistreatment and systemic hazing of Royal Thai Army recruits, the Army has instructed its conscript trainers to mete out punishment strictly in accordance to regulation and to prohibit photos and videos during training. But the recommendation to ‘prohibit photos and videos during training’ suggests that, rather than being open and accountable in the…
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