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.

  • Sponsored

    Long-term life in Thailand? 5 reasons private health insurance pays off in the long run

    Thailand is a great place for expats and retirees, offering a warm climate, affordable living, and rich culture. However, healthcare can be tricky for foreigners since they aren’t eligible for public health coverage, and private care can be expensive. Private...

  • Pattani bombs hit families hardest

    Pattani bombs hit families hardest

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Pattani bombs hit families hardest The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Among the many victims of simultaneous bomb attacks in Pattani last Saturday were the Sideh family. They lost a son, Isfan, and their bread-winning father was hurt too badly to continue working as a taxi…

  • PDRC leaders freed on bail, face sedition charges

    PDRC leaders freed on bail, face sedition charges

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community PDRC leaders freed on bail, face sedition charges The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Suthep Thaugsuban and 12 other leaders of the anti-“Thaksin regime” People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) were yesterday freed from several days of military detention after acknowledging sedition charges. PDRC co-leader Anchalee Paireerak…

  • Finance seeks Bt50-bn term loans to pay off rice farmers

    Finance seeks Bt50-bn term loans to pay off rice farmers

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Finance seeks Bt50-bn term loans to pay off rice farmers The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Finance Ministry has invited 32 state and private banks to bid for the first phase of a three-year programme of bridge loans totalling Bt50 billion to pay rice farmers…

  • Junta to receive royal endorsement

    Junta to receive royal endorsement

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Junta to receive royal endorsement The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha will be given a royal command, appointing him as the head of the NCPO, and a ceremony will be held at 10.49am today at the Royal Thai Army headquarters on…

  • Three killed in Pattani bomb blasts

    Three killed in Pattani bomb blasts

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Three killed in Pattani bomb blasts The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Insurgents launched simultaneous bomb attacks on 15 locations in Pattani late Saturday evening, killing three people and wounding 73. A Navy patrol boat and five convenience stores were damaged, while power and water utilities…

  • Red shirt terror plot subverted, suspects arrested

    Red shirt terror plot subverted, suspects arrested

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Red shirt terror plot subverted, suspects arrested The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Army says 22 in custody after being found with weapons; says they had orders from red-shirt leaders to carry out attack in Khon Kaen Twenty-one men and one woman, who were arrested over…

  • HM The King acknowledges coup | Thaiger

    HM The King acknowledges coup

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community King acknowledges to coup The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: His Majesty the King has acknowledged that the power seizure was carried out by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), the junta said in a statement yesterday. In the statement, signed by Army chief…

  • Coup leaders dissolve Senate; sack police, DSI chiefs | Thaiger

    Coup leaders dissolve Senate; sack police, DSI chiefs

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Junta dissolves Senate, set to form legislative assembly The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Junta chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha, who is also the acting prime minister, has dissolved the Senate, the only remaining legislative body, and is set to assume legislative power, according to an order…

  • Thai ex-premier Yingluck detained, junta to face media on coup

    Thai ex-premier Yingluck detained, junta to face media on coup

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thai ex-premier Yingluck detained, junta to face media on coup The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Former premier Yingluck Shinawatra has been detained by leaders of Thailand’s military junta, a source in her party said today as the army prepared to brief the media for the…

  • Thailand News: Bangkok creeps back to life; Junta wants reforms before elections; Key figures report to NPOMC

    Thailand News: Bangkok creeps back to life; Junta wants reforms before elections; Key figures report to NPOMC

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Capital creeps back to life The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: An uneasy calm settled over Bangkok yesterday as one of the world’s most vibrant cities crept back to life after a night-time curfew imposed by the military. The capital’s usual morning gridlock was relieved as…

  • More weapons of war seized in martial law crackdown

    More weapons of war seized in martial law crackdown

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community More weapons of war seized in martial law crackdown The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A joint military-police team launched two more raids and seized a cache of war weapons under the martial law as ordered by Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha. Deputy Army spokesman Colonel…

  • All protesters dispersed by soldiers; PDRC jubilant

    All protesters dispersed by soldiers; PDRC jubilant

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community All protesters dispersed by soldiers; PDRC jubilant The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Pro-government red-shirt protesters at Aksa Road rally site began returning home yesterday after the Army seized power and soldiers were sent in to take control of the situation. Earlier, the soldiers seized control…

  • War weapons linked to political unrest seized

    War weapons linked to political unrest seized

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Raids seize large caches of war weapons linked to political unrest The Nation  / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Acting under the martial law declared early Tuesday morning, joint teams of military and police officers launched raids at three locations to hunt for war weapons thought to have…

  • Fire razes 150-year-old market, 50 homes destroyed

    Fire razes 150-year-old market, 50 homes destroyed

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Fire razes 150-year-old market in Bang Phli The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: “Though it was fortunate that my family managed to escape unharmed, we are heartbroken to see the 150-year-old market burned down, especially since it was an iconic place in [Samut Prakan’s] Bang Phli…

  • Five male suspects arrested in Narathiwat | Thaiger

    Five male suspects arrested in Narathiwat

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Five male suspects arrested in Narathiwat The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A 100-strong team of paramilitary rangers took five men into custody yesterday during a raid on three villages in Narathiwat’s Rangae district. The arrests were made under martial law. In a move to hunt…

  • Police vow quick action on stabbing death near Bangkok rally site | Thaiger

    Police vow quick action on stabbing death near Bangkok rally site

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Police vow quick action on stabbing death The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Metropolitan Police have vowed to quickly solve the stabbing to death of a homeless man whose body was found stuffed in a sack near an anti-government rally site earlier this week. Pol Maj-General…

  • Drop election if too dangerous: Army

    Drop election if too dangerous: Army

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Drop election if too dangerous: Army The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Election Commission (EC) secretary general Puchong Nutrawong said the Army had told him that if the next general election was likely to result in bloodshed, or would be too difficult to arrange, the EC…

  • Business groups hail army move if there is no coup

    Business groups hail army move if there is no coup

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Foreign business groups hail army move if there is no coup The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Foreign chambers and business associations hope that the declaration of martial law will lead to an increase in security and safety, and eventually to a functioning government. Darren Buckley,…

  • Army chief takes aim at political deadlock

    Army chief takes aim at political deadlock

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Army chief Prayuth takes aim at political deadlock The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: With martial law in place, Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha intends to bring together all stakeholders in the political conflict to break the deadlock, as he says the country cannot continue in…

  • Martial law more bad news for embattled tourism industry

    Martial law more bad news for embattled tourism industry

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Martial law more bad news for embattled tourism industry The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Tourists may start avoiding Thailand in droves now that the military has declared martial law, as many countries have issued advisories warning their citizens about the political crisis here. Travel and…

  • Martial law not a coup, says Army chief

    Martial law not a coup, says Army chief

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community ‘This is not a coup’ says Thai army, as martial law declared Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Thailand’s army declared martial law nationwide this morning to restore order after six months of street protests that have left the country without a proper functioning government, but denied…

  • Army declares martial law

    Army declares martial law

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Army chief declares martial law The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha Tuesday declared martial law that covers the entire nation. Martial law took effect at 3am. Gen Prayuth stated that the declaration was necessary to prevent people from committing violence and…

  • Thailand News: Army warns may use full force; Quake villagers still in fear; Thai Mers cases under watch

    Thailand News: Army warns may use full force; Quake villagers still in fear; Thai Mers cases under watch

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Army warns it will use ‘full force’ The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The mounting death toll of anti-government protesters has triggered the Army’s strongest reaction, saying it may need to resort to “full military force” if the bloodshed continues. “I want to warn every group,…

  • Bomb attacks force suspension of Deep South train services

    Bomb attacks force suspension of Deep South train services

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Bomb attacks force suspension of train services The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Fourteen local trains were forced to suspend services for three days after insurgents bombed the southern railway track in Narathiwat’s Joh I Rong and Rangae districts yesterday. Nobody was harmed in the bombings.…

  • Army has no plans to crack down on red shirts, says King’s Guard chief

    Army has no plans to crack down on red shirts, says King’s Guard chief

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community No plans to crack down on red shirts: King’s Guard chief The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: the Army’s First Division, King’s guard chief Maj Gen Apirat Kongsompong yesterday denied setting up a taskforce in preparation for a crackdown on red-shirt protesters. This was in response…

  • Bangkok protesters killed, 22 injured in grenade, gun attack | Thaiger

    Bangkok protesters killed, 22 injured in grenade, gun attack

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Two killed, 22 others injured in grenade, gun attack at Democracy Monument The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Two people were fatally shot and 22 others were injured when assailants on a pick-up truck fired an M79 grenade at anti-government protesters and fired at guards of…

  • Thailand News: Academics offer plan for interim leader; Bombs at Lumpini; Blue powder probe in elephant death

    Thailand News: Academics offer plan for interim leader; Bombs at Lumpini; Blue powder probe in elephant death

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Group comes up with plan for interim govt leader The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A group of academics and peace advocates yesterday urged rival political camps to forget about appointing a “neutral” prime minister through Article 7 of the Constitution and jointly select an interim…

  • Dog rape not rape

    Dog rape not rape

    PHUKET: Police in Nakhon Ratchasima, the gateway province to Isarn known as “Korat”, are investigating a report about a known sex addict who allegedly raped his neighbor’s dog, named Dodo. The incident was brought to light when Attapon Srisopha, the 36-year-old village headman in Tambon Nong Ya Khao, escorted Anuwat Saithong and his three-year-old female Golden Retriever to Sikhio Police…

  • Thailand News: PDRC heads to bridge; Can’t choose PM, says senior judge; Pattaya to extend beach

    Thailand News: PDRC heads to bridge; Can’t choose PM, says senior judge; Pattaya to extend beach

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community PDRC shuts Lumpini rally site, heads for final battle The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) will today end its rally at Lumpini Park and move all rally sites to Makkhawan Rangsan Bridge. PDRC secretary general Suthep Thaugsuban last night made…

  • Thailand News: TV stations occupied, fears of clashes rise; July 20 poll in doubt; Sacred oxen predict a good year

    Thailand News: TV stations occupied, fears of clashes rise; July 20 poll in doubt; Sacred oxen predict a good year

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community ‘Final fight’ to bring down govt The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Anti-government protesters yesterday began their “final fight” to topple the embattled government by occupying the country’s five major television stations and other key locations, amid mounting fears of street clashes between rival political groups.…