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.

  • Covid-19 nasal spray vaccines in development in Thailand | Thaiger

    Covid-19 nasal spray vaccines in development in Thailand

    The National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, known as BIOTEC, believes that the solution to Covid-19 vaccination may be right under our noses. Thai virologists at BIOTEC have 2 nasal spray options currently in development for domestic production that may act as a substitute for Covid-19 vaccines in needle form. They believe a nasal spray or inhaler may provide…

  • Covid UPDATE Saturday: 21,838 new infections – a new record, news briefs | Thaiger

    Covid UPDATE Saturday: 21,838 new infections – a new record, news briefs

    This morning the Thai public health department has announced 21,838 new infections along with 212 Covid-related deaths. 923 of the new cases have emerged from Thai prisons. 21,108 patients have been released from hospitals in the past 24 hours, significantly, nearly the same amount of new cases announced over the past 24 hours. 5,159 patients remain in “serious condition” whilst…

  • Enter Thailand quickly and easily during Covid-19! | Thaiger

    Enter Thailand quickly and easily during Covid-19!

    Sponsored Article Are you looking to easily travel to Thailand? If yes then you’re lucky you found us! Since Covid-19 hit the whole world in 2020, insurance with Covid-19 coverage has become necessary in order to fly to many countries, including Thailand. The Thaiger is here to help people of all nationalities, especially including Thais, plan their next trip to…

  • Saiyok Floatel given 30 days to remove floating structures | Thaiger

    Saiyok Floatel given 30 days to remove floating structures

    The proprietor of the Saiyok Floatel in Kanchanaburi, a province in western Thailand, has been ordered to remove all their floating structures on the Kwae Noi River within 30 days. Reportedly, the resort is infringing on Sai Yok National Park’s land. Park officials posted the order via the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation at the multi-million baht…

  • Civil Court rules against PM, says he exceeded his constitutional authority | Thaiger

    Civil Court rules against PM, says he exceeded his constitutional authority

    Today, the Thai courts have ruled against Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha by stating he probably overstepped his authority by banning any news/information that could incite fear in the public. The Civil Court issued an emergency injunction after a group of media companies/human rights lawyers petitioned the court. The court says the PM exceeded his constitutional authority to restrict such information…

  • PM calls for expedited probe into “Sandbox” traveller’s death; victim’s timeline released | Thaiger

    PM calls for expedited probe into “Sandbox” traveller’s death; victim’s timeline released

    PM Prayut Chan-o-cha ordered authorities to expedite the investigation into the case of the Swiss government official who was found dead, possibly raped and murdered, in a creek in Phuket after entering Thailand under the island’s new “Sandbox” reopening scheme. Thailand’s national police chief Suwat Jangyodsuk has flown down to Phuket and is now investigating the case along with detectives…

  • Actor’s girlfriend stabbed to death in Bangkok following “struggle” over knife | Thaiger

    Actor’s girlfriend stabbed to death in Bangkok following “struggle” over knife

    Early this morning, an actor from a popular Thai TV show that’s title translates to “It’s because of love, isn’t it?”, has been taken in by police in connection with the death of his girlfriend. 21 year old Thanapat “Toy Toy” Thanachakulphisan was waiting for police at “a house” in Bangkok following his girlfriend’s death. Thai media says police were…

  • Friday Covid Update: 21,379 new cases; provincial totals | Thaiger

    Friday Covid Update: 21,379 new cases; provincial totals

    A high of 21,379 new Covid-19 cases and 191 coronavirus-related deaths were reported today by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. There are now 212,926 active Covid-19 cases in Thailand. A total of 714,684 Covid-19 cases have been reported by the CCSA since the start of the pandemic last year. The latest and most severe wave of the virus, first…

  • Missing swimmer’s body possibly found, officials await positive ID | Thaiger

    Missing swimmer’s body possibly found, officials await positive ID

    Earlier this week, the Thaiger wrote how a man went missing after going out for a swim at Freedom Beach in Phuket. Now, officials believe they have located the missing man’s body. Jirayut Niyomdet from the Phuket Marine Police says officials believe they found Akkarapol Pattranonwere’s body yesterday. The body was discovered lying face down in the water and was…

  • Nonthaburi doctor arrested for allegedly collecting “commission fees” | Thaiger

    Nonthaburi doctor arrested for allegedly collecting “commission fees”

    Yesterday, the hospital director for Bang Kruai Hospital, which is located in central Thailand’s Nonthaburi province, was arrested for allegedly trying to supplement his income with a 35% “commission” from a contractor over the hospital’s 280,000 baht computer system. Counter Corruption Division police and the Office of Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission officials arrested 53 year old Dr Wichai Rattthanaphanphani for…

  • Survey shows nearly half of Thai businesses expect return to normality in early 2022 | Thaiger

    Survey shows nearly half of Thai businesses expect return to normality in early 2022

    A survey carried out by the Bank of Thailand shows that nearly half of Thai businesses expect life to return to normal during the first quarter of 2022. According to a Bangkok Post report, businesses of all sizes were interviewed between July 1 – 22 as part of the business sentiment index. The findings show that 45% expect people to…

  • Body of Swiss national in Phuket identified as foreign government official | Thaiger

    Body of Swiss national in Phuket identified as foreign government official

    Officers have announced the identity of the Swiss national who was found dead in a Phuket creek as 57 year old Nicole Sauvain Weisskopf, a woman who entered Thailand last month under the new “Sandbox” reopening scheme. According to the Bangkok Post, Nicole is the assistant protocol chief of the Federal Assembly of Switzerland. Another report in Thai media says…

  • Friday Covid Update: 21,379 new cases and 191 deaths | Thaiger

    Friday Covid Update: 21,379 new cases and 191 deaths

    The number of Covid-19 infections and deaths continues to rise and hit record highs. Today, 21,379 new Covid-19 cases and 191 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. On Wednesday, the daily case count exceeded 20,000 and the daily fatality count hit a high of 188. There are now 212,926 active Covid-19 cases in Thailand. In…

  • Environmental groups urge government to ban the import of plastic waste | Thaiger

    Environmental groups urge government to ban the import of plastic waste

    The Thai government is being urged to push ahead with a ban on importing plastic waste, instead promoting the recycling of domestic plastic waste. Over 100 environmental groups say this is essential to protecting the environment, as well as creating a circular economy. According to a Bangkok Post report, 107 groups have released a joint statement calling for a ban…

  • Dr Boon, THG group must clarify Pfizer deal controversy | Thaiger

    Dr Boon, THG group must clarify Pfizer deal controversy

    Trouble is deepening for Dr Boon Vanasin, the President of Thonburi Healthcare Group, who has been accused of a large stock purchase before lying about his company procuring Pfizer vaccines that caused the stock to soar. The Chairman of the Crime Victims’ Assistance Club has filed a complaint with the CyberCrime Investigation Bureau against Boon for sharing that fake news…

  • 5.7% of foreign residents in Thailand have received a dose of the Covid-19 vaccine | Thaiger

    5.7% of foreign residents in Thailand have received a dose of the Covid-19 vaccine

    Around 5.7% of foreign residents in Thailand have been injected with at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine from March 12 to July 30, according to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. Out of the 280,075 foreign residents vaccinated, only 74,587 of them have received both doses of the vaccine. Only 20,903 foreign residents ages 60 and above, a…

  • Thursday Covid Update: 20,920 new cases; provincial totals | Thaiger

    Thursday Covid Update: 20,920 new cases; provincial totals

    Thailand’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration reported a record high of 20,920 new Covid-19 cases and 160 coronavirus-related deaths today. There are now 213,910 active Covid-19 cases in Thailand. Since the start of the pandemic last year, the CCSA has reported 693,305 new Covid-19 cases and 5,663 coronavirus-related fatalities. The latest wave has accounted for 664,442 of those cases and…

  • Phuket’s BigGym allegedly closes 2 branches for good, doesn’t reimburse members | Thaiger

    Phuket’s BigGym allegedly closes 2 branches for good, doesn’t reimburse members

    Yesterday, in Phuket, a joint complaint was filed by 36 gym goers after the fitness centre, BigGym reportedly closed 2 branches, allegedly without notifying their patrons that they were about to shut down. The complainants say they lost over 3.5 million baht in membership fees. The members filed their complaints against BigGym with the Phuket City Police. One member,” Mr…

  • Bangkok closure order extended until August 31 | Thaiger

    Bangkok closure order extended until August 31

    Numerous businesses and venues in Bangkok will be closed at least until the end of the month. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration extended its closure order on non-essential businesses, places and venues until August 31. The closure order is in addition to the disease control measures set by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. Under the Emergency Decree, provincial governments can…

  • Nonthaburi field hospital adds an ICU | Thaiger

    Nonthaburi field hospital adds an ICU

    Yesterday, the Busarakham field hospital in Nonthaburi, a central Thai province, opened its first intensive care unit. The ICU will treat people who have severe cases of Covid who are waiting to be admitted to general hospitals. Dr Kittisak Aksornwong, the assistant permanent secretary of public health, says the ICU, which is located in the parking lot behind the field…

  • Thursday Covid Update: High of 20,920 new cases and 160 deaths | Thaiger

    Thursday Covid Update: High of 20,920 new cases and 160 deaths

    A record high of 20,920 new Covid-19 cases and 160 coronavirus-related deaths were reported today by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. In the latest and most severe wave of Covid-19, first recorded on April 1, the CCSA has recorded 664,442 Covid-19 cases. Over the last 24 hours since the last count, the CCSA recorded 17,926 recoveries. Thailand now has 213,910…

  • Delta variant now the predominant strain, 78% of Thai infections | Thaiger

    Delta variant now the predominant strain, 78% of Thai infections

    Weeks ago experts predicted that the Delta variant would become the predominant strain of Covid-19 in Thailand by early August. Now, as foreseen, a new study shows that 78.2% of all new Covid-19 infections throughout the country are of the Delta variant. The Medical Sciences Department’s Director-General revealed the results of a test the department had been running in their…

  • Controversial food delivery only rule faces criticism | Thaiger

    Controversial food delivery only rule faces criticism

    Most people understand the need for Covid-19 restrictions and safety protections, but many people are complaining about one questionable restriction that affects anyone who owns a food establishment or indeed eats. Restaurants and their patrons are both miffed about the revision to the dark red zone Covid-19 restrictions that changed from food establishments being open for takeaway only to being…

  • Thai Airways selling 10 properties to raise capital | Thaiger

    Thai Airways selling 10 properties to raise capital

    With deepening debt and the Covid-19 pandemic dragging on and flattening the tourism and travel industry, Thai Airways International is looking to sell off some large assets like buildings and properties to stabilise the struggling airline. The airline has been in the throes of bankruptcy and debt rehabilitation for months now after failing to secure a bailout from the government.…

  • Wednesday Covid Update: 20,200 new cases, provincial totals | Thaiger

    Wednesday Covid Update: 20,200 new cases, provincial totals

    Thailand’s daily counts for Covid-19 cases and deaths hit record highs today with 20,200 new Covid-19 cases and 188 coronavirus-related fatalities recorded today by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. A total of 672,395 confirmed Covid-19 infections and 5,503 coronavirus-related deaths have been recorded in Thailand since the start of the pandemic last year. Thailand’s latest and most severe wave…

  • Tour Phuket’s Islands with 5 Star Marine | Thaiger

    Tour Phuket’s Islands with 5 Star Marine

    Sponsored article 5 Star Marine Searching for a private boat charter in Phuket? Look no further than 5 Star Marine. Operating in Phuket for over 13 years, 5 Star Marine has since evolved to become industry leaders. Today, they are one of the top boat companies in Phuket, due to their strength in customer focus and premium boats at affordable…

  • 31 anti-government activists granted conditional release | Thaiger

    31 anti-government activists granted conditional release

    The Central Criminal Court has granted 31 anti-government protesters conditional release on the basis that they are not considered flight risks. The activists include Jatupat Boonpattararaksa, aka, “Pai Dao Din”, and have been in custody since their arrest in front of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau in Bangkok on Sunday and Monday. According to a Thai PBS World report, the protesters…

  • Ban on mass gatherings published in Royal Gazette ahead of anti-government protests this weekend | Thaiger

    Ban on mass gatherings published in Royal Gazette ahead of anti-government protests this weekend

    A new order has been published in the Royal Gazette banning all mass gatherings, including rallies, protests, and assemblies. The order was published last night, ahead of planned anti-government demonstrations in Bangkok this weekend. The order is being implemented under the Emergency Decree, which has now been extended 13 times since its introduction in March 2020. According to a Pattaya…

  • Transport Company announces bus services are suspended until August 31 | Thaiger

    Transport Company announces bus services are suspended until August 31

    The state-run Transport Company announced that all interprovincial bus services will be suspended until the end of the month. Under the recent order imposed by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, interprovincial public transportation out of the 29 “dark red” zones, including Bangkok, is not allowed. The CCSA’s order is in effect until August 16, but a spokesperson says the…

  • Hemp ice cream hits the Thai market | Thaiger

    Hemp ice cream hits the Thai market

    The ice cream maker “Hemp” has launched a CBD infused ice cream. Their products are produced using Golden Triangle Group’s assistance. The group represent a big business mover and shaker in Thailand’s legal cannabis industry. Previously they opened a cafe on Soi Sukhumvit 36 in Bangkok. The flavours include: Northern Lights: chamomile mint chip tea Pineapple Express: apple and mango…