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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    Travel vs international health insurance: Which coverage do you need overseas?

    The Thaiger key takeaways Travel insurance is ideal for short-term trips, covering emergencies, cancellations, and lost luggage, but not routine care. International health insurance suits expats and long-term residents, offering full medical coverage, including checkups, maternity, and chronic care. Choosing...

  • Her Majesty the Queen visits hospital for checkup | Thaiger

    Her Majesty the Queen visits hospital for checkup

    Her Majesty Queen Sirikit has been admitted to the Chulalongkorn Hospital yesterday for a general physical checkup. The announcement from the Bureau of the Royal Household. The announcement says that the Queen will remain at the hospital until Friday.

  • Bank of Thailand ups policy rate to 1.75 percent, first rise in 7 years | Thaiger

    Bank of Thailand ups policy rate to 1.75 percent, first rise in 7 years

    The Bank of Thailand has increased its policy rate by 25 points, up from 1.50 percent to 1.75 percent. It’s the first rise in seven years. The Monetary Policy Committee voted 5:2 to raise the one-day repurchase rate to 1.75 percent with immediate effect after the rate was kept unchanged for seven years, noting that the need to depend on relaxed…

  • POP – Thailand’s first satellite-based rain algorithm | Thaiger

    POP – Thailand’s first satellite-based rain algorithm

    The daily forecast gives us an approximate idea of expected weather and rain. But now researchers have a new tool which will provide much more accurate predictions of precipitation around the Kingdom. The system will be an invaluable tool for water management and flood prevention. They’ve successfully developed Thailand’s first satellite-based algorithm to accurately estimate rainfall. “We call this algorithm…

  • “The Election Commission can decide” – PM on foreign observers for election | Thaiger

    “The Election Commission can decide” – PM on foreign observers for election

    Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is making it clear that the Election Commission (EC) are the sole authority to decide whether or not to allow foreign observers to monitor the election scheduled for February 24, 2019. But, Gen Prayut insisted that Thailand must solve its own internal problems to ensure transparency and fairness in order to restore international community’s confidence in…

  • Neighborhood quarrel suspected in brutal killing of family | Thaiger

    Neighborhood quarrel suspected in brutal killing of family

    by Somjit Rungjamrassamee Police are searching for three Burmese suspects in a brutal murder of four people, including a four year old boy and a four month old baby. The four family members, all from Myanmar, are believed to have been killed while they were sleeping on Saturday night. The gruesome killing took place in the border province of Tak…

  • Driver killed and eight injured in passenger van crash | Thaiger

    Driver killed and eight injured in passenger van crash

    PHOTOS: js100.com Eight South Korean tourists have been injured in a fatal passenger van accident in Chachoengsao today. In this case it’s alleged that the speeding van they were travelling in hit the rear of a pickup truck whilst it was making a U-turn. It also hit a motorcycle, before colliding with a concrete barrier at noon today. The driver…

  • Digital driving license coming to Thailand next year | Thaiger

    Digital driving license coming to Thailand next year

    Stopped at a checkpoint? Fossiciking around in your bag for your license and ID? A new app will be launched in January in which motorists will be able to show their credentials to any law enforcement officer in Thailand. This means you will no longer have to carry a physical license with you.The police will be able to scan a…

  • Surachete doubles down on expelling illegal foreigners | Thaiger

    Surachete doubles down on expelling illegal foreigners

    “I want to keep the number at zero.” Immigration Bureau chief Surachate Hakparn is admitting that the frequent and highly public crackdowns on immigration suspects living in Thailand illegally is making other foreigners feel uncomfortable. But he says the Bureau’s success in the X-Ray Foreigner campaigns outweighs the concerns of expats. He has once again claimed that the number of…

  • Search on for person who tried to drown puppies | Thaiger

    Search on for person who tried to drown puppies

    “Paitoon, accompanied by many, also made merit for the deceased pups.” by Saichon Srinuanjan Authorities suspect somebody may tried to drown seven puppies and succeeded in killing five of them in Ratchaburi’s city district, west of Bangkok. Two puppies from the litter were found wet, but alive, though five other likely siblings were found at the same spot but lifeless.…

  • Royal Decree for February 24 election has been sent to HM the King | Thaiger

    Royal Decree for February 24 election has been sent to HM the King

    PHOTO: Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam – The Nation The Royal Decree on the election of members to the parliament has already been submitted to His Majesty the King for his Royal approval, according to the Deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam. He reaffirmed that the election date remains unchanged on February 24, but the date for advance voting for overseas voters…

  • Sedan careers into family food shop in Tak | Thaiger

    Sedan careers into family food shop in Tak

    PHOTO: The Nation A couple running a roadside family food shop in Tak’s Mae Sot district have been injured following a car making an unexpected ‘drive thru’ attempt. Tak is on Thailand’s western border with Myanmar. The incident occurred last night when a car driven by a Burmese man slammed into it. Police were seeking to determine whether Aung So,…

  • Thaiger Radio News – Sunday | Thaiger

    Thaiger Radio News – Sunday

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  • Leonid meteor shower displays across the early morning skies | Thaiger

    Leonid meteor shower displays across the early morning skies

    “…at some times, about three to four meteors per minute.” PHOTO: Nexter.org More than 500 stargazers, many from Bangkok, camped out at the Prachinburi Observatory last night and early this morning to witness the annual Leonid meteor shower. The Bangkok observatory set up 12 large telescopes for the stargazers to watch the meteor shower. By 5am, over 500 people were…

  • Foreigners will be allowed to serve as arbitrators – NLA votes | Thaiger

    Foreigners will be allowed to serve as arbitrators – NLA votes

    The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) has voted to pass the draft amended Arbitration Act in its first reading which will allow foreigners to serve as arbitrators in Thailand. The NLA yesterday voted 139-0 with 2 abstentions to pass the bill amending the 2002 Arbitration Act in its first reading. Deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam, who presented the draft bill, told legislators…

  • Blood is thicker than water. But not always in Thai politics. | Thaiger

    Blood is thicker than water. But not always in Thai politics.

    PHOTOS: The Nation, Thai PBS The Juangroongruangkit family may share genes and parts of the family empire. But there’s one thing they can’t agree on. Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the young and charismatic leader of the new Future Forward party, has tow members of his immediate family show have teamed up with the pro-government Palang Pracharat party. In an interview, Thanathorn says he regretted…

  • Thailand’s digital economy and data use to expand x 4 in the next 3 years | Thaiger

    Thailand’s digital economy and data use to expand x 4 in the next 3 years

    by Nophakhun Limsamarnphun Data use in the country’s fast-paced digital economy is forecast to jump four times over the next three years, resulting in massive demand and growth for data storage facilities. The managing director of Supernap Thailand, Sunita Bottse, says that the number of Thailand’s mobile device users has reached 46 million out of the country’s 69 million population, while…

  • 506 more people rounded up and arrested in latest immigration sting | Thaiger

    506 more people rounded up and arrested in latest immigration sting

    PHOTO: The Nation Police have rounded up and arrested another 506 foreigners in their X-Ray Outlaw campaign, mostly for living illegally in the Kingdom. The results of the recent operations, checking foreigners nationwide, were announced at another late night media conference at the Grace Hotel on Soi Sukhumvit 3 at 1:30 am today by the deputy Immigration Bureau chief. He said…

  • Thaiger Radio News – Friday | Thaiger

    Thaiger Radio News – Friday

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  • PM comes under attack after political bans lifted | Thaiger

    PM comes under attack after political bans lifted

    Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha and his governmental coming under attack from politicians taking advantage of the junta’s lifting of political restrictions. The ban was officially lifted on Tuesday allowing commentary about politics, including criticism of other politicians and parties. Most of the parties who have been speaking up so far are linked to fugitive former PM Thaksin Shinawatra. Thaksin has…

  • Thailand’s Islamic council bans children under 17 from marrying | Thaiger

    Thailand’s Islamic council bans children under 17 from marrying

    by Kornrawee Panyasuppakun The Central Islamic Council of Thailand (CICOT)’s has passed a new regulation banning children under the age of 17 from marriage. But there is a loophole in the new regulation. Thailand’s Islamic council has, for the first time, issued a ban on child marriage nationwide. This follows public anger sparked by the marriage back in July of…

  • Thaiger Radio News – Thursday | Thaiger

    Thaiger Radio News – Thursday

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  • New WHO world road death report – Thailand drops to number 8 but still high | Thaiger

    New WHO world road death report – Thailand drops to number 8 but still high

    Thailand’s roads remain some of the deadliest in the world. But the Kingdom has dropped from its previous number two position to number eight, behind a collection of backwater African states and other undeveloped countries. A new report by the World Health Organisation shows that the road safety situation in Thailand hasn’t improved. The shocking news is outlined in a…

  • Foreign Ministry assisting wife of Thai slain in France | Thaiger

    Foreign Ministry assisting wife of Thai slain in France

    Thai Foreign Ministry officials are working with French authorities to assist the wife of a Thai tourist who was among three people killed by a gunman last night at a famous Strasbourg Christmas market in France. A Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Busadee Santipitaksat says the Thai embassy in Paris had reported the death of 45 year old Anupong Suebsamarn, and contacted…

  • Thaiger Radio News – Wednesday | Thaiger

    Thaiger Radio News – Wednesday

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  • Forest officials defend refusing trucks entry to wildlife sanctuary | Thaiger

    Forest officials defend refusing trucks entry to wildlife sanctuary

    PHOTOS: The Nation Various off-road truck enthusiasts haven’t been allowed to enter Kanchanaburi’s Thung Yai Naresuan wildlife sanctuary during December 8-9 because they failed to adhere to the rules and conditions for gaining access. This revelation from sanctuary chief Wichien Chinnawong. Wichien has explained to the media by way of explanation about a recent Facebook post by Thi Lai Pa…

  • Political ban lifted ahead of February 24 election | Thaiger

    Political ban lifted ahead of February 24 election

    The Thai Junta, aka NCPO, has today lifted restrictions on political activities that have been in effect since the May 2014 military coup. The Nation reports the the lifts a previous prohibition on political parties holding meetings or organising political activities. The cancelled restrictions include the ban on political gatherings of five or more people. The Royal Gazette has published…

  • Thaiger Radio News – Tuesday | Thaiger

    Thaiger Radio News – Tuesday

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  • Wealthy Thai woman boasts online about her welfare card | Thaiger

    Wealthy Thai woman boasts online about her welfare card

    PHOTOS: Sanook Thais have take to social media slamming an apparently woman boasting about using a Thai welfare card intended for the poor. The woman was wearing a gold necklace and other expensive looking jewelry, was showing money to the camera and sitting in the driver’s seat of a car. Netizens say she was ripping off the state and depriving the needy. But some are…

  • “Post-poll government will lack legitimacy” | Thaiger

    “Post-poll government will lack legitimacy”

    “…the junta government was now trying to buy votes using populist schemes, such as handing out cash as New Year gifts to low-income earners.” A former student activist and renowned scholar Thirayuth Boonmee has predicted that though junta leader General Prayut Chan-o-cha will be able to form the next government, it will lack legitimacy and this will only lead to…

  • Thaiger Radio News – Monday | Thaiger

    Thaiger Radio News – Monday

    Listen to the daily news from The Thaiger, anytime, anywhere…