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.

  • Austrian man joins monkhood in Kalasin to honour Queen Mother | Thaiger

    Austrian man joins monkhood in Kalasin to honour Queen Mother

    An Austrian man entered the monkhood at a Buddhist monastery in the Isaan province of Kalasin to dedicate merit to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother, on October 31. The monastery, Wat Pa Sok Thep Sathit in Dong Ling subdistrict, Kamalasai district, Kalasin, held a mass ordination ceremony on October 31 to make merit dedicated to the Queen Mother.…

  • Thai woman defends herself from rock-throwing attacker in Oakland | Thaiger

    Thai woman defends herself from rock-throwing attacker in Oakland

    An attacker remains at large after throwing rocks at a Thai woman and attempting to punch her in a market in Oakland, San Francisco, California, on Halloween. NBC Bay Area reported the physical assault on the Thai woman, Sasi Oda, along with CCTV footage of the incident on October 31. The assault occurred in a market in Little Saigon at…

  • Tak teacher caught stealing groceries and posing cooking photos online | Thaiger

    Tak teacher caught stealing groceries and posing cooking photos online

    Police arrested a male teacher in the northern province of Tak for stealing food ingredients from a local grocery shop and then boasting about his cooking skills on social media. The owner of the grocery store filed a complaint with the Tha Song Yang Police Station on October 25 after discovering several items missing from his store in Mae Tan…

  • Thai woman loses 17,000 baht after thief finds spare key hidden in shoes | Thaiger

    Thai woman loses 17,000 baht after thief finds spare key hidden in shoes

    A Thai woman lost 17,000 baht in cash after hiding a spare key inside her shoes left outside her rented room in Udon Thani. The 26 year old victim, Khunphat, called officers from Mueang Udon Thani Police Station to investigate the theft at her room in Soi Samit Yothin 4, Mueang Udon Thani district, at around 9.20pm yesterday. Khunphat told…

  • Debt drives Thai man to smash bank door seeking imprisonment | Thaiger

    Debt drives Thai man to smash bank door seeking imprisonment

    A Thai man claimed he wanted to escape his debts by going to jail, so he smashed the glass door of a bank in Phimai district, in the Isaan province of Nakhon Ratchasima, yesterday, November 2. Officers from Phimai Police Station rushed to the bank at around 8pm and found the 60 year old suspect pacing back and forth in…

  • New M81 motorway bans bikes, motorcycles, tractors | Thaiger

    New M81 motorway bans bikes, motorcycles, tractors

    Thailand’s Royal Gazette has issued a new directive banning several types of vehicles from using the new Motorway Route 81 (M81), which connects Bang Yai in Nonthaburi to Kanchanaburi. The announcement, signed by the Director of Special Highways, was made under Section 54 of the Highways Act 1992 and came into effect on October 31, 2025. The regulation prohibits the…

  • Australian man caught stealing phone and football jerseys from Phuket mall | Thaiger

    Australian man caught stealing phone and football jerseys from Phuket mall

    Police arrested an Australian man for allegedly stealing football jerseys and a mobile phone at a shopping mall in Phuket yesterday, November 2. Officers from the Special Service Division responded to an immediate theft case while on patrol at the Central Phuket shopping mall. The owner of a mobile phone shop in the mall discovered a missing product and reviewed…

  • Cambodian man allegedly murders Thai girlfriend and hangs himself in Bangkok condo | Thaiger

    Cambodian man allegedly murders Thai girlfriend and hangs himself in Bangkok condo

    A Cambodian man allegedly murdered his Thai girlfriend at a condominium in the Prawet district of Bangkok before hanging himself. Yesterday, November 2, a resident of a condominium in the Dokmai sub-district, Prawet district, Bangkok, called officers from Prawet Police Station to investigate room number 7/59 in Building D of the Nirun Condominium, following a strong, unpleasant odour coming from…

  • November 3: Thailand braces for heavy rainfall across 34 provinces | Thaiger

    November 3: Thailand braces for heavy rainfall across 34 provinces

    Thailand’s Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a fresh weather alert today, November 3, warning of heavy rainfall across 34 provinces. Bangkok and surrounding areas are set to bear the brunt, with 70% of the capital expected to be hit by thunderstorms and isolated heavy rain. The current weather system is being driven by a strong monsoon trough crossing central and eastern…

  • Thailand reassures China, no casinos amid tourism boost | Thaiger

    Thailand reassures China, no casinos amid tourism boost

    Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced that Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed approval of Thailand’s decision not to legalise casinos. The Chinese government plans to promote Thailand as a tourist destination to its citizens. Anutin provided this update on Thailand’s tourism prospects following his return from China on Saturday night, after participating in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings in South Korea.…

  • Deputy mayor admits to fatal shooting in Prachin Buri home | Thaiger

    Deputy mayor admits to fatal shooting in Prachin Buri home

    A deputy mayor from a subdistrict administrative organization confessed to the fatal shooting of two people within a home in Prachin Buri province. The incident, which occurred yesterday, on November 1, was not politically motivated, as confirmed by the police. The Provincial Public Relations Office of Prachin Buri shared images of the crime scene on their Facebook page, detailing the…

  • Cambodia withdraws from Miss Universe 2025 in Thailand | Thaiger

    Cambodia withdraws from Miss Universe 2025 in Thailand

    The page of Sorayuth Suthasanachinda, a prominent Thai news anchor, revealed that social media is abuzz with a statement from ELEVENTO9, the official licence holder of Miss Universe Cambodia. The organisation announced its decision not to send a Cambodian representative to the Miss Universe 2025 pageant, which is scheduled to take place in Thailand yesterday, on November 1. According to…

  • Ex-chef arrested after Bangkok street robbery and police pursuit | Thaiger

    Ex-chef arrested after Bangkok street robbery and police pursuit

    A former chef was apprehended after a dramatic police chase following his alleged involvement in a Bangkok street robbery. The 43 year old, known as “Bom” Piraphon Chueachart, reportedly snatched a gold necklace from a 61 year old woman in Bangkok, claiming financial desperation as his motive. Police Major General Siam Boonsom, the Bangkok Metropolitan Police Commissioner, and other senior…

  • Princess Sirivannavari leads Thai fabric and craft competition | Thaiger

    Princess Sirivannavari leads Thai fabric and craft competition

    Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya presided over the national finals of the “Phra Rajawat Siri Ratchapatra” fabric and craft competition yesterday, on November 1. The event, held at ICONSIAM’s Suralai Hall, recognised 15 outstanding works with gold medals while a special award was given to the “Phra Rajawat Siri Ratchapatra Sangsuan Samakhom” fabric by Kalasin’s Montra Thikarn Group. The event was…

  • Mother seeks justice after teen assault by 11 girls in Surat Thani | Thaiger

    Mother seeks justice after teen assault by 11 girls in Surat Thani

    In Surat Thani, a shocking teen assault case unfolded when a 36 year old mother, Ruchnanee Aksornsri, reported to local police after her 14 year old daughter was allegedly attacked by a group of 11 teenage girls. The mother was disturbed after seeing a video of the incident and has vowed to pursue the case fully. Yesterday, on November 1,…

  • Thai band’s cryptic numbers spark lotto buzz before big win | Thaiger

    Thai band’s cryptic numbers spark lotto buzz before big win

    Excitement swept Thai lottery circles when fans uncovered lucky numbers shared by rock band Potato just before official results were released nationwide. The band, known for its cult following, casually dropped a set of mysterious digits in the comments of a Facebook post promoting their appearance at the Monster Music Festival 2025. The numbers—12, 24, 39, 41, 59, 79, along…

  • Co-payment scheme boost sends Thai shop sales soaring 80% | Thaiger

    Co-payment scheme boost sends Thai shop sales soaring 80%

    Sales at government-backed Thong Fah shops have surged by 80% after the launch of a subsidy scheme aimed at helping Thais afford essential goods. Witiya Manee-net, Director of the Department of Internal Trade, confirmed the spike during a recent inspection of a Thong Fah outlet, Kitsawat store, located on Samakkhi Road in Nonthaburi’s Mueang district. “The response from locals has…

  • Phuket transforms into open-air gallery for art biennale | Thaiger

    Phuket transforms into open-air gallery for art biennale

    Phuket is finalising preparations to host Thailand’s largest international art festival, which will feature global artists and run for several months. Officials confirmed that the Thailand Biennale Phuket 2025 is now over 90% ready, with the grand opening set for November 29 at Saphan Hin Park. The announcement came following a high-level planning meeting held at Phuket Provincial Hall on…

  • GSB lottery hands out millions in November 1 prize draw | Thaiger

    GSB lottery hands out millions in November 1 prize draw

    The Government Savings Bank (GSB) has announced results for its special lottery draw, revealing winning numbers and cash prizes worth up to 30 million baht. Hopeful punters across Thailand are checking their tickets after the GSB released the results of its highly anticipated two-year special lottery draw for today, November 1. With a whopping 30 million baht up for grabs…

  • Ancient cart in Surin draws crowds chasing lucky numbers | Thaiger

    Ancient cart in Surin draws crowds chasing lucky numbers

    Hopes were high and incense thick in the air as villagers in northeastern Thailand gathered around a 100-year-old wooden cart they believe holds the key to lottery riches. Just before the government lottery draw today, November 1, locals in Ban Thap Dat, Sangkha district, flocked to the Somdej Thuat To Phrom Rangsi Buddha Dharma Garden to perform a traditional ritual,…

  • Bangkok preps for massive crowds at Queen Mother tribute event | Thaiger

    Bangkok preps for massive crowds at Queen Mother tribute event

    Bangkok officials are preparing for large crowds at the Grand Palace, where thousands are expected to pay tribute to the Queen Mother at a royal ceremony. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has rolled out a comprehensive plan to manage crowds and ensure smooth operations throughout the tribute ceremony. Deputy city clerk Thaiwut Khankaew chaired a key meeting at the command…

  • Copper cable crooks plunge Chon Buri highway into darkness | Thaiger

    Copper cable crooks plunge Chon Buri highway into darkness

    Thieves caused a major blackout after digging into a tunnel on a Chon Buri highway to steal copper cables, prompting a police investigation and safety warnings. The incident was uncovered around 10am on Thursday, October 30, when drivers spotted suspicious activity near the Bangchak gas station U-turn tunnel along Highway 331. Concerned motorists alerted the police, who quickly dispatched Huay…

  • Thai govt to launch Buddhism watchdog over rising concerns | Thaiger

    Thai govt to launch Buddhism watchdog over rising concerns

    The government plans to introduce a national committee to protect Buddhism, following Cabinet approval and concerns over monk misconduct and false teachings. Deputy Prime Minister Bowornsak Uwanno revealed that a new draft regulation, designed to bolster protections for the national religion, has already passed Cabinet approval and is set to be presented to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul next week. “This…

  • Thai herbal inhalers get radiation reboot after contamination scare | Thaiger

    Thai herbal inhalers get radiation reboot after contamination scare

    A Thai herbal inhalant brand partnered with nuclear experts after authorities discovered contamination, prompting urgent safety upgrades and sterilisation efforts. Hong Thai, a popular manufacturer of herbal inhalers, has joined forces with the Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology (TINT) to sterilise its products using radiation. The move comes after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found microbial contamination in Formula…

  • Driver nods off, flips car and sets Bangkok toll booth ablaze (video) | Thaiger

    Driver nods off, flips car and sets Bangkok toll booth ablaze (video)

    A car crash and fire broke out at a Bangkok toll booth after a driver reportedly fell asleep at the wheel, prompting an emergency response from police and fire crews. The fiery crash happened at 4.49am today, November 1, when officers from Vibhavadi Police Station were alerted to a car on fire at the Chaeng Watthana 1 toll booth on…

  • Phuket masseuses push for fair rules amid beach crackdown | Thaiger

    Phuket masseuses push for fair rules amid beach crackdown

    Phuket officials met to discuss beach vendor rules after over 100 masseuses petitioned to keep working on public beaches amid a local crackdown. The row erupted after local officials began enforcing a crackdown on massage beds, tents, and umbrellas set up by vendors on Kata and Karon beaches, citing violations of public land laws. At a meeting held at the…

  • Thailand braces for downpours as stormy weather returns | Thaiger

    Thailand braces for downpours as stormy weather returns

    Thailand is facing another round of unstable weather, with widespread thundershowers and heavy rain expected across the country, according to the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD). An active monsoon trough over the upper South and Gulf of Thailand is drawing humid air into the north and central regions, while a low-pressure cell moves into the upper Andaman Sea. A weak high-pressure…

  • Malaysian tourist goes viral for taking over Thai motorcycle taxi | Thaiger

    Malaysian tourist goes viral for taking over Thai motorcycle taxi

    A Malaysian tourist went viral for his unexpected motorcycle taxi adventure in Thailand after he had to become an impromptu rider because his elderly Thai Grab driver repeatedly missed turns, which turned a five-minute journey into a 20-minute city tour. The Malaysian man, Clifford, shared a video of himself riding a motorcycle in Thailand with the elderly Thai rider as…

  • Thai man bites police after failed attempt to win back ex-wife | Thaiger

    Thai man bites police after failed attempt to win back ex-wife

    A Thai man today, October 31, had a public outburst while attempting to reconcile with his ex-wife and bit a police officer who tried to intervene. Officers from Mueang Lop Buri Police Station arrived at a three-storey building in the Tha Sala sub-district after receiving reports of a man behaving erratically. Police also coordinated with a medical team from King…

  • Thai MotoGP extension revs up for Cabinet approval | Thaiger

    Thai MotoGP extension revs up for Cabinet approval

    The Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) plans to extend its MotoGP hosting rights following completed talks, with a five-year deal set for Cabinet approval soon. The proposal, aimed at securing the race’s place on the global calendar until 2031, will be tabled at the upcoming Cabinet meeting on November 4. SAT Governor Dr Kongsak Yodmanee confirmed that negotiations with Dorna…