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.

  • Thailand’s new alcohol law fines customers for drinking after hours | Thaiger

    Thailand’s new alcohol law fines customers for drinking after hours

    Thailand’s updated Alcohol Control Act, which came into force on November 8, came into effect with confusion and criticism from business operators, tourists and the hospitality industry, as the law introduces penalties not only for sellers but also for drinkers consuming alcohol outside permitted hours. Under the revised Alcohol Control Act (No. 2), B.E. 2568, consumers can now be fined…

  • November 10 weather: Thunderstorms expected in 31 Thai provinces today | Thaiger

    November 10 weather: Thunderstorms expected in 31 Thai provinces today

    Weather conditions in Thailand today, November 10, have prompted warnings from the Meteorological Department (TMD) for 31 provinces, with Bangkok and surrounding areas also advised to exercise caution due to thunderstorms. The Meteorological Department forecasts that over the next 24 hours, rainfall will decrease in the upper parts of the country. However, isolated thunderstorms are still expected due to a…

  • Thai police arrest loan shark gang member after assault on disabled woman | Thaiger

    Thai police arrest loan shark gang member after assault on disabled woman

    Thai police have apprehended a member of a notorious loan shark gang, known as Suea, who assaulted a disabled woman in Udon Thani province. Meanwhile, another gang member, Palm, remains on the run after reportedly using a firearm to threaten locals. Today, on November 9, at the Provincial Police Investigation Unit in Udon Thani, Police Colonel Anusak Sakdawatcharanon, Deputy Commander…

  • Man kills brother-in-law over loud music in Surin dispute | Thaiger

    Man kills brother-in-law over loud music in Surin dispute

    A tragic incident unfolded yesterday, on November 8, in Buachet district, Surin province, where a 51 year old man shot and killed his brother-in-law following a dispute over loud music. The incident occurred at a residence in Moo 8, Ban Na Klang, Sadao subdistrict. Police Lieutenant Yuttana Jantayung, an investigator at Sadao Police Station, received the report and informed Police…

  • Chinese national arrested in Sa Kaeo with 1,000 SIM cards | Thaiger

    Chinese national arrested in Sa Kaeo with 1,000 SIM cards

    In Sa Kaeo province, Thai border forces have apprehended a Chinese national linked to a call centre scam. Along with him, they found 1,000 mobile SIM cards near the Thai-Cambodian border. The equipment was reportedly intended for delivery to an employer in Myawaddy. This location is a key point for criminal activities. Today, on November 9, the Eastern Border Security…

  • Thai supercar racer criticises police after two stops for license plate | Thaiger

    Thai supercar racer criticises police after two stops for license plate

    Today, on November 9, Dr Kanthicha Chimsiri, also known as Madam Yui, expressed frustration on Facebook after being pulled over by the police twice for not displaying a front license plate. She criticised the approach, suggesting it could pose a public inconvenience and danger. Dr Kanthicha, who is a well-known Thai female supercar racer and former Miss Universe Thailand 2016,…

  • Tourist bus overturns in Lampang, injuring over 39 passengers | Thaiger

    Tourist bus overturns in Lampang, injuring over 39 passengers

    A tourist bus travelling from Chiang Mai to Bangkok overturned on Khun Tan hill in Lampang province, resulting in injuries to over 39 international tourists, with one individual seriously injured and trapped inside in the bus crash. The incident occurred at around 8.45pm yesterday, on November 8, when Chiang Mai traffic police received a report about an accident involving a…

  • Foreign nationals arrested on Koh Phangan for illegal construction work | Thaiger

    Foreign nationals arrested on Koh Phangan for illegal construction work

    Two foreigners arrested in Koh Phangan for illegal construction and electrical work without permits, facing legal action after police found evidence. They threatened legal action against the officers but were eventually confronted with evidence of their activities. Yesterday, on November 8 at 2pm, Police Lieutenant General Suksira Phueka-am, Commissioner of the Tourist Police, directed officers from the Tourist Police Station…

  • Brit jailed over 19m baht Thailand cannabis run at Dublin airport | Thaiger

    Brit jailed over 19m baht Thailand cannabis run at Dublin airport

    A British man was sentenced to three and a half years in prison in Dublin after admitting to importing nearly 500,000 euros (approximately 19 million baht) worth of cannabis from Thailand, destined for sale in Ireland. The man, 22 year old Jamie Kearns from Arley in Coventry, was stopped by customs officers at Terminal One in Dublin Airport while arriving…

  • Thailand retailers wage all-out war for 11.11 shopping surge | Thaiger

    Thailand retailers wage all-out war for 11.11 shopping surge

    Major retailers in Thailand are ramping up 11.11 campaigns with omnichannel strategies to boost year-end consumer spending and reclaim lost sales. As the final quarter of the year kicks into gear, November has become a high-stakes battleground for Thailand’s leading retailers. With consumer spending still lagging, major department stores and specialty chains are pushing their 11.11 campaigns to new heights,…

  • Ang Thong reels as worst flood in decades hits homes and hospital (video) | Thaiger

    Ang Thong reels as worst flood in decades hits homes and hospital (video)

    Flooding in Ang Thong province has reached a critical level, with rising waters from the Chao Phraya River breaching barriers and inundating key areas including Pa Mok Market and local municipalities. Officials are scrambling to contain the damage by reinforcing embankments with clay in multiple locations. In Pa Mok Market, water levels have surged by up to 50 centimetres, forcing…

  • Anutin promises to dissolve Parliament within 120 days | Thaiger

    Anutin promises to dissolve Parliament within 120 days

    Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul confirmed that Parliament will be dissolved within 120 days as part of a political agreement with the opposition party. The PM reaffirmed his commitment to dissolve parliament by January 31, 2026, fulfilling an agreement made with the People’s Party. The decision follows growing speculation about his administration’s stability ahead of the upcoming censure debate. Anutin…

  • UK lifts travel warning as Trat tourism gears up for rebound | Thaiger

    UK lifts travel warning as Trat tourism gears up for rebound

    The United Kingdom has officially lifted its travel advisory against non-essential travel to Trat, a move welcomed by local tourism operators hoping to revive bookings ahead of peak season. Wichit Sukrasuyanon, president of the Trat Tourism Association, confirmed that the change has already led to a noticeable boost in bookings, especially from European markets. He said average hotel occupancy rates…

  • People’s Party faces axe over student aide salary scandal | Thaiger

    People’s Party faces axe over student aide salary scandal

    The Klatham Party is preparing to file a petition with the Election Commission (EC) seeking the dissolution of the People’s Party (PP), following explosive allegations involving the misuse of parliamentary appointments and salaries. Klatham MP for Kamphaeng Phet, Phai Lik, announced his intention to take the matter to the EC, claiming that the PP appointed a Grade 10 student as…

  • Pattaya preps for 5 billion baht Tomorrowland 2026 fest | Thaiger

    Pattaya preps for 5 billion baht Tomorrowland 2026 fest

    Officials in Pattaya are preparing for a massive music festival set to attract thousands of visitors and inject 5 billion baht into the local economy. Bang Lamung district is already laying the groundwork for Tomorrowland 2026, the first Southeast Asian edition of the iconic Belgian music festival, with a high-level strategy meeting chaired by District Chief Patcharaphat Srithanyanon. The festival…

  • Phuket boat taxi trial hits delay but promises smoother trips | Thaiger

    Phuket boat taxi trial hits delay but promises smoother trips

    Phuket’s boat taxi project, aimed at easing traffic for tourists and locals, has been delayed, pushing back the start of its much-anticipated trial run. The pilot run of Phuket’s boat taxi service, a project touted as a game-changer for the island’s notorious traffic problems, has been pushed back to mid-December. The trial, originally scheduled to launch earlier, will now take…

  • Bang Saen Beach turns black, vendors fear tourist drop | Thaiger

    Bang Saen Beach turns black, vendors fear tourist drop

    Seawater at a popular beach in eastern Thailand turned black, raising concerns among visitors and vendors about health risks and a drop in tourism. Seawater along Bang Saen Beach in Chon Buri has taken on a strange black hue, believed to be caused by a plankton bloom triggered by recent storms and rainfall. While there’s no unpleasant odour or danger…

  • School bus overturns in northern Thailand, students injured | Thaiger

    School bus overturns in northern Thailand, students injured

    A double-decker bus carrying students on a school trip in northern Thailand overturned on a highway, injuring several and prompting a police investigation. The bus, carrying dozens of secondary school students from Uttaradit, flipped onto its side on the Phitsanulok–Nakhon Sawan Road around 10am yesterday, November 7. The crash occurred in Banphot Phisai district, Phitsanulok province, and left multiple students…

  • Power outages to hit 33 areas across Greater Bangkok today | Thaiger

    Power outages to hit 33 areas across Greater Bangkok today

    Power will be cut in dozens of areas across Bangkok and nearby provinces as electricity officials carry out scheduled maintenance to improve the grid. The Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) has announced a planned power outage today, November 8, affecting 33 locations across Bangkok, Samut Prakan, and Nonthaburi. The temporary cut-off is part of routine upgrades to boost the efficiency and…

  • Tropical storm Kalmaegi batters Thailand with heavy rain | Thaiger

    Tropical storm Kalmaegi batters Thailand with heavy rain

    A powerful tropical storm is sweeping across Thailand, bringing heavy rain and flash flood risks to dozens of provinces as residents brace for worsening weather. From 6pm yesterday, November 7, to 6pm today, November 8, the weather across Thailand is expected to remain unsettled, with widespread thunderstorms and cooler mornings in the north, according to the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD).…

  • Thai man saves 5 year old girl from drowning and uncovers family abuse | Thaiger

    Thai man saves 5 year old girl from drowning and uncovers family abuse

    A Thai man rescued a five year old girl and her older sister, who were allegedly abused and forced to work by their guardians. One of the girls nearly drowned in a canal in Bangkok while attempting to collect money from krathongs during the Loy Krathong festival. An owner of a motorcycle shop in the Bang Mod area of Bangkok…

  • Boyfriend vanishes after woman found dead in Bangkok room | Thaiger

    Boyfriend vanishes after woman found dead in Bangkok room

    A young woman was found dead at a rented home in Bangkok after police were alerted to the scene, prompting an investigation into the cause and circumstances. The discovery was made around 7.45pm yesterday, November 6, when Police Lieutenant Kirati Thinachai from Samsen Police Station was alerted to a possible suicide in a small community behind Wat Devaraj Kunchorn Temple.…

  • Thailand adds extra day to new year break to boost travel | Thaiger

    Thailand adds extra day to new year break to boost travel

    The Thai Cabinet has approved an extended new year holiday to boost domestic tourism and economic activity, adding one more day to the annual break. The government has approved an extended five-day new year holiday for 2026, declaring Friday, January 2, a special public holiday to boost tourism and spending. The full holiday period will now run from Wednesday, December…

  • Search underway for missing Russian woman with neurological disease in Phuket | Thaiger

    Search underway for missing Russian woman with neurological disease in Phuket

    Parents and friends are searching for a Russian woman suffering from a neurological disease who has been missing for 20 days in Phuket province. A Thai friend named Kaew took to social media to seek help from the public in locating the 30 year old Russian national, Maria Fomina. Kaew shared that Maria’s parents have already arrived in Phuket to…

  • Nigerian man, 5 Thais arrested for 114m baht online romance scam | Thaiger

    Nigerian man, 5 Thais arrested for 114m baht online romance scam

    Police have dismantled a major romance scam network run by a Nigerian national and five Thai accomplices, accused of swindling victims out of over 114 million baht. The arrests were made during Operation Romance 114, led by officers from the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD), targeting suspects across Bangkok and Chon Buri. Police Major General Chanannat Sarathwanphaet, TCSD Commander, confirmed…

  • Thai woman poses as handsome man to scam friend out of 20,000 baht | Thaiger

    Thai woman poses as handsome man to scam friend out of 20,000 baht

    A Thai woman posed as an attractive man to carry out a romance scam and swindle 20,000 baht from her friend. Police allegedly rejected the victim’s complaint, claiming the money was given willingly out of affection. The victim, 34 year old Ploy, turned to the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive after police allegedly refused to process her case. She later revealed…

  • Thai foreign ministry clarifies girl trafficking case in Tokyo | Thaiger

    Thai foreign ministry clarifies girl trafficking case in Tokyo

    Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the case of a young Thai girl who was trafficked to Japan, which came to light when Tokyo police raided a Japanese-owned massage parlour following a report about the victim’s circumstances. Nikorndej Plangkura, Director-General of the Department of Information and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, revealed that the incident occurred in mid-September.…

  • Repeat wildlife snapper caught again at Karon night market | Thaiger

    Repeat wildlife snapper caught again at Karon night market

    A woman was arrested at a Phuket night market after being caught offering a protected slow loris to tourists for paid photos, despite past offences. The woman, who has now been arrested three times for similar offences, was detained at Karon Night Market yesterday, November 6, during a joint operation led by Karon Deputy Mayor Trin Thipmongkol. The raid included…

  • Shooting breaks out between Bangkok rescue teams, leaving 3 injured | Thaiger

    Shooting breaks out between Bangkok rescue teams, leaving 3 injured

    Three rescue workers were injured in a shooting early yesterday, November 6, following a dispute between two rescue foundations on Lat Phrao Road in Bangkok. Wang Thonglang Police Station was alerted to the incident involving rescue volunteers near the entrance of Soi Lat Phrao 122 in Wang Thonglang district at around 1am. At the scene, officers found bloodstains on the…

  • Singapore names orchid after Thai PM Anutin and his wife | Thaiger

    Singapore names orchid after Thai PM Anutin and his wife

    During an official visit to Singapore, Thailand’s prime minister and his wife were honoured with a new orchid species named in recognition of their visit. Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and his wife were honoured with a floral tribute during an official visit to Singapore, as a newly cultivated orchid species was named Vanchoanthe Anutin Thananon Charnvirakul. The gesture came…