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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    Why traders in Thailand are choosing EC Markets for gold and forex trading

    Gold and forex trading have long been favourites among investors in Thailand, but why are so many traders now turning to EC Markets? The answer lies in a combination of tight spreads, ultra-fast execution, Thai baht (THB) deposit support, and...

  • Phuket boosts security with 98 million baht ‘Phuket Eye’ expansion

    Phuket boosts security with 98 million baht ‘Phuket Eye’ expansion

    Phuket is about to get a major security upgrade as local officials unveil plans to expand the “Phuket Eye” initiative, a groundbreaking security model aimed at making the island safer. With crime suppression, tourist safety, and traffic management as top priorities, the initiative promises to bring peace of mind to both residents and visitors. Police Major General Sinlert Sukhum, a…

  • Drunk Thai driver faces extra charge for punching police at Bangkok station

    Drunk Thai driver faces extra charge for punching police at Bangkok station

    A drunk Thai driver repeatedly punched a police officer in the face while the officer was escorting him to a detention room at Bang Khen Police Station in Bangkok. The victim, Police Sub-Lieutenant Anucha Saowako, gave an interview to the media with a swollen face. An interview video on ThaiRath showed blood flowing from Anucha’s nose while speaking with journalists.…

  • Pattaya paint rage: Worker batters delivery lad over smudged lines

    Pattaya paint rage: Worker batters delivery lad over smudged lines

    A furious road worker launched a savage attack on a young delivery rider in Pattaya yesterday because he accidentally rode over freshly painted traffic lines. The shocking assault happened at 6pm, yesterday, July 1 outside a convenience store on Soi Naklua 12, after 20 year old Phattharadanai Phimthong returned from a delivery run and was confronted by a man now…

  • DLT warns against counterfeit licence plates sold on social media

    DLT warns against counterfeit licence plates sold on social media

    The Department of Land Transport (DLT) warned about the growing online trade of counterfeit licence plates. The warning, which targets the public, highlights the rising dangers posed by purchasing these fake plates, which are increasingly being marketed via live streams on popular social media platforms such as Facebook and TikTok. DLT Deputy Director General and spokesperson Seksom Akraphand raised concerns…

  • Thailand eyes alcohol law reform to boost tourism and safety

    Thailand eyes alcohol law reform to boost tourism and safety

    The Thai Ministry of Public Health anticipates the review of a new bill, which proposes amendments to the Alcohol Control Act 2008, to conclude later this month, according to Minister Somsak Thepsutin. This legislation aims to eliminate outdated military-era sales restrictions, ease advertising curbs, and introduce stricter regulations, including increased fines for selling alcohol to minors. The House of Representatives approved…

  • Wild weather alert: Thailand provinces brace for deluge

    Wild weather alert: Thailand provinces brace for deluge

    The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has sent shockwaves today with a severe weather warning for 47 provinces, including bustling Bangkok. Expect a drenching, as heavy rain is set to swamp 70% of these areas. Be on high alert for flash floods, forest runoff, and landslides. The weather forecast indicates thunderstorms and heavy rain in parts of the north and upper…

  • Splash ‘n’ grab: Floods wreak havoc as Pattaya bikes washed away

    Splash ‘n’ grab: Floods wreak havoc as Pattaya bikes washed away

    Tourists and locals in Pattaya were left soaked and stranded yesterday as a torrential downpour turned Thailand’s Sin City into a sodden swamp, with over 20 bikes washed away in raging floodwaters. The heavens opened for more than two hours last night, July 1, swamping Bang Lamung district and bringing traffic to a watery standstill. Water levels surged to between…

  • Barking mad: Boy rescued after being raised by dogs in drug den

    Barking mad: Boy rescued after being raised by dogs in drug den

    An eight year old Thai boy has been rescued from a squalid drug den where he was raised alongside six dogs and ended up barking instead of speaking. The boy, who had not been to school in two years, was found living in filthy conditions in Laplae district, Uttaradit province, with his drug-addicted mum and older brother. With no friends…

  • Helicopter tail number sparks lottery frenzy in Udon Thani

    Helicopter tail number sparks lottery frenzy in Udon Thani

    A helicopter landing in Udon Thani has sent lottery fever into overdrive, with residents betting on a number they believe will lead them to fortune. Excitement is mounting in Udon Thani as lottery enthusiasts eagerly await today’s draw, all eyes on the tail number of a helicopter that has taken the town by storm. The focus is on the army…

  • Hungry bear shocks diners at restaurant in Khao Yai National Park

    Hungry bear shocks diners at restaurant in Khao Yai National Park

    A Thai TikToker shared a surprising moment with his followers after he and other tourists encountered an Asian black bear at a restaurant in Khao Yai National Park, located in the central province of Nakhon Nayok. The TikTok user and travel blogger posted a video of the bear on his account, @oatoatour, on Sunday, June 29, with the caption: “Bear…

  • 15 Chinese arrested in northern Thailand luxury home raid for scam

    15 Chinese arrested in northern Thailand luxury home raid for scam

    A significant police operation in Hang Dong, a district in northern Thailand, led to the arrest of 15 Chinese nationals and two Myanmar workers linked to an online scam network. Provincial Region 5 police conducted a raid on a luxury residence in the Ban Waen area of the district today, July 1, after receiving information that the house was being…

  • Tragic accident claims lives of mother and daughter in Chon Buri

    Tragic accident claims lives of mother and daughter in Chon Buri

    A tragic accident occurred yesterday, resulting in the deaths of a mother and daughter when their motorcycle collided head-on with a pickup truck. The incident happened around 3pm, yesterday, June 30, on Sukaphiban 8 Road, in the Khao Khayai community of Bo Win subdistrict, Si Racha district, Chon Buri province. Police Lieutenant Somporn Panjan, Deputy Inspector of Bo Win Police…

  • Thai cannabis prescriptions standardised, symptoms list clarified

    Thai cannabis prescriptions standardised, symptoms list clarified

    Thailand’s Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine has confirmed that the new cannabis prescription form, known as PorThor 33, will proceed without the previously listed 15 medical symptoms, following concerns about overlapping authority among professional groups. Somruk Chungsaman, Director-General of the department, said yesterday, June 30, that the decision aims to allow each of the seven recognised professions to…

  • Elderly man injured in Chanthaburi market altercation

    Elderly man injured in Chanthaburi market altercation

    In Chanthaburi province, a 61 year old man was seriously injured in a physical altercation with a younger man, reportedly about 30 years old. The incident occurred on June 29 in front of a market along Phakdi Ramphai Canal Road in Mueang district. The younger man was seen arguing and shouting at the older man while another person restrained him.…

  • Broke British dad busted smuggling £100k cannabis from Thailand

    Broke British dad busted smuggling £100k cannabis from Thailand

    A cash-strapped dad who feared for his life tried to smuggle £100,000-worth (around 4.47 million baht) of cannabis from Thailand — but his secret haul was busted by airport officers. Jason Horne, a 24 year old dad from Rycroft Avenue, Dringhouses in York, northeast England, narrowly avoided an immediate prison sentence after admitting he tried to import huge quantities of…

  • Thai man sells ‘floating durian’ for 300,000 baht at fruit festival auction

    Thai man sells ‘floating durian’ for 300,000 baht at fruit festival auction

    An 81 year old Thai man sold his homegrown durian, the first floating durian in Thailand, for 300,000 baht at an auction during the Thong Pha Phum Fruit Festival 2025 in the central province of Kanchanaburi. The elderly man, Pid Sinthao, is known for his famous floating homestay, Phae Malai, located in the Thong Pha Phum district of Kanchanaburi. He…

  • Jobless win big as Thailand ups unemployment payouts

    Jobless win big as Thailand ups unemployment payouts

    Thailand’s workers are set to get a bigger lifeline as the Labour Ministry rolls out more generous unemployment benefits. The Labour Ministry officially approved higher unemployment compensation rates, offering fresh relief to insured employees under Thailand’s social security system. Marasri Jairangsi, Secretary General of the Social Security Office (SSO), confirmed that a new ministerial regulation took effect on Saturday, June…

  • Bangkok man arrested for stealing 52,000 baht gold bracelet

    Bangkok man arrested for stealing 52,000 baht gold bracelet

    A 23 year old man has been arrested for stealing a gold bracelet weighing 1 baht from a well-known shop in the Nawamin district. Officers from the Khok Khram Police Station conducted an investigation and reviewed CCTV footage, apprehending the suspect and the motorbike used in the crime within three hours. Yesterday, June 30, at around 11.25pm, police captured Korakot,…

  • Thaksin faces court over monarchy remarks in closed-door trial

    Thaksin faces court over monarchy remarks in closed-door trial

    Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra appeared at the Criminal Court on Ratchadapisek Road today as prosecutors began presenting witnesses in his high-profile lese majeste case. The proceedings mark the first witness hearings since charges were filed accusing Thaksin of insulting the monarchy under Section 112 of the Penal Code and breaching the Computer Crime Act. The case centres on a…

  • Man charged with assault causing death after field confrontation

    Man charged with assault causing death after field confrontation

    A 48 year old man reportedly killed a younger man during a confrontation in a field in Non Suwan district on June 30. Police Colonel Kanasnan Suwansap, Police Lieutenant Suthon Krachangjit, investigators, a forensic doctor, and rescue services examined the scene in Bsan Khok Krabueang, Mueang Non Suwan district, after residents reported an assault. They discovered the body of Thawatchai,…

  • Illegal waste dumping plagues Bang Phli residents

    Illegal waste dumping plagues Bang Phli residents

    Residents in Bang Phli district, Samut Prakan, are grappling with severe issues from illegal waste dumping. A stretch of Rattanachok 11 Alley, spanning over 300 metres, has transformed into a massive landfill, emitting foul odours and polluted water. Despite warning signs, the problem persists, prompting locals to call for urgent action. A recent investigation revealed that the alley is littered…

  • Dozing motorcyclist survives after slamming into truck on motorway

    Dozing motorcyclist survives after slamming into truck on motorway

    A Thai motorcyclist miraculously survived after dozing off while riding on a motorway in the central province of Ayutthaya and slamming directly into the back of a truck. A Thai woman witnessed the incident while travelling with her family and recorded a video, which she later shared on her Facebook account, Supattra Srithara, on Sunday, June 29. In the video…

  • Filipina killed in horror Patong crash as SUV ploughs into bikes

    Filipina killed in horror Patong crash as SUV ploughs into bikes

    A Phuket holiday turned into a nightmare after a Filipina woman was killed and several others injured when an SUV smashed into motorbikes in a horrific evening pile-up. A serious multi-vehicle collision claimed the life of a Filipina woman and left several people injured on the main road through Kalim, just north of Patong, last night. The crash occurred at…

  • Vietnamese man detained at Don Mueang for forged visa stamp

    Vietnamese man detained at Don Mueang for forged visa stamp

    Immigration officials at Don Mueang International Airport detained a 24 year old Vietnamese man for allegedly using a forged visa stamp to avoid overstaying. The suspect, Nguyen, was apprehended while preparing to board a flight to Hanoi, Vietnam. The arrest was executed under the supervision of Police Lieutenant General Phanumas Boonyaluck, the Commander of the Immigration Bureau. Nguyen was detained…

  • Fire in Hat Yai destroys five houses, no injuries reported

    Fire in Hat Yai destroys five houses, no injuries reported

    A fire broke out in a community along the railway in Hat Yai, Songkhla, destroying five houses. Six fire trucks were deployed to tackle the blaze, but accessibility issues due to narrow roads complicated efforts. Local residents suspect the fire originated from burning rubbish. Yesterday, June 30, the Hat Yai municipal fire brigade was alerted to a fire in the…

  • Thai woman blames misdiagnosis in Isaan hospitals for her child loss

    Thai woman blames misdiagnosis in Isaan hospitals for her child loss

    A Thai woman is seeking accountability from hospitals in the Isaan provinces of Chaiyaphum and Nakhon Ratchasima, accusing medical teams of a misdiagnosis that led her to terminate a pregnancy and lose her child. The 37 year old woman sought assistance from the non-profit organisation Be One to help her pursue justice. She explained that she discovered a lump on…

  • Pattaya ready for tourist boom as ‘Half-Half’ travel freebies launch

    Pattaya ready for tourist boom as ‘Half-Half’ travel freebies launch

    Pattaya’s tourism industry is bracing for a vibrant mid-year comeback, thanks to the government’s latest initiative designed to boost domestic travel and spending. The Thai Half-Half Travel programme officially opens for bookings today, July 1, with travel taking off on July 4. Under the scheme, holidaymakers can bag up to 3,000 baht per night in government subsidies to make stays…

  • Thai abbot leaves Thailand for Laos amid romantic scandal

    Thai abbot leaves Thailand for Laos amid romantic scandal

    A high-ranking Thai abbot unexpectedly left the monkhood and travelled to Laos after allegedly being blackmailed by a woman with whom he reportedly had a romantic relationship. Prathep Wachira Patimoke, also known as Arch, the abbot of Tri Thotsathep Temple in Bangkok, submitted his request to leave the monkhood at Chan Samakkhi Temple in the northeastern province of Nong Khai on…

  • Phuket bomb scare sparks mosque security clampdown

    Phuket bomb scare sparks mosque security clampdown

    A disturbing wave of bomb scares has rattled Phuket, triggering a security crackdown at mosques as leaders vow to defend the island’s reputation as a top travel destination. Komol Damluk, President of the Phuket Islamic Council, called for unwavering vigilance and full cooperation with police after a string of coordinated bomb threats shook the province last week. Speaking to The Phuket…

  • Illegal gold miners jailed and fined 500,000 baht each

    Illegal gold miners jailed and fined 500,000 baht each

    Thong Pha Phum Provincial Court has sentenced two people to five years in prison and a fine of 500,000 baht each under sections 90 and 78 of the Criminal Code. The charges stemmed from illegal gold mining activities within a national park and a protected forest area. The defendants, Achong and Anusorn, were charged by the Thong Pha Phum Provincial…