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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  • Mercedes-Benz driver faces jail and fine for damaging police motorcycle | Thaiger

    Mercedes-Benz driver faces jail and fine for damaging police motorcycle

    A Mercedes-Benz driver faces two months in prison and a fine of 12,000 baht after parking his car in a prohibited area on Samsen Road in Bangkok and damaging a motorcycle belonging to a traffic police officer. The incident attracted attention from Thai netizens after the Facebook page เรารักด่านตรวจ (translated as We Love Police Checkpoints) shared a video of the…

  • Samui restaurant faces backlash for booting Israeli tourists (video) | Thaiger

    Samui restaurant faces backlash for booting Israeli tourists (video)

    A restaurant on Koh Samui is under fire after a social media post claimed it removed a group of Israeli diners, igniting heated debate and divided reactions online. The now-viral post, attributed to the venue, claimed the decision was a stance against Israel’s actions in Gaza, using strong language to criticise the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). It said: “We must…

  • Thai foreign minister slammed over UN debut controversy (video) | Thaiger

    Thai foreign minister slammed over UN debut controversy (video)

    Thailand’s new foreign minister addressed the UN General Assembly, sparking debate at home over whether he breached constitutional rules by acting too soon. Thailand’s newly appointed Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow has come under fire for potentially breaching constitutional rules after delivering a speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The 80th UNGA session, which ran from…

  • Thai man caught with 60 million baht of drugs in modified car | Thaiger

    Thai man caught with 60 million baht of drugs in modified car

    Police officers, together with soldiers and administrative officials, arrested a Thai man with drugs worth 60 million baht hidden in a modified car in Kanchanaburi province yesterday. The Commander of the 9th Infantry Division, Autsadawut Panyarachun, told the media that local officials had received a tip-off about a major drug trafficking operation from a border area in Kanchanaburi to central…

  • Pickup truck crushes Burmese worker in Chon Buri car care centre | Thaiger

    Pickup truck crushes Burmese worker in Chon Buri car care centre

    A Burmese worker at a car care centre in Chon Buri province crashed a customer’s pickup into a colleague, killing him yesterday. The footage of the incident showed car care employees, customers, and bystanders attempting to pull the pickup truck away from the victim. The vehicle was parked on the car washing platform when both front wheels fell off, pinning…

  • Indian getaway: SpiceJet adds daily Phuket flights | Thaiger

    Indian getaway: SpiceJet adds daily Phuket flights

    India’s domestic airline SpiceJet has announced new daily non-stop flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Phuket, giving Indian travellers more options for short-haul international holidays. SpiceJet has announced new daily services linking Delhi and Mumbai to Phuket, one of Thailand’s most popular holiday hotspots. The flights are timed to coincide with the busy winter travel season. According to the airline,…

  • Thai woman and toddler missing after Melbourne sighting | Thaiger

    Thai woman and toddler missing after Melbourne sighting

    Police in Melbourne are searching for a Thai woman and her two year old daughter, who went missing after last being seen in the Central Business District on a recent morning. Victoria police are appealing for public help to locate a Thai woman, 36 year old Priyanud and her two year old daughter, who have not been seen for several…

  • 2 Irish women seen on CCTV chasing thief on Chiang Mai road | Thaiger

    2 Irish women seen on CCTV chasing thief on Chiang Mai road

    Police arrested a thief who snatched a bag from two Irish women as they were walking along a dark street in Chiang Mai province yesterday. The 20 year old Irish victims filed a complaint with Mueang Chiang Mai Police Station in the early hours of the morning after one of them lost her bag to the snatcher in Soi Moom…

  • Royal Thai Navy targets Cambodian casino in border crackdown (video) | Thaiger

    Royal Thai Navy targets Cambodian casino in border crackdown (video)

    The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) is demolishing Cambodian structures built on Thai territory in Trat, with a casino complex set to be the final target of the operation. The RTN has confirmed it is pushing forward with the dismantling of 17 Cambodian-built structures that encroach into Thai territory in Trat province. The operation, which began earlier this month, has already…

  • Thailand video news | Tourist confidence falls as foreigners steer clear of Thailand, Thai-Japan collaboration to combat cybercrime intensifies | Thaiger

    Thailand video news | Tourist confidence falls as foreigners steer clear of Thailand, Thai-Japan collaboration to combat cybercrime intensifies

    In Thailand video news, Alex and Jay cover news stories from across Thailand. The stories include the falling tourism confidence in Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra’s plans to request a royal pardon, and, a little later, Thailand’s drug rehabilitation approach gaining international praise. Tourist Confidence Falls as Foreigners Steer Clear of Thailand Thailand’s tourism confidence index dropped to 66 in Q3 2025,…

  • Drunken drama: Woman passes out on Pattaya baht bus | Thaiger

    Drunken drama: Woman passes out on Pattaya baht bus

    Police in Pattaya were called when a songthaew driver found a woman unconscious in his vehicle, prompting rescue teams to step in and revive her. Police in Pattaya were called to an unusual late-night incident after a songthaew driver discovered an unconscious passenger in his vehicle and feared for her safety. The drama unfolded at around 11.40pm on September 26,…

  • 84 year old Thai woman attacked and nearly raped in Samut Prakan home | Thaiger

    84 year old Thai woman attacked and nearly raped in Samut Prakan home

    An 84 year old Thai woman sought assistance from her neighbours yesterday, claiming that a man attacked her and attempted to rape her at her home in Samut Prakan province. Neighbours of the elderly woman, identified only as Nuan, contacted officers from Bang Pli Police Station and rescuers from the Ruam Katanyu Foundation at around 3pm. They found her lying…

  • BMTA powers ahead with 1,520 electric buses by 2026 | Thaiger

    BMTA powers ahead with 1,520 electric buses by 2026

    The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) has announced plans to replace non-air-conditioned buses with a fleet of electric vehicles (EVs) in a move set to transform the city’s transport system. Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn confirmed that 1,520 electric-powered, air-conditioned buses will be leased to modernise the fleet. “This transition will reduce pollution, improve service, and…

  • Indian tourist claims assault by Pattaya nightclub manager and bodyguards | Thaiger

    Indian tourist claims assault by Pattaya nightclub manager and bodyguards

    An Indian man accused an Indian nightclub manager and his bodyguards of physically assaulting him in the early hours of Friday, September 26. The 33 year old Indian tourist filed a complaint with Mueang Pattaya Police Station after the alleged assault by the manager of an Indian nightclub on Pattaya Walking Street and his bodyguards. He emphasised that he had…

  • Samut Prakan garage shootout leaves 1 dead, 2 seriously injured | Thaiger

    Samut Prakan garage shootout leaves 1 dead, 2 seriously injured

    A shooting at a car repair shop in Samut Prakan left one person dead and two others seriously injured, prompting a police investigation into the incident. The violent incident occurred around 5.20pm yesterday, September 29, and is currently under investigation by local police. Officers responded to reports of gunfire at the garage, located at the end of Soi Si Samit.…

  • Big Joke strikes back with lawsuit against top judges (video) | Thaiger

    Big Joke strikes back with lawsuit against top judges (video)

    A former senior police officer has filed a lawsuit against top judges, accusing them of interfering in a court ruling that led to his controversial dismissal. Former Deputy National Police Chief Police General Surachate Hakparn, better known as Big Joke, has filed a corruption complaint against two of the most senior figures in Thailand’s judiciary. The explosive lawsuit, submitted to…

  • Drunk BMW driver drives against traffic and causes 10 car pile-up | Thaiger

    Drunk BMW driver drives against traffic and causes 10 car pile-up

    A drunk Thai BMW driver drove against the traffic flow, causing a pile-up involving 10 vehicles on Ratchaphruek Road in the Nonthaburi province near Bangkok. Officers from Ratchaphruek Police Station arrived to find five vehicles involved in a rear-end collision in the left lane. Among them were a Porsche 911 Carrera and a Porsche Cayenne S, both of which sustained…

  • Debt and despair: Man dies from shotgun wound in Wichit | Thaiger

    Debt and despair: Man dies from shotgun wound in Wichit

    A man has died from a self-inflicted shotgun wound at his family home in Wichit, prompting a police investigation into the tragic incident. Wichit Police said they received a report at about 10.50am on Sunday, September 28, and arrived at the two-storey house in Village 8, Wichit, shortly after. The 30 year old man, a local, was found dead in…

  • Bualoi batters Thailand as flood warnings sweep nation | Thaiger

    Bualoi batters Thailand as flood warnings sweep nation

    A powerful tropical storm is sweeping across Thailand, triggering flood warnings in dozens of provinces as officials urge residents to brace for severe weather. Residents in affected areas are advised to exercise caution due to potential heavy to very heavy rainfall and accumulated precipitation, which may lead to flash floods, forest runoffs, and overflowing rivers, especially in mountainous regions, low-lying…

  • How much does it cost to see a doctor in Thailand? | Thaiger

    How much does it cost to see a doctor in Thailand?

    Thailand is known for its high-quality yet affordable healthcare system, but how much does it really cost to see a doctor? As an expat, this question might be crucial for budgeting your health needs. The answer depends on whether you have health insurance or not, and the difference can be significant. Let’s explore the costs, compare insured versus uninsured expenses,…

  • Thailand’s border trade plunges 23.6% in August as Cambodia market collapses | Thaiger

    Thailand’s border trade plunges 23.6% in August as Cambodia market collapses

    Thailand’s border trade dropped 23.6% in August to 63.9 billion baht, with trade with Cambodia almost collapsing, falling 99.9% to just 10 million baht, according to the Department of Foreign Trade (DFT). Arada Fuangtong, director-general of the DFT, said combined border and transit trade in August reached 150.1 billion baht, down 3.1% year-on-year. Exports stood at 75.05 billion baht, while…

  • Car smashes into Chiang Mai restaurant, narrowly running over foreign diners | Thaiger

    Car smashes into Chiang Mai restaurant, narrowly running over foreign diners

    Thai and foreign customers narrowly escaped serious injury after an elderly Thai woman crashed a hatchback into a restaurant in Chiang Mai on Friday, September 26. CCTV footage of the accident was circulated on Thai social media after the incident took place at the Mala Satan Fah restaurant in the Chang Phueak sub-district at around 7pm. The restaurant is located…

  • Thailand eyes private-run ‘lotto-style’ lottery to boost jackpots | Thaiger

    Thailand eyes private-run ‘lotto-style’ lottery to boost jackpots

    The Government Lottery Office (GLO) is considering launching a new “lotto-style” lottery that could be managed by private companies rather than the state. A Finance Ministry source revealed to Bangkok Post that the model would follow systems used overseas, where unclaimed prize money rolls over into bigger jackpots. The move would mark a major shift from the current system, in…

  • Bangkok graffiti vandals slammed for defacing Spanish artist’s mural | Thaiger

    Bangkok graffiti vandals slammed for defacing Spanish artist’s mural

    Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt condemned the three suspects responsible for vandalising a mural by Spanish artist in Soi Charoen Krung 30.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by The Thaiger (@thethaigerofficial) A follower of the popular Drama-addict Facebook page urged the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to expose the culprits who defaced the wall painting by Carolina…

  • Thai construction worker killed in staircase collapse in Bangkok hotel | Thaiger

    Thai construction worker killed in staircase collapse in Bangkok hotel

    A concrete staircase collapsed and killed a construction worker at a hotel in Huai Khwang, Bangkok, yesterday, September 28. Officers from Huai Khwang Police Station were notified of the incident at about 3pm. The accident occurred at a hotel on Thiam Ruam Mit Road in Huai Khwang district. Police officers attended the scene together with a medical team from Ramathibodi…

  • Anutin outlines new policies on tourism, trade, and constitutional reform | Thaiger

    Anutin outlines new policies on tourism, trade, and constitutional reform

    Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul laid out his government’s policy direction in Parliament today, September 29, with a strong focus on tourism recovery, economic reform, and regional diplomacy. Anutin said restoring tourist confidence and tackling scams that target visitors were top priorities, alongside promoting domestic travel. He also stressed the need for a peaceful resolution to tensions with Cambodia and pledged…

  • Thai millionaire market owner found dead in Ratchaburi canal | Thaiger

    Thai millionaire market owner found dead in Ratchaburi canal

    A female millionaire disappeared from her home in Ratchaburi province yesterday, September 28, before her body was found floating in a canal. Officers from Photharam Police Station were alerted to the discovery of a body in the Mae Khlong Canal at around 11.30am. The woman was dressed in a yellow shirt and white and green striped shorts. She bore no…

  • Thailand video news MG Car Smashes Into Shop in Chiang Mai, Tourists Escape Harm, Man Becomes Disabled After Selling Kidney to Buy iPhone | Thaiger

    Thailand video news MG Car Smashes Into Shop in Chiang Mai, Tourists Escape Harm, Man Becomes Disabled After Selling Kidney to Buy iPhone

    Thailand’s week was marked by high-stakes diplomacy, law-enforcement scandals, and headline-grabbing incidents. From the foreign minister accusing Cambodia of ceasefire violations at the UN, to police probes over tourist extortion in Chiang Mai, a viral naked dance arrest in Phuket, and a restaurant brawl in Ayutthaya, public safety and tourism issues loomed large. Meanwhile, a man’s tragic kidney sale for…

  • Thaksin requests royal pardon, justice ministry confirms | Thaiger

    Thaksin requests royal pardon, justice ministry confirms

    The Ministry of Justice has confirmed that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has officially submitted a petition for an individual royal pardon, which has now advanced to the Secretariat of the Cabinet for further consideration. Thaksin filed the request on September 10, one day after the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions sentenced him to one year…

  • People’s Party to target ministers in Anutin’s policy debate | Thaiger

    People’s Party to target ministers in Anutin’s policy debate

    The People’s Party (PP) is preparing more than 20 MPs to speak during the upcoming Parliamentary debate on Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s policy statement, set for Monday and Tuesday, September 29 to 30. The party plans to raise urgent policy issues and question the qualifications of certain Cabinet ministers, although no names have been disclosed. Sirikanya Tansakul, deputy PP leader…