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.

  • May 27: Southwest monsoon intensifies as Thailand braces for heavier rain | Thaiger

    May 27: Southwest monsoon intensifies as Thailand braces for heavier rain

    Thailand’s Meteorological Department has issued a weather forecast for today, May 27, warning of thundershowers and isolated heavy rain across most regions as the southwest monsoon continues to strengthen over the Andaman Sea, the Gulf of Thailand, and the country as a whole. Waves in the upper Andaman Sea are expected to reach around two metres, rising above two metres…

  • Thai couple accuse Chinese-owned TikTok agency of account takeover | Thaiger

    Thai couple accuse Chinese-owned TikTok agency of account takeover

    A Thai couple accused a Chinese-linked media agency of exploiting poverty-themed TikTok content for profits, prompting online scrutiny. The couple previously operated a TikTok channel called ครอบครัวบิ๊กบอส, or Big Boss Family, which documented their daily struggles and financial difficulties. The husband, identified as Big, worked as a food delivery rider while his wife cared for their son, Boss, at home.…

  • Macron hosts Anutin as Thailand courts French investment | Thaiger

    Macron hosts Anutin as Thailand courts French investment

    French President Emmanuel Macron hosted Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul for a dinner meeting at the Élysée Palace in Paris yesterday, May 25, where both sides discussed trade, cybersecurity, and regional security issues. The meeting took place at 8.30pm local time in France. Both leaders agreed to strengthen trade and investment between the two countries, particularly in high-value industries including…

  • Chinese woman reunited with lost cash with help from Thai locals | Thaiger

    Chinese woman reunited with lost cash with help from Thai locals

    A Thai rescuer and several locals in Chachoengsao helped a Chinese woman recover 20,000 baht in cash after she accidentally dropped her bag while riding a motorcycle on Bangna-Trat Road on Sunday, May 24. The rescuer, Mongkon Khiaosa-ad, said he was driving home at about 7.30pm when he noticed a woman sitting beside a black Honda SuperCub motorcycle registered in…

  • Thai man arrested for bag snatching in Pattaya that leaves Belgian victim injured | Thaiger

    Thai man arrested for bag snatching in Pattaya that leaves Belgian victim injured

    Police arrested a Thai man on May 15 after he snatched a bag from a Belgian woman in Pattaya, leaving the victim wth injuries requiring medical treatment. The Pattaya bag snatching took place in Soi Na Kluea 12 in the evening of May 15. The victim, identified as 59 year old Belgian national Evens Micheline Joseph, was reportedly approached by…

  • Weight loss injections worth 2.13 million baht seized at Suvarnabhumi | Thaiger

    Weight loss injections worth 2.13 million baht seized at Suvarnabhumi

    Customs officers arrested a Chinese passenger at Suvarnabhumi Airport on May 23 after finding 137 packages of Tirzepatide, a diabetes and weight loss injection, that had allegedly not gone through customs procedures. The passenger had travelled from Bangladesh and was arrested after customs officers found the medicine had allegedly been brought into Thailand without proper procedures. The Customs Department said…

  • Singha heir expands allegations against family, regarding forced drug use | Thaiger

    Singha heir expands allegations against family, regarding forced drug use

    Thai environmental activist Siranudh “Psi” Scott revealed additional allegations against the Singha family yesterday, May 25, claiming he was forced to use drugs in addition to being sexually assaulted. He also announced a surname change to signal his departure from the family. The dispute involving members of the Bhirombhakdi family, owners of Boon Rawd Brewery, became public after Psi released…

  • Mika Salo found at Bangkok hotel after stabbing reports | Thaiger

    Mika Salo found at Bangkok hotel after stabbing reports

    Police have located former Formula One driver Mika Salo at a hotel after reports emerged that he suffered a leg injury while crossing a pedestrian crossing near a hotel in Bangkok on May 19. At 12.20pm today, May 26, Metropolitan Police Bureau commissioner Siam Boonsom assigned officers from the investigation division and Lumpini Police Station to examine the case and…

  • 7 mine workers remain trapped in flooded Laos cave | Thaiger

    7 mine workers remain trapped in flooded Laos cave

    Thai volunteer rescue teams joined a cave rescue mission in Laos after seven mine workers became trapped in a flooded cave since May 19 while searching for gold. Ten mine workers entered a cave in Longchaeng district of Xaisomboun province, but only three managed to escape. Seven others remain trapped inside the cave after heavy rain flooded the entrance and exit…

  • Thailand News | Brit Arrested After Hit and run, Sea Turtle Photo Backlash, Ex-F1 Injured in Bangkok | Thaiger

    Thailand News | Brit Arrested After Hit and run, Sea Turtle Photo Backlash, Ex-F1 Injured in Bangkok

      Today we’ll be talking about a British driver who’s been arrested after a serious hit and run incident on Koh Pha Ngan, then, former formula 1 driver Mika Salo was injured in a suspected bangkok knife attack, plus, a tourist couple flees from a Jomtien convenience store after an alleged energy drink theft turns physical, in ASEAN news Cambodia…

  • Repeat drug users in Thailand to face imprisonment instead of rehabilitation | Thaiger

    Repeat drug users in Thailand to face imprisonment instead of rehabilitation

    House of Representatives President Sophon Saram said Thailand’s drug laws should be revised to impose stricter penalties on repeat drug users, suggesting imprisonment instead of rehabilitation. Thailand previously required all suspects found in possession of illegal drugs to face prosecution and imprisonment based on the quantity of drugs involved and the severity of the offence. In recent years, however, the…

  • Chinese suspect vanishes after violent attack on transwoman in Pattaya | Thaiger

    Chinese suspect vanishes after violent attack on transwoman in Pattaya

    A Chinese man has fled Thailand after allegedly assaulting a transgender woman in a Pattaya hotel room, leaving her with injuries that required 30 stitches. The victim posted a video on Facebook yesterday, May 25, showing the alleged assault and said she would pursue the case. She said she suffered facial injuries requiring 18 stitches, while her wrist required eight…

  • May 26 weather forecast warns of heavy rain in South Thailand | Thaiger

    May 26 weather forecast warns of heavy rain in South Thailand

    Thailand’s weather forecast today, May 26, warns of thunderstorms across the country, with heavy rain expected in parts of South Thailand’s west coast, according to the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD). The department said a moderate southwest monsoon is covering the Andaman Sea, Thailand and the Gulf of Thailand. People in affected areas were urged to remain cautious of heavy rain and…

  • Thai woman in South Korea driven to suicide by financial pressure from creditor | Thaiger

    Thai woman in South Korea driven to suicide by financial pressure from creditor

    A Thai woman living in South Korea has committed suicide after allegedly facing financial pressure from excessive interest payments and public humiliation by a creditor. The deceased was identified as 40 year old Areerat. Her body was discovered in a rented room in Seoul two days after her South Korean husband reported her missing to local police. Areerat was originally…

  • Chinese-directed Tasteful Thailand documentary wins Gold at Telly Awards | Thaiger

    Chinese-directed Tasteful Thailand documentary wins Gold at Telly Awards

    The food documentary Tasteful Thailand, directed by Chinese producer and filmmaker Chen Xiaoqing, won a Gold award at this year’s Telly Awards. The Telly Awards, held for the 47th time this year, received more than 14,000 entries reviewed by the Telly Awards Judging Council. The competition recognises productions across multiple formats, including television, YouTube, social media, animation, vertical video and…

  • 251 live wild animals found hidden in Malaysian man’s suitcase | Thaiger

    251 live wild animals found hidden in Malaysian man’s suitcase

    Thai authorities arrested a Malaysian national at Suvarnabhumi International Airport yesterday, May 24, after attempting to smuggle hundreds of live wild animals out of Thailand. Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) Director Attapon Charoenchansa announced details of the operation, describing it as part of intensified inspections targeting international wildlife trafficking networks using Thailand as a transit route.…

  • Mum walks out of Phuket restaurant without fully paying tab | Thaiger

    Mum walks out of Phuket restaurant without fully paying tab

    A foreign woman was criticised online after refusing to fully pay a bill at a restaurant in Phuket after saying a drink she ordered was not up to standard. The incident occurred at New Break Taek restaurant in the Chalong area of Phuket on Saturday, May 23, and was later shared on Thai social media. According to footage circulating online,…

  • Foreigners pose with Phuket sea turtle, raising online debate | Thaiger

    Foreigners pose with Phuket sea turtle, raising online debate

    Authorities are investigating the identities of foreign tourists seen in a viral video handling a sea turtle near Cape Panwa in Phuket, raising concerns over possible harm to protected marine wildlife. The Phuket Times Facebook page shared footage on Saturday, May 23, showing several foreign tourists taking turns holding a sea turtle while posing for photographs and videos. In the…

  • Thailand video news | Facebook livestream scandal spreads across Thailand, Intoxicated monk defrocked after disturbance in Udon Thani | Thaiger

    Thailand video news | Facebook livestream scandal spreads across Thailand, Intoxicated monk defrocked after disturbance in Udon Thani

    In Thailand video news, Jay covers news stories from across Thailand and Southeast Asia. The stories include Thailand being rocked by a viral Facebook sex livestream scandal under police investigation, an intoxicated monk being defrocked after causing chaos in Udon Thani, and a deadly train and bus collision that leaves eight dead and raises serious safety concerns. Meanwhile, China pushes…

  • Brit arrested for hit-and-run in Koh Pha Ngan, victim in coma | Thaiger

    Brit arrested for hit-and-run in Koh Pha Ngan, victim in coma

    Police arrested a British motorcyclist for a hit-and-run incident on Koh Pha Ngan on Saturday, May 23, that left a Thai doctor in a coma. Colleagues of the injured doctor, Theerasuk “Ton” Kawamatawong, contacted several media outlets seeking justice after the crash, which occurred at about 8.40pm on a road behind the Koh Pha Ngan District Office. CCTV footage shared…

  • May 25: Heavy rain, strong winds forecast across Thailand | Thaiger

    May 25: Heavy rain, strong winds forecast across Thailand

    The Meteorological Department has issued a Thailand weather forecast for today, May 25, warning of thundershowers and isolated heavy rain across much of the country as the southwest monsoon strengthens over the Andaman Sea, the Gulf of Thailand, and inland areas. The moderate southwest monsoon is driving scattered to fairly widespread thundershowers nationwide. Residents and travellers are advised to be…

  • Thai soft power push marks 170 years of Thailand-France ties | Thaiger

    Thai soft power push marks 170 years of Thailand-France ties

    Thailand is looking to France for lessons in turning culture into global influence, as Culture Minister Sabeeda Thaised led talks on May 22 to mark 170 years of Thailand-France diplomatic ties and push Thai soft power through five areas of cooperation. At 5.30pm local time, Sabeeda and senior Ministry of Culture executives met French Culture Minister Catherine Pégard during an…

  • Viral Facebook sex livestream scandal spreads across Thai social media | Thaiger

    Viral Facebook sex livestream scandal spreads across Thai social media

    Thai cyber police are investigating Facebook sex livestreams showing uncensored sexual intercourse after the broadcasts circulated widely last night, May 23, prompting responses from users and public pages, including the Department of Disease Control (DDC). Several anonymous Facebook pages reportedly shared sexually explicit livestreams at around the same time, reportedly leading many users to click into the broadcasts out of…

  • Chiang Mai karaoke bar raided, 12 illegal workers detained | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai karaoke bar raided, 12 illegal workers detained

    Chiang Mai police raided a covert karaoke bar in the city centre on May 23 after residents complained about noise, detaining 12 Myanmar nationals found working without properly registered employers. The operation was led by Police Major General Olan Iampraphat of Tourist Police Division 2 and Police Colonel Phisanu Triamdee, with Police Lieutenant Colonel Avirut Sookyaem conducting the inspection alongside…

  • Woman killed by train at ungated railway crossing in Bangkok | Thaiger

    Woman killed by train at ungated railway crossing in Bangkok

    A 21 year old woman was hit by a freight train while riding her motorcycle and killed at an ungated railway crossing in Lat Krabang, Bangkok, shortly after midnight today, May 24. Lat Krabang police were notified of the accident at about 12.30am near Sangkaracha Temple along the motorway frontage road in Lat Krabang district. Police and Ruamkatanyu Foundation volunteers…

  • Udon Thani monk defrocked after drunk bar run | Thaiger

    Udon Thani monk defrocked after drunk bar run

    A monk caused a public disturbance in Udon Thani on May 23 after being found heavily intoxicated and trying to enter a sukiyaki restaurant, then a bar, before being stripped of his robes that evening. Police Lieutenant Colonel Sata Porn Sawatdee of the Mueang Udon Thani Police Station received a report of a monk behaving disruptively near a buffet restaurant…

  • Chiang Mai police arrest 19 year old illegal loan tout for fourth time | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai police arrest 19 year old illegal loan tout for fourth time

    Chiang Mai police have arrested a 19 year old man linked to the ‘Instant Cash’ illegal loan network for the fourth time in a year, after residents complained about loan flyers flooding their neighbourhood. The suspect, Pakin, was apprehended on May 23 on a road in the Chomphu village area of Saraphi district, Chiang Mai. The operation was led by…

  • Gun videos lead police to Indian man with drugs on Koh Pha Ngan | Thaiger

    Gun videos lead police to Indian man with drugs on Koh Pha Ngan

    Police arrested an Indian man on Koh Pha Ngan yesterday, May 23, after videos showed a foreigner posing with guns and practising shooting, with officers later finding drugs and drug price lists on his phone. The suspect, identified as 33 year old Shabeelkunnon Valappil, was arrested at a residence in Koh Pha Ngan district, Surat Thani. Police charged him with…

  • Foreign tourist accused of theft runs from brawl outside Pattaya shop | Thaiger

    Foreign tourist accused of theft runs from brawl outside Pattaya shop

    A foreign tourist accused of stealing two energy drinks fled a convenience store near Jomtien Beach in Pattaya after getting into a brawl with multiple Thai men outside the shop. A video shared on social media showed the incident inside and outside a convenience store near Jomtien Beach. The post claimed that a foreigner had stolen items and refused to…

  • Ancient Khmer fortune teller arrested for 1.7 million baht ritual scam | Thaiger

    Ancient Khmer fortune teller arrested for 1.7 million baht ritual scam

    A 65 year old ancient Khmer fortune teller has been arrested in Na Jomtien for allegedly defrauding a woman out of more than 1.7 million baht through ritual services, with additional allegations of sexual assault. The incidents reportedly took place between January and April. Police Colonel Pisit Tangsirisatien, accompanied by deputy investigation chief Pol. Lt. Col. Adisorn Kongkoi and an investigative…