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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  • Loco antics: Drugged-up drama as man halts Hat Yai express

    Loco antics: Drugged-up drama as man halts Hat Yai express

    Pandemonium erupted in Hat Yai when a Thai man under the influence of hallucinogenic drugs turned the railway tracks into his personal stage, causing a train to come to a screeching halt. The bizarre incident, captured on video, saw the man standing, lying, and even walking towards the moving train, sparking chaos at the station. It all unfolded yesterday, March…

  • Rodent royalty: Korat Zoo’s new Patagonian attraction charms (video)

    Rodent royalty: Korat Zoo’s new Patagonian attraction charms (video)

    Korat Zoo has rolled out the red carpet for its latest superstar, a cute Patagonian mara, unveiled to eager visitors. While the newborn’s gender remains a mystery, its charm is undeniable, as the zoo’s director, Thanachon Khensing, proudly stated: “It’s capturing everyone’s attention.” Currently, Korat Zoo boasts a trio of these enchanting creatures: one male, one female, and the new…

  • Rayong mother’s mate accused of battering girl over blame game

    Rayong mother’s mate accused of battering girl over blame game

    A Thai woman yesterday beat a friend’s 12 year old daughter at a house in the eastern province of Rayong. The alleged aggressor accused the victim of spoiling her daughter and encouraging her to meet with friends without her mother’s permission. Several Thai news agencies shared footage of the incident, showing the 39 year old woman attacking the young girl…

  • Overpass tragedy: Thai motorcyclist’s birthday ends in fatal fall

    Overpass tragedy: Thai motorcyclist’s birthday ends in fatal fall

    In a tragic twist of fate, a 42 year old man died on his birthday after his motorcycle veered off a 10-metre overpass in Nonthaburi, near Bangkok. The rider, Seksan (surname withheld), was reported to have overtaken a taxi at high speed before the catastrophe. At 2am, today, March 21, Chaiyapruek Police Station officers in Nonthaburi, alongside Ruamkatanyu Foundation volunteers,…

  • Thai stock index jumps as gold hits record high amid Fed rate plans

    Thai stock index jumps as gold hits record high amid Fed rate plans

    In a striking turn for the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), the index surged for the third consecutive day, momentarily cracking the 1,200-point mark yesterday, as gold prices soared to record highs. This rally followed the Federal Reserve’s decision to maintain interest rates at 4.25-4.50%, as anticipated. Rakpong Charoenpong, Senior Vice President at KGI Securities (Thailand), attributed the buoyant market…

  • Flight risk: Aussie in court for helping crime boss flee to Thailand

    Flight risk: Aussie in court for helping crime boss flee to Thailand

    An Aussie man is scheduled to appear in court in Australia today, accused of aiding the escape of a notorious organised crime figure to Thailand. The unnamed 57 year old from Bargara, Bundaberg, Queensland, allegedly crewed a vessel alongside another man to pick up a fugitive at a clandestine sea rendezvous. After quietly setting sail from Thursday Island, north of…

  • Rama II drama: Crane truck collapse severely injures man

    Rama II drama: Crane truck collapse severely injures man

    Following the Dao Khanong Expressway Bridge collapse, Bangkok’s Rama II saw yet another serious accident as a crane truck used for tree pruning collapsed, injuring a 63 year old man. The man suffered a serious forehead injury, requiring immediate medical attention, including a ventilator, at the hospital. The incident occurred yesterday, March 20 on Rama II Road near Soi 44.…

  • Chinese woman arrested in Pattaya for crypto scam

    Chinese woman arrested in Pattaya for crypto scam

    A raid on a luxury villa in Pattaya turned into a stunning double arrest as Thai police captured a Chinese woman accused of masterminding a cryptocurrency investment scam worth over US$18.4 million (around 622 million baht). But the surprises didn’t end there—officers also uncovered her fugitive boyfriend, an international criminal with a chilling past. The Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD)…

  • Thailand video news | Nightclub owner jailed over deadly Pattaya fire, Malaysia restarts MH370 search with ‘no find, no fee’ deal

    Thailand video news | Nightclub owner jailed over deadly Pattaya fire, Malaysia restarts MH370 search with ‘no find, no fee’ deal

    In today’s Thailand video news update, Alex and Jay bring key stories from Thailand and Southeast Asia. A Pattaya court sentenced nightclub owner Phongsiri and associates to prison over the deadly 2022 fire, while Phuket prepares for a major water outage in Patong. Thailand climbed to 49th in the World Happiness Report, though challenges remain. Meanwhile, PM2.5 pollution surges across…

  • Foreign transwoman and man clash in rose row on Bangla Road

    Foreign transwoman and man clash in rose row on Bangla Road

    A foreign transwoman got into a physical altercation with a foreign man on Bangla Road in Phuket on Wednesday allegedly after the man refused to buy roses from her. The Thai TikTok user @pondcing7 shared a video of the incident yesterday, March 20, with a caption reading, “Again! Every day! Lol #BanglaPatong #Phuket.” The user witnessed the incident and recorded…

  • Red card: Thai cops in Liverpool kits bust Toon clad drug dealer

    Red card: Thai cops in Liverpool kits bust Toon clad drug dealer

    A Thai drug dealer wearing a Newcastle United football jersey was arrested yesterday by Krabi police officers clad in Liverpool replica shirts in an ironic swoop. The symbolic arrest was in revenge for Liverpool’s defeat to Newcastle last week in the Carabao Cup final. United beat the Reds 2-1 thanks to goals by Dan Burn and Alexander Isak to lift…

  • Paetongtarn hits back at opposition’s ‘secret deal’ claims

    Paetongtarn hits back at opposition’s ‘secret deal’ claims

    Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has lashed out at the opposition People’s Party after they accused her of making political deals for her family’s gain. Dismissing the allegations as baseless, she’s calling for reason over rumours as the no-confidence debate heats up. In a fiery response to accusations from the opposition, the Thai premier spoke to reporters yesterday, March 20, denying…

  • Thai cop collapses on duty after intense livestream confrontation

    Thai cop collapses on duty after intense livestream confrontation

    A Thai police officer in the central province of Sing Buri collapsed on duty allegedly due to intense pressure from a local news Facebook page administrator who livestreamed the officer’s alleged illegal actions. The administrator of the Facebook page อย่าหาทำ (meaning “do not do stupid things”), Waraporn “Jack” Saelor, livestreamed the alleged illegal incident as Police Senior Sergeant Major Suppamit…

  • Thai freelancer bottles Indian tourist after payment row

    Thai freelancer bottles Indian tourist after payment row

    An Indian tourist fell victim to a brutal beer bottle assault in Pattaya by a freelance Thai woman after he allegedly refused to pay for her services. Consequently, the freelancer reportedly hit the Indian man in the head with a beer bottle and robbed him of 10,000 baht, according to the victim. The incident unfolded in the early hours this…

  • Car repair shop fire in Bangkok destroys cars and kills two dogs

    Car repair shop fire in Bangkok destroys cars and kills two dogs

    A devastating fire tore through a car repair shop in Bang Bon district in Bangkok, leaving behind a trail of destruction, including the loss of two beloved dogs. Firefighters acted swiftly to contain the flames, but the damage was extensive. The fire broke out around 10pm, yesterday, March 20, at a car repair shop located on Soi Bang Bon 4,…

  • Chinese tourists’ bags handed back by officers in Pattaya

    Chinese tourists’ bags handed back by officers in Pattaya

    A Bali Hai Pier police officer earned applause for his honesty and dedication after recovering two lost bags filled with cash and crucial documents, returning them to their rightful owners – two Chinese tourists who were left stunned and grateful. On March 18, Thanongsak Chimluang, an officer stationed at Bali Hai Pier, was on duty when he received a tip-off…

  • Over 10,000 bottles of cough syrup seized in Phuket drug raid

    Over 10,000 bottles of cough syrup seized in Phuket drug raid

    Police made a shocking discovery in Kathu, Phuket, as a recent investigation into an illegal e-cigarette distribution network has uncovered more than 10,000 bottles of cough syrup, allegedly part of a wider smuggling operation. The raid, which has left many stunned, highlights the alarming rise of unregulated drug trafficking in the region. An ongoing investigation into a local e-cigarette ring…

  • Drug-addicted Thai man kills friend’s mother and injures 2 others

    Drug-addicted Thai man kills friend’s mother and injures 2 others

    A drug-addicted Thai man killed his friend’s mother and injured two other victims at a house in the Isaan province of Loei yesterday. A 55 year old Thai father, Auan, called officers at Nong Hin Police Station to arrest his son, 22 year old Ratchanon, yesterday morning, March 20. Auan revealed that he heard the community leader announce the brutal…

  • Thai jail nightmare: British tourist forced to drink urine after arrest

    Thai jail nightmare: British tourist forced to drink urine after arrest

    A British tourist revealed he had to drink his own urine in a Thailand jail after being drugged and beaten in a Thai police cell after he was spiked while partying in Hua Hin. Lewis Green was on the final day of his eight-week solo adventure in Thailand when his dream trip turned into a nightmare. Arrested on January 24,…

  • Thailand braces for colder weather, strong winds, and heavy rain

    Thailand braces for colder weather, strong winds, and heavy rain

    The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasts a significant weather change with colder temperatures, strong winds, and heavy rain expected in the coming days. Specific regions, especially in the south, should prepare for severe weather conditions, and residents are advised to take health precautions. Yesterday, March 20, a high-pressure system from China affected the upper regions of Thailand and the South…

  • Lithuanian man dies in Phuket after tree falls on motorbike

    Lithuanian man dies in Phuket after tree falls on motorbike

    A Lithuanian man’s tropical getaway ended in horror on Phuket’s picturesque Nai Thon Beach Road. Tragedy struck as a towering pine branch plummeted onto the unsuspecting 42 year old Eastern European, killing him instantly as he sped along on his motorbike yesterday morning, March 20. “Shockwaves rippled through the usually serene area,” said Thanapong Keonun, village headman of Moo 4,…

  • How Thailand’s famous pigmy hippo became a crypto star

    How Thailand’s famous pigmy hippo became a crypto star

    In September of last year, an adorable two-year-old Pigmy Hippo named Moo Deng went viral on social media and quickly developed a global fan base. The hippo, who lives at Khao Kheor Open Zoo in Si Racha, Chonburi, Thailand, took the world by storm and even inspired an individual to create a new cryptocurrency meme coin in her honour. Understanding…

  • Tesla leads in Thai EV market with top satisfaction scores

    Tesla leads in Thai EV market with top satisfaction scores

    According to a recent survey by NielsenIQ Thailand, Tesla has emerged as the dominant force in Thailand’s electric vehicle (EV) market, with the highest satisfaction score of 890. The result comes from the Electric Vehicle Ownership Satisfaction (EVOSS) study, which measures consumer satisfaction with battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). Manenatta Jirasevijinda, Senior Director of Automotive…

  • Taps off: Phuket faces dry spell as new system rolls in tomorrow

    Taps off: Phuket faces dry spell as new system rolls in tomorrow

    The Phuket branch of the Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) has announced a water supply outage for tomorrow, March 21, affecting large parts of Patong. The outage will occur from 10am to 6pm while workers install a new PRV system at DMA14-01-01 in Baan Ton Thai. In its official announcement, the PWA stated, “Therefore it is necessary to stop distributing water…

  • Delivery riders in Suphan Buri threatened by knife-wielding peer

    Delivery riders in Suphan Buri threatened by knife-wielding peer

    Over 30 delivery riders reported an alarming incident at the Mueang Suphan Buri Police Station, where a fellow rider threatened them with a knife. The attacks, reportedly without provocation, have left many riders fearful and unwilling to work. On the evening of March 18, A, a rider, recounted how he and his peers were threatened by a seemingly deranged fellow…

  • PPRP deputy denies claims of inflated property sale to SSO

    PPRP deputy denies claims of inflated property sale to SSO

    Santi Promphat, deputy leader of the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), has strongly denied allegations that his son, Patana Promphat, sold a building to the Social Security Office (SSO) at an inflated price, insisting the sale was legitimate and fairly valued. Today, March 20, Santi responded to claims made by opposition MPs Rukchanok Srinork and Sahassawat Kumkong of the People’s Party…

  • Pipe bomb attack injures five at Pattani police checkpoint

    Pipe bomb attack injures five at Pattani police checkpoint

    Two people disguised as Muslim women threw a pipe bomb at a police checkpoint in Pattani province, injuring five residents, including a family of five. The incident occurred at 5.40pm, yesterday, March 19, when officers from the Sai Buri District Police Station were alerted to the attack at the Wat Lieb checkpoint in Taluban subdistrict. The explosion affected passersby, prompting…

  • Drunk transwoman driver crashes into Pattaya meatball vendor

    Drunk transwoman driver crashes into Pattaya meatball vendor

    A shocking late-night collision on Pattaya Third Road left a street food vendor seriously injured, his cart destroyed and the cart’s meatballs scattered across the footpath. Emergency responders yesterday, March 19, at 4.30am, rushed to the scene, opposite Xzyte Square, after they received reports of a motionless man lying by the roadside. The victim, identified as 39 year old Athipong…

  • Koh Samui real estate booms thanks to ‘The White Lotus’

    Koh Samui real estate booms thanks to ‘The White Lotus’

    Koh Samui, the popular resort island in Surat Thani province, is set to see a surge in demand for luxury condominiums and villas this year, according to investment management firm Colliers Thailand. The latest season of the hit American TV series The White Lotus was filmed at the luxurious Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui, with additional scenes shot at Anantara…

  • Air pollution crisis: PM2.5 levels soar across Thailand’s provinces

    Air pollution crisis: PM2.5 levels soar across Thailand’s provinces

    The Air Pollution Solutions Communication Centre reported that PM2.5 levels exceeded the standard in 37 provinces across Thailand, with northern and northeastern regions experiencing the highest levels of air pollution. The situation is expected to worsen over the next seven days. The report today, March 20, highlighted that PM2.5 levels in several provinces, including Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Sakhon,…