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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  • Pet paradise unleashed at Bangkok’s epic expo | Thaiger

    Pet paradise unleashed at Bangkok’s epic expo

    Bangkok’s Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre is set to transform into a wonderland of whiskers, wagging tails and wild surprises as the Pet Expo Championship 2025 kicks off with the theme The Magical Land of Friendship. Running daily starting tomorrow, July 31, from 10am to 8pm until Sunday, August 3, the event promises non-stop fun, furry festivities and some serious…

  • Thai singer accuses retired police of gun threat over parking dispute | Thaiger

    Thai singer accuses retired police of gun threat over parking dispute

    A Thai singer filed a complaint against a retired police officer in the central province of Nakhon Sawan, alleging that the former officer threatened him with a gun following a parking dispute. The male singer, identified only as Bas, reported the threat to Takhli Police Station today, July 30. He informed police that the incident occurred outside a restaurant on…

  • Thaksin hospital scandal: Supreme Court sets verdict date | Thaiger

    Thaksin hospital scandal: Supreme Court sets verdict date

    The Supreme Court has set September 9 as the day it will deliver its verdict in a highly watched case probing whether former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was unlawfully spared prison time by bunking down in the Police General Hospital (PGH) instead of a jail cell. The court concluded its seventh and final hearing in the self-initiated inquiry this week,…

  • Holy water hype: Revered Thai monk’s bowl sparks lotto frenzy (video) | Thaiger

    Holy water hype: Revered Thai monk’s bowl sparks lotto frenzy (video)

    Superstitious Thais are going wild again over a “miraculous” holy water bowl in the run-up to the August 1 lottery draw, convinced it’s brimming with lucky numbers. With the Government Lottery draw looming on Friday, August 1, hopeful punters across Thailand are once again placing their faith in sacred rituals, and this time, all eyes are on the holy water…

  • Paetongtarn gets final lifeline in leaked tape scandal | Thaiger

    Paetongtarn gets final lifeline in leaked tape scandal

    Suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been granted a last-minute reprieve by the Constitutional Court, which voted 5–4 in favour of extending her deadline to submit a defence in the now-infamous leaked audio scandal involving Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen. The decision, announced yesterday, July 29, allows Paetongtarn until August 4 to respond, a final extension under Section 31 of…

  • Spiked: Russian girl jabbed by porcupinefish at Jomtien Beach | Thaiger

    Spiked: Russian girl jabbed by porcupinefish at Jomtien Beach

    A peaceful beach day turned into a seaside scare after an 11 year old Russian girl was stung by a porcupinefish spine while playing along the shore at Jomtien Beach. The incident unfolded yesterday afternoon, July 29, when the girl suddenly cried out in pain, alarming her guardians and nearby beachgoers. According to officials from the Jomtien municipal enforcement team,…

  • Indonesia reconsiders SEA Games participation amid Thailand-Cambodia tentions | Thaiger

    Indonesia reconsiders SEA Games participation amid Thailand-Cambodia tentions

    Indonesia expressed hesitation in participating in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games), citing concerns that tensions between Thailand and Cambodia could affect the safety of athletes during the event. The Indonesian Minister of Youth and Sports, Ario Bimo Nandito, commonly known as Dito Ariotedjo, told reporters in Jakarta that his ministry, together with the National Olympic Committee (NOC), is…

  • Armed gang brawl erupts at Phuket’s Saphan Hin fest | Thaiger

    Armed gang brawl erupts at Phuket’s Saphan Hin fest

    A fiery clash between rival youth gangs turned Phuket’s Parn Hin festival into a crime scene late last night, with weapons seized and three suspects in custody after a confrontation involving firecrackers, knives, and even a homemade gun. The incident erupted around 10.30pm yesterday, July 29, near the central stage at the Saphan Hin fairground, where witnesses reported two groups…

  • Thai man shot while riding motorcycle on Samut Prakan road | Thaiger

    Thai man shot while riding motorcycle on Samut Prakan road

    Police are searching for a gunman who shot a Thai man while he was riding a motorcycle on Bangna-Trat Road in Samut Prakan province near Bangkok, this morning, July 30. The Facebook page Mueang Prakan V2 reported that the shooting occurred at around 7.40am on Bangna-Trat Road, opposite the Bangna Tower office building. The victim was a 25 year old…

  • Bag bump at Pattaya bar sparks bloody brawl | Thaiger

    Bag bump at Pattaya bar sparks bloody brawl

    A drunken bump turned bloody in the early hours of yesterday after a Thai woman was attacked near a South Pattaya bar in a row over a handbag. At around 3am yesterday, July 29, the Sawang Boriboon Rescue Centre received a report of a physical altercation outside a pharmacy near a well-known restaurant on South Pattaya Road. Responders arrived to…

  • Lucky pink slips: Thai top lotto picks revealed | Thaiger

    Lucky pink slips: Thai top lotto picks revealed

    Thailand’s favourite fortune teller is back in the spotlight as the countdown to the August 1 Government Lottery draw heats up, and Mae Jamnian’s pink slips are flying off the shelves. Renowned for her uncanny accuracy, Mae Jamnian’s lottery number predictions have once again created a nationwide buzz. Her top 10 best-selling numbers for this round are all rooted in…

  • Studio7 Phuket staff fired over photo privacy scandal | Thaiger

    Studio7 Phuket staff fired over photo privacy scandal

    An Apple retailer in Phuket has landed in hot water after a shocking breach of customer privacy ended with a private photo appearing on Tinder. Studio7, an official Apple distributor in Thailand, issued a public apology and confirmed it has fired six employees and launched legal proceedings after one of them allegedly stole a customer’s intimate photo from their phone…

  • CCTV busts trash dumpers in Pattaya green zone sting | Thaiger

    CCTV busts trash dumpers in Pattaya green zone sting

    Caught on camera and forced to clean up their mess. That’s the fate that met four litterbugs after Pattaya’s expanding CCTV network spotted them dumping garbage in a forest zone just hours after it had been cleaned. On Sunday, July 27, Pattaya City workers completed a public cleaning and trimming of a green zone. But the next day, officials were…

  • Late-night raids in Kamala and Patong net drug suspects | Thaiger

    Late-night raids in Kamala and Patong net drug suspects

    Phuket’s nightlife came under fire this week as authorities launched surprise raids in Kamala and Patong, arresting suspected drug users and pushing deeper into local trafficking networks. As part of the national No Drugs, No Dealers campaign, officials from the Kathu District Office carried out surprise inspections at nightlife venues in Village 3, Kamala, near Soi Pa Jak, on Monday,…

  • 100 million baht in compensation offered to provinces affected in border clashes | Thaiger

    100 million baht in compensation offered to provinces affected in border clashes

    Thailand’s Ministry of Finance approved 100 million baht in compensation for residents in each province affected by the ongoing border clashes. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Phichai Chunhavajira, reported that approximately 160,000 residents in the border provinces had to evacuate to emergency shelters and were forced to stop working due to the continued violence in the area. Locals…

  • Thailand enforces no-fly zones for drones in military areas | Thaiger

    Thailand enforces no-fly zones for drones in military areas

    Fourteen areas across Thailand have been declared no-fly zones for drones, particularly in military regions. The Thai military is equipped with anti-drone systems along the Thai border, ready to intercept any unauthorised aerial devices. Today, July 30, Jirayu Huangsub, Government spokesperson, announced that the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has prohibited drone flights in areas that could impact national…

  • Pattaya fights back with bold new city health charter | Thaiger

    Pattaya fights back with bold new city health charter

    Pattaya is rewriting the rules as it prepares to launch a bold new health charter aimed at cleaning up the city’s image and improving the quality of life for its residents. At the heart of the plan is the use of constitutional authority to drive sweeping reforms across three key sectors: tattoo safety, nighttime worker welfare, and protecting children from…

  • Activist urges dissolution of 7 Thai parties over Thaksin influence | Thaiger

    Activist urges dissolution of 7 Thai parties over Thaksin influence

    A complaint was filed with the Election Commission (EC) by a political activist yesterday, July 29, seeking the dissolution of seven political parties. The activist alleged that these parties permitted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to interfere in their internal operations, potentially breaching the organic law on political parties. Nopparuj Vorachitwutthikun, previously involved with the Phirap Khao (White Dove) 2006…

  • Thailand video news | Thai-Cambodian commanders agree on ceasefire measures, Deadly dispute turns festival into tragedy in Southern Thailand | Thaiger

    Thailand video news | Thai-Cambodian commanders agree on ceasefire measures, Deadly dispute turns festival into tragedy in Southern Thailand

    In Thailand video news, Alex and Jay cover news stories, including the new 7-point plan to maintain the ceasefire that’s been agreed to by Thai and Cambodian military leaders, a deadly mass shooting this time taking place in southern Thailand, and some feel-good stories involving Thai heartthrobs and friendly farangs. Thai-Cambodian Commanders Agree on Ceasefire Measures On 29 July, Thai…

  • Fire at Nakhon Ratchasima bicycle store causes 3 million baht damages | Thaiger

    Fire at Nakhon Ratchasima bicycle store causes 3 million baht damages

    A significant fire engulfed a major bicycle sales and repair centre in Nakhon Ratchasima, trapping the shop owners, a couple, on an upper floor. Police expect damages to exceed 3 million baht (US$92,570). The incident occurred at 4.55am today, July 30, when Police Colonel Nathee Sukuna received a report about a fire at Wandi Bicycle Store in Ban Nong Phiman,…

  • Aeroflot flight drama: Phuket return sparks hacker rumours | Thaiger

    Aeroflot flight drama: Phuket return sparks hacker rumours

    An Aeroflot flight bound for Novosibirsk was forced to return to Phuket International Airport yesterday morning just minutes after takeoff, following what was reported as a technical malfunction, but speculation is swirling after the airline confirmed a cyberattack just one day earlier. The Airbus A330, operating as flight SU637, took off at 9.53am local time, around 30 minutes behind schedule. But…

  • Nonthaburi suit shop owner injured in row with ex-wife | Thaiger

    Nonthaburi suit shop owner injured in row with ex-wife

    A confrontation unfolded in Nonthaburi’s Mueang district when an 88 year old suit shop owner, Sombat or Pa Den, faced his ex-wife, who accused him of preventing her from retrieving personal belongings post-separation. The altercation occurred yesterday, July 29, at 6pm, prompting police intervention. Police received reports of an altercation within a lane in Bang Kraso subdistrict. Upon arrival, they…

  • Chiang Mai sees surge in demand for lottery tickets | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai sees surge in demand for lottery tickets

    In Chiang Mai, the demand for lottery tickets is on the rise, particularly for auspicious numbers and those linked to significant national events. One popular choice is the numbers commemorating the Thai military’s strategic securing of 11 key locations. Phannee Lupungngern, a lottery vendor on Chiang Mai-Lamphun Road in Saraphi district, reported a surge in sales, with many auspicious numbers…

  • Furious farangs slam Pattaya over ‘Thai price’ double standard | Thaiger

    Furious farangs slam Pattaya over ‘Thai price’ double standard

    As domestic tourism campaigns roll out across Pattaya, many foreign travellers are left feeling short-changed. While Thai nationals enjoy government-backed discounts and co-pay perks, expats and tourists say they’re being charged more for the same experiences, from hotel rooms to national park entries. “Should I get a local to book my hotel for October?” one frustrated tourist posted on a…

  • Thai army detains 18 Cambodian soldiers after border clash | Thaiger

    Thai army detains 18 Cambodian soldiers after border clash

    The 2nd Army Area detained 18 Cambodian prisoners of war (POWs) following a clash in the Sam Tae area of Kantharalak district in Si Sa Ket province. Two other Cambodian soldiers were found dead at the scene. The spokesperson for the Royal Thai Army (RTA), Winthai Suwaree, reported yesterday, July 29, that a clash had erupted in Sam Tae after…

  • Chiang Rai residents brace for floods as Kok River rises | Thaiger

    Chiang Rai residents brace for floods as Kok River rises

    Residents along the Kok River in Chiang Rai are being urged to prepare for potential flooding as water levels rise. Warnings have been issued for areas such as Huai Chomphu, Mae Yao, Doi Hang, Wiang, Rim Kok, and the Chiang Rai City Municipality to move belongings to higher ground. Eight temporary shelters have been established by the city municipality. Yesterday,…

  • Missing jet ski operator found dead on island off Phuket | Thaiger

    Missing jet ski operator found dead on island off Phuket

    A routine day on the water turned tragic after a young jet ski operator vanished off Koh Naka Yai; his body was pulled from mangroves two days later. The body of 22 year old Jessadawut Hom, also known as Bass, was discovered yesterday afternoon, July 29, tangled in mangroves along the shore of Koh Naka Yai, off Phuket’s east coast.…

  • Major drug bust in Sakon Nakhon seizes 500kg crystal meth | Thaiger

    Major drug bust in Sakon Nakhon seizes 500kg crystal meth

    Under the government’s Seal Stop Safe border drug prevention policy and the No Drugs No Dealers operation led by Interior Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, a major anti-drug operation took place yesterday, July 29, in Sakon Nakhon province. Key officials, including Police General Kittirat Phanphet, Police Lieutenant General Nitinai Langyen, and Police Lieutenant General Boonsin Phatklang, executed an intense crackdown at the…

  • ‘Flying Giant’ A380 becomes a costly nightmare for airlines | Thaiger

    ‘Flying Giant’ A380 becomes a costly nightmare for airlines

    Two decades after its maiden flight, the Airbus A380 is back in demand as international travel roars back to life post-Covid. But while passengers may love its spacious cabins, airlines are groaning under the weight of its soaring maintenance costs. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued 95 airworthiness directives for the aircraft since 2020, more than double…

  • Cambodia denies second ceasefire breach, Thailand shows evidence | Thaiger

    Cambodia denies second ceasefire breach, Thailand shows evidence

    The Royal Thai Army (RTA) Deputy Spokesperson alleged that Cambodia violated the ceasefire agreement again last night, July 29, by attacking Thai military positions at Phu Makhuea and Chong Anma. Ritcha Suksuwanon, Deputy Spokesperson for the RTA, told the media this morning that the army received a report from military units stationed at Phu Makhuea in Si Sa Ket province…