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.
-
Thai activist sentenced to 46 years for Facebook posts
Thai activist, Mongkol Thirakhot, or Busbas, has been sentenced to 46 years in prison by the Supreme Court for his social media posts. The final ruling was delivered yesterday, December 11, at Chiang Rai Provincial Court. Mongkol is a 32 year old former clothing seller turned political activist who is convicted under Section 112 of the Criminal Code, known as…
-
Foreign motorcyclist goes viral for riding with cooking pot in Phuket
A foreign motorcyclist has gone viral on Thai social media after being spotted wearing a cooking pot instead of a helmet while riding along a road in Phuket. The Phuket Times Facebook page shared photos of the unusual rider on Tuesday, December 9, with a caption jokingly asking, “What kind of helmet he was wearing? This foreigner was heading to…
-
PM Anutin dissolves parliament, says he wants to ‘return power to the people’
Thai Prime Minister (PM) Anutin Charnvirakul announced the dissolution of Parliament late last night, December 11, saying he wanted to “return power to the people.” At around 10pm, Anutin posted a brief message on his Facebook account confirming that his government had submitted a request to dissolve the House of Representatives for royal approval, and the request was officially approved…
-
Digital Economy Minister defends mother over PDPA controversy
Today, December 11, Digital Economy Minister Chaichanok Chidchob defended his mother over a controversial social media post that revealed someone’s personal information online, insisting that she did not break any laws under Thailand’s Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA). The post came after someone online criticised the Chidchob family, accusing them of being involved with illegal casinos in Cambodia. In response,…
-
Vietnam protests after Thailand shows wrong flag again at SEA Games
Vietnam reportedly lodged a formal complaint today, December 11, after Thailand once again displayed the wrong national flag during a 2025 SEA Games event, marking the third flag error since the competition began. The first mistake surfaced when the official SEA Games Facebook page posted graphics for football and futsal fixtures, showing Laos’ flag in place of Indonesia’s and Vietnam’s…
-
Indian brothers arrested in Phuket over Goa nightclub fire that kills 25
Two Indian brothers who fled their home country after a deadly nightclub fire in Goa, India, were arrested in Thailand after days on the run. The fire, which broke out at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub on Saturday, December 6, claimed the lives of 25 people, most of whom were employees. Five tourists were also among the victims, though…
-
Tourism operators calls for clarity on new Thai immigration rules
Tourism operators want Thai authorities to clearly publicise new immigration rules after a rise in the number of tourists being denied entry. The concerns follow new measures introduced by the Immigration Bureau to crack down on multiple visa runs and prevent the misuse of visa-free entry. The updated rules aim to stop foreigners from entering the country while engaging in…
-
Prostitution crackdown: Thai masseuse arrested for offering ‘special massage’
Police arrested a masseuse in Nakhon Ratchasima yesterday, December 10, for offering sex services inside a massage shop, though the suspect insisted the shop owner and other staff had no involvement. Officers from the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division (ATPD) received a tip-off about prostitution taking place at a massage shop in the Non Sung district. To verify the information, police…
-
Thai netizens demand probe after Chinese tourist catches fish in Phuket for fun
Thai netizens are questioning authorities after a viral video showed a Chinese tourist catching vibrant fish in the Phuket sea for fun, with many voicing concerns over animal abuse and suspicions that she may have travelled with an illegal Chinese-run tour operator. A Thai woman spotted the video on Douyin and forwarded it to well-known blogger Luijeen, who shared screenshots…
-
Pattaya driver cites mechanical failure as car crashes into home, injuring 3
A Thai man crashed his sedan into a Pattaya home on Tuesday, December 9, injuring three people, including the homeowner’s wife, who was trapped in the bathroom after a wall collapsed on her. Nong Prue Police Station officers were alerted at about 7am and rushed to the scene with rescuers from the Sawang Borriboon Dhammastan Pattaya Foundation. They arrived to…
-
Thailand video news | Cambodia pulls out of SEA Games, Government considers Disneyland-style attraction
In today’s Thailand video news, Alex covers key stories from across Thailand and Southeast Asia. The lineup includes updates on how rising Thai–Cambodian tensions are impacting the Southeast Asian Games, a remarkable six incidents involving foreigners behaving badly, and finally, a look at whether the Kingdom of Thailand could soon become the Magic Kingdom of Thailand. Disney fans, you’ll want…
-
Thai man killed by falling rock after entering stone mill zone for video content
A falling rock from a stone mill operation killed a Thai man who had climbed a mountain in Phatthalung with a friend to film social media content on Tuesday, December 9. The victim, 29 year old Ritthikiat, suffered a severe head injury after rocks rained down during a routine explosion at the Run Mountain stone mill site in the Khuan…
-
2 more Thai soldiers killed in border clashes, Sa Kaeo imposes curfew
Two more Thai soldiers lost their lives in the escalating border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia yesterday, December 10, bringing the total number of Thai casualties to seven. Sa Kaeo province imposes a nighttime curfew for public safety. The renewed fighting since Sunday, December 7, has spread across four border provinces, Buriram, Si Saket, Surin, and Ubon Ratchathani, with fatalities…
-
Russian man arrested in Phuket with hundreds of illegal hookah products
Phuket police arrested a Russian man for possessing a large quantity of hookah products, known locally as baraku, during a raid in the Cherng Talay area yesterday, December 9. Officers from the Region 8 Special Operations Unit conducted the operation at a rented room in Soi Hua Tiew in the Choeng Thale sub-district of Thalang district. The suspect, identified as…
-
Trump to intervene in renewed Thailand-Cambodia conflict
Following a successful brokering of a ceasefire in July, which ended a five-day conflict between the two countries, US President Donald Trump has announced his intention to intervene by phone call after fighting between Thailand and Cambodia continued into its third day today, December 10. In an interview yesterday, December 9, Thailand’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, said he doubts…
-
Indian brothers behind deadly nightclub fire in Goa reportedly hide in Phuket
Two Indian brothers reportedly fled to Phuket to evade legal consequences after a fire at their nightclub in Goa, India, killed 25 people. BBC reported on Sunday, December 7, that the blaze erupted around midnight on Saturday, December 6, at Birch by Romeo Lane, a popular nightclub on Baga Beach in Goa. The fire spread rapidly through the venue, leaving…
-
Cambodia withdraws from SEA Games over safety concerns amid border clashes
Cambodia announced its withdrawal from the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand today, December 10, citing safety concerns from parents and guardians of athletes following the escalating clashes along the Thai-Cambodian border. A small group of Cambodian athletes attended the opening ceremony at the Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok yesterday, December 9. Cambodia had earlier confirmed it would send athletes to…
-
Young tiger seen near tourist spot in Nakhon Ratchasima
A young male tiger made a surprise appearance near a popular viewpoint in Nakhon Ratchasima on December 6. Its proximity to human territory is becoming concerning for wildlife officials and locals. Tourists captured video footage of a male tiger near the Pha Rak Saladdai viewpoint and the road leading up Khao Saladdai in the Thai Samakkhi subdistrict, Wang Nam Khiao…
-
Thai government studies Disneyland project instead of casino complex
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn revealed a new plan to bring Disneyland to Thailand, replacing the previously proposed entertainment complex. The earlier proposal introduced by the Pheu Thai Party aimed to create a large entertainment complex to boost tourism and the national economy. The project was expected to include theme parks, water parks, sports stadiums, concert…
-
Jamaican beauty queen in critical condition after stage fall in Thailand
The Miss Universe contestant from Jamaica is reportedly in critical condition after falling off the stage during the final round of the competition in Thailand last month. Gabrielle Henry, an ophthalmologist and Jamaica’s representative at Miss Universe 2025, suffered the fall while presenting her evening gown at the Impact Challenger Hall in Nonthaburi during the finals in November. A viral…
-
Cambodian rockets fall near Surin hospital, forcing evacuation
Cambodian troops allegedly targeted Phanom Dong Rak Hospital in Surin this morning, December 10, firing BM-21 rockets into the surrounding area and forcing medical staff and patients to evacuate for safety. According to an update from the 2nd Army Area, a total of six BM-21 rockets were launched into Thai territory at around 8.40am. Several rockets landed near the hospital…
-
Thailand releases four leopard sharks in first rewilding effort
Conservationists released four Indo-Pacific leopard sharks off Koh Maiton on Monday, December 8, in Thailand’s first endangered shark rewilding project. The release took place near Maiton Resort, around nine kilometres from Cape Panwa, and aquarists at Aquaria Phuket bred the sharks, named Maiton, Hope, Spot, and Toty, who are all nearly two years old. Each shark, measuring between 100 and…
-
Wrong flag, incorrect medal tally, and lip-sync error disrupt SEA Games opener
The opening ceremony of the 2025 SEA Games at Bangkok’s Rajamangala National Stadium last night, December 9, sparked widespread criticism after a series of errors, including a wrong national flag, incorrect medal numbers, and a lip-sync mishap. Public scrutiny over this year’s SEA Games, Thailand’s seventh time hosting, began long before the ceremony. Thai visual and lighting designer Rueangrith “Ton”…
-
Tourist clarifies her story on flying into Don Mueang and being denied entry into Thailand
Following the recent article about a woman denied entry to Thailand over a lack of sufficient funds, our team talked to @kaotickaya for further clarification, and she provided additional context about what really happened at immigration. “Hi, thank you for getting back to me. Yes, here are the specific inaccuracies that need to be corrected:” “1. The caption currently states…
-
Drunk driver escapes tragedy after driving onto Pattaya railway track
A Thai man narrowly escaped tragedy after accidentally driving along a railway track in Pattaya while under the influence of alcohol late last night, December 8. Rescuers from the Sawang Borriboon Dhammasathan Pattaya Foundation were alerted to the incident on the railway track in the Nong Prue sub-district, Bang Lamung district, Pattaya, at around 12.30am. When they arrived, they found…
-
Thai man raises alarm after finding blood smeared on arm during MRT ride
A Thai man voiced fear of intentional disease spreading after an unidentified passenger allegedly smeared blood on his arm while travelling on an MRT train yesterday, December 8. The 37 year old man, identified only as Bank, shared his account and concerns in the Facebook group Bangkok Train at 8.57am. He said the incident happened between 7.32am and 7.35am while…
-
Foreign man slammed for leaning out of moving Phuket taxi
Thai motorists and netizens slammed a foreign man for dangerous behaviour after he was seen sticking his upper body out of a taxi while travelling along a Phuket road. A Thai driver, who was travelling behind the white taxi, filmed the risky stunt and shared the footage on his Facebook account, Alif Sroison, on Sunday, December 7. The clip was…
-
Thai man murders LGBTQIA+ couple, saying victims try to sexually assault him
A Thai man who murdered an LGBTQIA+ couple in Loei province claimed he acted in self-defence because the victims allegedly attempted to sexually assault him. Officers from Phu Kradueng Police Station were called to a house in Huai Som sub-district, Phu Kradueng, at about 9.30am on Saturday, December 6, after neighbours discovered the bodies of 69 year old Pranom and…
-
Thai foreign minister says ‘nothing to negotiate’ until Cambodia ready for talks
Thailand’s Foreign Affairs Minister insisted the country did not initiate the renewed border clash with Cambodia and responded to calls from the United Nations (UN) for negotiations, saying there is “nothing to negotiate if Cambodia is not ready.” Clashes between Thai and Cambodian forces resumed on Sunday, December 7, despite both countries signing a peace declaration in October witnessed by…
-
Trump urges Thailand and Cambodia to uphold ceasefire
US President Donald Trump has called on Thailand and Cambodia to uphold their commitment to a ceasefire agreement signed earlier this year, following months of escalating border tensions. A White House official, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said Trump remained focused on keeping the peace between the two Southeast Asian nations. “President Trump is committed to the continued…
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.