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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EC prepares for nationwide election following House dissolution
Thailand’s Election Commission (EC) has confirmed it is fully prepared to conduct the next general election, with all systems in place following the dissolution of the House of Representatives. A February 8, 2026, poll date is under consideration. Newly appointed EC Chairman Narong Klunwarin, a former judge endorsed earlier this month, is leading preparations as the agency gears up for…
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December 13 weather: Strong winds and rain sweep coastal areas
Thailand is set for scattered thundershowers and cooler mornings today, December 13, with warnings in place for strong winds and waves in coastal regions. A low-pressure cell is currently hovering over the lower Andaman Sea, while a moderate northeast monsoon affects the upper Gulf, upper South, and upper Andaman Sea. These conditions are expected to bring thundershowers across the South.…
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Australian man dies after running into glass door at Phuket restaurant
An Australian man died after suffering severe blood loss when he reportedly ran into a glass door at a restaurant in the Karon area of Phuket last night, December 11. Officers from Karon Police Station were alerted to the incident at around 10.30pm and rushed to the restaurant to investigate reports of a disturbance involving a foreign man. However, the…
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Cambodia honours pregnant soldier killed in border clash
Yesterday, December 11, Cambodian authorities paid tribute to a pregnant female soldier who was reportedly killed during a frontline clash with Thai forces. The Phnom Penh Post reported that Cambodia’s Minister of Women’s Affairs posted a message mourning the loss of 43 year old Mut Saveun, a member of the 67th Tank Battalion. Saveun, who was four months pregnant, was…
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Chinese scammer gang caught hiding in Bangkok hotel
Today, December 12, police have arrested 14 Chinese nationals suspected of being involved in online scams, after they illegally crossed the border from Myanmar into Thailand and hid in a love hotel in Bangkok. Officers inspected the area surrounding the hotel and observed more than 10 Chinese individuals moving in and out of the premises suspiciously. Officers then raided the…
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76 year old Thai woman found murdered in Trat, gold jewellery missing
Police are hunting for a suspect who remains at large after a 76 year old Thai woman was found murdered in her home in Trat province, with gold jewellery worth more than 120,000 baht missing from the scene. Relatives became concerned yesterday, December 11, after the elderly woman, identified only as A, failed to answer her phone calls as usual.…
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Couple’s newly bought car goes up in flames before reaching home
A couple’s excitement over their newly purchased second-hand car ended in disaster when the vehicle caught fire before they could make it home. The incident occurred at around 7.30pm on December 11 on Kanchanaphisek Bridge in Samut Prakan. Police from Phra Pradaeng Police Station received a report of the blaze and coordinated emergency response efforts. Fire trucks from Lat Luang…
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5 year old Thai girl rescued after repeated abuse by stepmother
A non-profit organisation rescued a five year old Thai girl yesterday, December 11, after suffering repeated abuse by her stepmother in the Bang Khun Thian area of Bangkok. The rescue was carried out by Be One organisation, led by its founder, Chalida “Ton Or” Palamart. Ton Or said a neighbour who witnessed the abuse for years finally decided to seek help…
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Thai woman killed as pickup spins into Pathum Thani bus stop
A Thai woman was killed after a pickup truck lost control and spun into a bus stop in Pathum Thani province yesterday morning, December 11. Officers from Thanyaburi Police Station were called to investigate the fatal accident at around 8am at a bus stop on Rangsit–Nakhon Nayok Road in the Thanyaburi district. Rescue workers later found the body of the…
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Thai woman shoots ex-husband after alleged break-in at Ayutthaya home
A Thai woman claimed self-defence after shooting her ex-husband who allegedly broke into her home in Ayutthaya yesterday, December 11. Officers from Bang Pa-in Police Station, along with rescuers from the Ayutthaya Ruamjai Foundation, were called to a house in the Sam Ruean sub-district of Bang Pa-in district at around 10am following reports of a shooting. At the scene, officers…
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Heavy rain alerts issued for 35 Thai provinces, including Bangkok
Thailand’s weather department has issued a warning for heavy rain today, December 12, with 35 provinces affected and the South facing the most downpours. According to the Meteorological Department’s forecast from 6am today to 6am tomorrow, December 13, rainfall is expected to increase across southern Thailand, with heavy to extreme rainfall likely in several areas. Provinces at high risk include…
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Foreign trio returns to Thailand to reunite with childhood driver after five decades
A touching reunion in Ubon Ratchathani province has captured widespread attention after two foreign men and a woman returned to Thailand to reunite with their childhood caregiver more than five decades ago. The search began after Facebook user Siw Pittaya Chaisongkhram released an appeal video on Monday, December 8, helping the siblings locate their longtime friend, Poon Pong-aree. The three…
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Embassy intervenes after Thais barred from crossing back from Cambodia
The Royal Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh sent an urgent letter to Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior after Thai nationals in Cambodia were reportedly barred from returning home through the Ban Khlong Luek border checkpoint in Sa Kaeo province. Officials from the Thai-Cambodian Border Coordination Office told Thai PBS on Wednesday, December 11, that Cambodian authorities at the Ban Khlong Luek…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Mixed reactions after foreign rider condemned for illegal U-turn in Phuket
Thai netizens shared mixed reactions after a Phuket driver condemned a foreign rider for making an illegal U-turn over a traffic island. The Thai driver posted dashcam footage of the incident on his Facebook account, Wongwit Sand. The clip was later reshared by Newshawk Phuket Facebook page, which supported Wongwit’s criticism writing… “Foreigner tries bringing death to himself, making a…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Lisa joins Met Gala 2026 host committee alongside global stars
Thai K-pop superstar Lalisa Manoban, or Lisa Blackpink, has been named to the host committee for one of the world’s most prestigious fashion events at the Met Gala 2026. The announcement was made ahead of the year’s end and confirmed Lisa’s involvement in shaping the direction of next year’s gala as part of the host committee, alongside several international artists…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Phuket on high alert for floods, landslides and strong waves
Phuket issued a warning for flash floods and landslides as heavy to very heavy rain is forecast across southern Thailand from December 11 to 16. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) announced that intense rainfall is expected throughout the South, prompting Phuket to order all relevant agencies to remain on full alert for floods, flash floods, landslides, and…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Reward posted as tourist who feeds wristband to sea turtle remains at large
Marine officials expect a sea turtle that swallowed a tourist’s wristband to pass the object naturally within 30 to 40 days, while the suspect responsible remains at large. A video showing an unidentified tourist feeding a yellow wristband to a sea turtle went viral last month. The incident reportedly took place during a diving trip in Mu Ko Similan National…
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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…
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