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.

  • Russian man arrested in Phuket with hundreds of illegal hookah products | Thaiger

    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 | Thaiger

    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 | Thaiger

    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…

  • Reward posted as tourist who feeds wristband to sea turtle remains at large | Thaiger

    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…

  • Young tiger seen near tourist spot in Nakhon Ratchasima | Thaiger

    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 | Thaiger

    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 | Thaiger

    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…

  • Thailand video news | Trump calls for cease-fire respect, SEA Games begin under heavy security, Phuket taxi stunt draws backlash. | Thaiger

    Thailand video news | Trump calls for cease-fire respect, SEA Games begin under heavy security, Phuket taxi stunt draws backlash.

    Today we’ll be talking about pressure from the White House for Thailand and Cambodia to honor their cease-fire deal, The kicking off of the Southeast Asian Games, and a little later some dangerous behaviors behind the wheel. Trump urges Thailand and Cambodia to respect cease-fire deal US President Donald Trump called on Thailand and Cambodia to honour the cease-fire agreement…

  • Thailand releases four leopard sharks in first rewilding effort | Thaiger

    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 | Thaiger

    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 | Thaiger

    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…

  • 5 Thai soldiers killed amid escalating clashes with Cambodia | Thaiger

    5 Thai soldiers killed amid escalating clashes with Cambodia

    Five Thai soldiers have been killed in ongoing border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia, with fresh confrontations reported this morning, December 10, the fourth consecutive day of fighting since hostilities resumed. The clashes reignited on Sunday, December 7, despite both countries signing a peace declaration in October, witnessed by US President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister (PM) Anwar Ibrahim.…

  • Thai man raises alarm after finding blood smeared on arm during MRT ride | Thaiger

    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 | Thaiger

    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 | Thaiger

    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…

  • Woman scammed into shaving head in fake hair-buying scheme | Thaiger

    Woman scammed into shaving head in fake hair-buying scheme

    A woman was left devastated after being tricked into shaving her head for a promised payment that never came. A male barber shared the case on Facebook, warning fellow stylists and the public about potential scammers targeting women looking to sell their hair. He posted the story in a Thai barber community group after a female customer entered his shop and…

  • Trump urges Thailand and Cambodia to uphold ceasefire | Thaiger

    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…

  • Phuket businessman accuses Pakistani national of illegally running businesses on his land | Thaiger

    Phuket businessman accuses Pakistani national of illegally running businesses on his land

    A Thai businessman filed a police complaint accusing a Pakistani national of using Thai nominees to illegally run a hotel and restaurant on a property he legally purchased through a public auction in Phuket. Nitipon Ditthawiset, an executive of ASAF Holding Company, travelled to Patong Police Station on Friday, December 5, with his lawyer to request an investigation into the…

  • Misunderstanding sparks fight between Thai and foreign women on Bangla Road | Thaiger

    Misunderstanding sparks fight between Thai and foreign women on Bangla Road

    A physical altercation broke out between Thai and foreign women on Bangla Road in Phuket on Sunday, December 7, reportedly sparked by a misunderstanding. The Facebook page Phuket Times shared a screenshot from a video of the incident on Sunday morning, captioned, “Fighting between Thai and foreign women. The Thai women involved did not know each other but joined the…

  • Thailand unveils 800k tax deductions under TISA plan | Thaiger

    Thailand unveils 800k tax deductions under TISA plan

    Thailand’s Finance Ministry is launching a new savings initiative to help citizens prepare for an ageing population, with tax deductions of up to 800,000 baht under the Thailand Individual Savings Account (TISA) scheme. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas revealed that the economic ministerial meeting yesterday, December 8, approved a key measure under the government’s fifth economic pillar,…

  • 17 South Korean and Chinese scammers arrested in Bangkok and Pattaya | Thaiger

    17 South Korean and Chinese scammers arrested in Bangkok and Pattaya

    Police arrested 17 South Korean and Chinese nationals in Bangkok and Pattaya for running a major call centre scam that caused losses of more than 500 million baht to victims in South Korea. Officers from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD), working with the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Thailand, announced the…

  • Photo of Thai PM with Cambodian governor resurfaces | Thaiger

    Photo of Thai PM with Cambodian governor resurfaces

    Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen has posted a video and photos showing Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and his wife together with the Cambodian governor, accusing Anutin of betraying former ties to gain political advantage. In the post, viewers can see Anutin and his wife, Thananon Niramit, in the same frame as Pailin Governor Ban Sreymom. Hun Sen claimed that…

  • Thai man and Norwegian woman arrested in drug raid at Phuket luxury villa | Thaiger

    Thai man and Norwegian woman arrested in drug raid at Phuket luxury villa

    Police arrested a Thai man and a Norwegian woman at a luxury villa in Phuket’s Cape Panwa area for drug dealing. Officers seized heroin, crystal meth, and methamphetamine (known locally as Yaba) during the raid. Wichit Police Station officers told the media that their ongoing crackdown on drug users and small-scale dealers led them to the pair, 54 year old…

  • Rocket fire and armed exchanges continue along Thai–Cambodian border | Thaiger

    Rocket fire and armed exchanges continue along Thai–Cambodian border

    Clashes along the Thai-Cambodian border have continued for a third consecutive day since December 7, with further exchanges taking place this morning, December 9. No new casualties have been confirmed. ThaiRath reported yesterday, December 8, that Cambodian military activity was detected across several provinces bordering Cambodia, including Ubon Ratchathani, Buriram, Si Saket, and Sa Kaeo. In Buriram’s Ban Kruad district,…

  • PM rules out negotiations with Cambodia, gives reassurance on the Trump Tax Deal | Thaiger

    PM rules out negotiations with Cambodia, gives reassurance on the Trump Tax Deal

    Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul declared that Thailand will end diplomatic negotiations with Cambodia and reassured that the conflict will not derail the Trump tax agreement. Anutin explained that the Thai armed forces already activated full defensive measures, though he declined to disclose operational details. He emphasised that the military will confront any invasion with force if necessary. When asked whether…

  • Tourist denied entry at Don Mueang Airport over minimum cash rule | Thaiger

    Tourist denied entry at Don Mueang Airport over minimum cash rule

    A foreign tourist took to social media to warn travellers to avoid Don Mueang Airport after immigration officers denied her entry into Thailand. In a video posted online, the woman said officers at Don Mueang Immigration denied her entry because of a lack of sufficient funds. She insisted she had never been informed of this rule before, despite entering Thailand…

  • Buriram village chief confirms that no BM-21 rockets has hit homes | Thaiger

    Buriram village chief confirms that no BM-21 rockets has hit homes

    The village head confirms that no BM-21 rockets have fallen on homes in the Buriram area. One resident with a heart condition died while evacuating. Today, December 8, reporters stated that at 8.30am, the 2nd Army Area posted that Cambodian forces had fired BM-21 rockets into Thai civilian areas in Ban Sai Tho 10, Ban Kruat district, Buriram province. Evacuations…

  • Thailand video news | Airport fees rise, suspicious reporter’s death, Norwegian GTA in Bangkok | Thaiger

    Thailand video news | Airport fees rise, suspicious reporter’s death, Norwegian GTA in Bangkok

    Today we’ll be talking about some significant changes coming to the way travelers fly in Thailand, murder and intrigues as cyanide was found after a toxicology report of a deceased Channel 8 reporter, and a little later an outrageous case of a Norwegian man going full GTA in Bangkok. Thailand hikes international departure fee to 1,120 baht The fee for…

  • Teen found dead in Bangkok flat, boyfriend arrested | Thaiger

    Teen found dead in Bangkok flat, boyfriend arrested

    Last week, on December 1, police from Khanna Yao station received a report from 58 year old Saiyon (surname withheld), who requested an investigation at a flat in the Eua Arthorn Koobon 27 building in Tha Raeng, Bang Khen district, Bangkok. This was part of a complex Bangkok incident that drew significant attention. Upon arrival, Saiyon informed the police that…

  • French man arrested for rape as police targets illegal activities on Koh Phangan | Thaiger

    French man arrested for rape as police targets illegal activities on Koh Phangan

    Special Operations Unit officers in Surat Thani have arrested a French man involved in a rape case, apprehending him at a residence on Koh Phangan. Simultaneously, two Latvian women were caught operating an illegal hotel on the same island. Today, on December 7, Police Major General Suwat Suksri, Surat Thani Provincial Police Commander, along with Deputy Commanders Police Colonel Paisan…