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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Sponsored How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?
Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....
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Smoke out: Phuket cracks down on polluters as air crisis worsens
Phuket is turning up the heat on environmental offenders with a major new campaign aimed at tackling the island’s escalating air pollution crisis. In a bold bid to curb forest fires, haze, and PM2.5 dust pollution, the island’s officials have launched a public awareness drive, kicking off with a grand ceremony at the Phuket Provincial Hall, today, February 3, presided…
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Commerce Ministry acts to remove unsafe products from e-commerce
The Commerce Ministry is collaborating with 16 government agencies and prominent online platforms to tackle the issue of substandard and non-compliant products on e-commerce platforms. Under the notice and takedown policy, products identified as substandard will be promptly removed, according to Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan. This initiative aims to protect consumers from low-quality products in online marketplaces. The collaboration involves…
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Ballot bedlam: Nearly 2 million votes go to waste in local elections
In an electoral fiasco that left heads spinning, nearly 2 million ballots were either ruled invalid or marked as no-vote in the Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO) presidential elections, which took place across 47 provinces last Saturday. The startling figures have raised eyebrows and questions about the voting process. Today, February 3, the Office of the Election Commission unveiled the sobering…
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2 Thai social media influencers arrested for promoting Yaba online
Two Thai social media influencers promoted methamphetamine, also known as Yaba, on the TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) platforms, leading to their arrest yesterday, February 2. Officers from the Technology Crime Suppression Division raided a house in Soi Ram Inthra 40 in the Bueng Kum district of Bangkok to arrest two social media influencers, 21 year old Suppanat Panyasin and…
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Gold rush 2.0: Prices hit dazzling new heights past 45,000 baht
Hold onto your wallets, gold enthusiasts, prices are soaring yet again! The glittering metal has surpassed a staggering 45,000 baht, according to the latest update from the Gold Traders Association (GTA). As of today, February 3, gold jewellery is now selling at a dazzling 45,250 baht per baht weight, reflecting a 150 baht increase in just 24 hours. The drama…
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Thai police, soldiers rescue Hong Kong woman from call centre scam
Thai police officers and soldiers rescued a Hong Kong woman from a call centre scam in Myawaddy, Myanmar, on Friday. The Office of the Secretary for Security urged Thailand’s Ministry of Justice to rescue 12 Hong Kong nationals who had fallen victim to the call centre scam gang in Myanmar. These 12 people no longer wished to work for the…
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Teen attacked in Bangkok after tea shop stumble
An 18 year old man sustained minor injuries after being attacked by four teenagers in Bangkok’s Nong Khang Phlu district today. The altercation began when the victim tripped outside a tea shop and uttered an expletive, which the group took offence to. According to the police, the incident occurred today, February 3, near the entrance of Soi Phetkasem 108, prompting…
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Monk, vendor, & balloon seller strike gold with ‘ugly’ lottery tickets
Three unlikely winners, a monk, a toy vendor, and a balloon seller, each scooped a cool 6 million baht after purchasing a set of ‘ugly’ lottery tickets. Initially overlooked, these tickets turned out to hold the coveted first prize. The buzz began to reverberate through Khon Kaen on Saturday, February 1, as the Government Lottery Office announced the winning number…
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Police pose as delivery riders to arrest drug smugglers in Thailand
Nakhon Ratchasima police orchestrated a sting operation by pretending to be delivery riders, leading to the arrest of two drug smugglers: a Thai man and a Lao woman involved in trafficking 400,000 methamphetamine pills across the Mekong River to Thailand, valued at 6 million baht. Both suspects confessed to the crime, citing unemployment as the motive, and received a payment…
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Golden getaway: Thief strikes at Pathum Thani shopping mall
In a bold daylight heist that could rival Hollywood thrillers, a lone thief made off with an impressive haul from a bustling Pathum Thani shopping mall in the Khlong 5 area. The audacious theft unfolded today, February 3, leaving Thai police officers in hot pursuit of the suspect who absconded with a staggering 150 baht in gold, valued at over…
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Teen caught with two million meth pills on Mekong River
A 16 year old was apprehended while smuggling meth pills across the Mekong River, with over two million pills seized. Three of his accomplices managed to escape. The incident took place earlier today, February 3, in Chumphon subdistrict, Phon Phisai district, Nong Khai province. Lieutenant General Boonsin Phadklang, head of the Second Army Area and the Border Drug Suppression and…
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Thai woman arrested over largest romance scam at Hat Yai airport
A Thai woman linked to the largest romance scam in the nation’s history was apprehended at Hat Yai International Airport, according to the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) yesterday, February 2. CIB police detained 52 year old Orathai, whose surname is withheld, at the airport’s arrival terminal after she arrived from Malaysia on February 1. She faces charges under an arrest…
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57 Thailand provinces face hazardous PM2.5 levels
This morning, 57 out of Thailand’s 77 provinces experienced dangerous levels of ultrafine dust pollution, as reported by the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA). Thirteen provinces recorded hazardous PM2.5 levels, particles 2.5 micrometres or smaller, with Nong Bua Lam Phu reaching the highest concentration at 99.1 microgrammes per cubic metre over the past 24 hours. Sisaket followed with…
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Thaksin travels to Malaysia for talks with PM
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia met with his informal advisory group yesterday, February 2, led by Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, to discuss various regional matters. The meeting, which took place after Thaksin received court approval to travel internationally, covered significant topics including the ongoing situation in Myanmar and developments in cryptocurrency. Anwar shared details of the gathering…
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Two detectives killed in rear-end collision with cement truck
Two detectives from the Metropolitan Police Bureau Division 1 tragically lost their lives when their vehicle was rear-ended by a cement truck while tracking a drug suspect. The incident occurred late at night on February 1 at a petrol station on the Western Ring Road in Sam Khok district, Pathum Thani province. The two officers, 54 year old Lieutenant Manee…
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Pee-ce treaty: Foreigners demand more loos after Phuket public urination uproar
Foreign netizens defended themselves and called for more public bathrooms in Phuket after Thai nationals condemned the foreigners on social media for urinating in public. The Phuket Times, shared images of two foreign men urinating on the footpath on February 2. The news outlet criticised the tourists in the caption which read, “Pee everywhere #PhuketForeigners #QualityTourists.” The two foreign men…
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Blade end: Krabi mechanic’s routine lawnmower repair turns deadly
A seemingly ordinary day turned tragic for a 72 year old Krabi mechanic, as a routine lawnmower repair took a lethal turn. The Krabi mechanic, Saman, yesterday, February 2, was engaged in what should have been just another day at his repair shop: a humble single-storey setup nestled in the area of Ban Khao Thiam Pa, Khao Thong subdistrict in…
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Newborn found abandoned in Buriram banana grove
A newborn baby boy was found abandoned in a banana grove in Buriram province yesterday, February 2. The infant was discovered by 75 year old local, Sae Somkool while she was cutting banana leaves. The baby, believed to be only a few hours old, was covered in ant bites. The police took the infant to Ban Dan Hospital, where he…
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Aussie influencer breaks silence on life with two vaginas (video)
An Australian influencer is making waves online, tackling taboos and shedding light on a rare condition that sets her apart, she has two vaginas. Born with uterus didelphys, a unique anomaly where a woman possesses two vaginas, Evelyn Miller is delving into the intimate details of her life, quelling curiosity and sparking conversations across the globe. Through the lens of…
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FDA raises kratom limit to boost farmers’ incomes
Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin has committed to promoting kratom-based products to enhance farmers’ incomes while adhering to safety standards. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently increased the daily consumption limit of mitragynine, a key alkaloid in kratom plants, from 1 milligramme to 3 milligrammes. This development is significant in advancing kratom-infused products. Mitragynine is known for its…
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Foreign motorcyclist flees Thailand after hit-and-run in Phuket (video)
A foreign motorcyclist remains on the run after fleeing Thailand following a collision with a Thai pedestrian on a road in Phuket, leaving the victim in a serious condition. The Phuket Times shared footage of the accident on Saturday, February 1, with a caption that read, “Foreign motorcyclist hits a pedestrian in the middle of a Phuket road and tries to escape…
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E-cigarette crisis on national agenda over youth vaping surge
Civil networks have collectively decided to elevate the e-cigarette issue to a national agenda following a significant increase in young vapers over the past year. This topic was discussed during a seminar hosted by the Senate committee on Social Development, Children, Youth, Women, the Elderly, People with Disabilities, the Underprivileged, and Social Diversity. The event took place on January 30…
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Thailand considers cutting free public lighting to lower power bills
The Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) stated that discussions among national state agencies are necessary regarding the Energy Ministry‘s proposal to reduce power bills by cutting the government’s free electricity supply to public lighting. Currently, local administrative bodies and departments responsible for highways and rural roads are exempt from paying for public lighting, a cost shouldered by the government amounting to…
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Thailand video news | Phuket tourist bus plunges into Ravine, 100 arrested in Philippine online scam raid
A series of incidents across Southeast Asia have made headlines, ranging from tragic accidents to controversial policy debates. In Phuket, a tourist bus plunged into a ravine, injuring nine passengers, while authorities in Chumphon discovered grenades and machine gun rounds near an election unit. Meanwhile, Thailand is preparing for the repatriation of five hostages recently freed by Hamas. Elsewhere,…
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Thai woman escapes rape by pretending to defecate until suspect falls asleep
A Thai woman in Chon Buri escaped an attempted rape by pretending to defecate and locking herself inside a bathroom until the suspect fell asleep. The man was arrested on the victim’s bed. The 40 year old victim, Meow, fled her home to seek help from neighbours and reported the attempted rape to officers at Pan Thong Police Station at…
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Experts have their say on govt’s PM2.5 pollution efforts
The Government of Thailand is intensifying efforts to combat PM2.5 pollution due to concerns over its detrimental effects and a desire for cleaner air, a recurring issue at the start of the year. Numerous provinces have been affected by the fine dust since January, leading to measures such as reducing bushfires and haze, offering free public transport in Bangkok, and…
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Unemployed man found dead in pickup truck in Chanthaburi
A man, who had been unemployed for several months, visited a friend’s home to return an item but ended up sleeping in a vehicle outside. He was later found dead. Yesterday, February 2, at 7.30pm, Makharm district police received a report from 64 year old Jeerasak, a resident of a housing estate located on Ban Nong Na Rong Road in…
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3 injured after girls’ dispute escalates into shooting in Chon Buri
A dispute between two teenage girls led to a shooting on the road near Siam Country Club in the Bang Lamung district of Chon Buri yesterday, February 2, resulting in three injuries. One of the victims is in a serious condition. Officers from Nong Prue Police Station were called to the scene at around 10pm, accompanied by rescuers from the…
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Runaway truck leaves ‘sign’ of trouble near Pattaya
Motorway officials were thrown into high drama last night as a massive signboard came crashing down across a bustling road near Pattaya, sparking traffic mayhem and sparking fears of electric shocks. The drama unfolded yesterday, February 2, at the motorway exit leading to the toll plaza en route to an international school just outside the city. When officials arrived on…
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Thai father saves 3 children but dies in house fire in Lampang
A Thai father sacrificed his life to save his three children from a fire at their home in the northern province of Lampang yesterday. Officers from the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office of Khelang Nakhon Municipality were alerted to the fire at a three-storey building located across from Ban Kad Mek Fresh Market at about 1pm yesterday, February 2. The…
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