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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LGBTQ protest in Pathum Thani after violent soup attack
Yesterday, February 8, a large gathering of over 500 LGBTQ people assembled near a condominium in Khlong Luang district, Pathum Thani province, calling for accountability after an incident involving a hot soup attack. This confrontation followed a violent event on February 7, where a second-year student from a prominent private university was injured when hot soup was poured over him.…
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Eight Thai provinces face unsafe ultrafine dust levels
Thailand’s Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) reported this morning that eight out of 77 provinces were experiencing slightly unsafe levels of ultrafine dust pollution. These provinces, predominantly located in the north, recorded orange levels of particulate matter (PM2.5) with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less, ranging from 38.3 to 48.6 microgrammes per cubic metre over a 24-hour…
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Songkhla man arrested for 5 million baht gold theft after 4-day chase
A man from Songkhla who allegedly stole gold ornaments and bars valued at over 5 million baht from a gold shop in a Pathum Thani shopping mall has been detained in Bangkok following a four-day pursuit. Thapanas Nookate, a 38 year old resident of Hat Yai, was captured in front of a shopping mall in Bang Khae and subsequently taken…
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Myanmar fishermen charged after entering Thai waters near Ranong
Myanmar fishermen face charges after being apprehended in Thai waters near Ranong province. The 3rd Naval Area Command seized two fishing boats with Myanmar crew members on February 7 for intruding into waters southwest of Koh Khang Khao. Two Royal Thai Navy vessels escorted these boats to a local deep-sea port yesterday morning, February 8. Seven Myanmar nationals were found…
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Uncontrolled landfill fire in Prachin Buri threatens nearby homes (video)
A landfill fire in Prachin Buri province remains uncontrolled, sparking concerns it might reach nearby residential areas. The fire ignited yesterday, February 8, at the Tambon Kabin administrative organisation’s landfill in Kabin Buri district. Five fire engines have attempted to extinguish the flames, but success has been elusive. The fire is engulfing a substantial waste pile exceeding 3 metres in…
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Cold air mass from China hits Thailand, temperatures drop
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a weather warning, highlighting the arrival of a moderately to fairly strong cold air mass from China affecting upper Thailand and the South China Sea. This weather pattern is causing temperatures to drop by 1 to 3 degrees Celsius across the area, accompanied by strong winds. In northeastern Thailand, the weather is cold to…
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Teen arrested with hand grenade outside Bangkok store
Police officers from Khlong Tan Police Station and the Metropolitan Police Bureau arrested an 18 year old for possession of a hand grenade yesterday, February 7 at 8.30pm. The teenager, Siripong, claimed the item was given to him by an older acquaintance. The arrest took place following a tip-off from an informant who reported a suspicious individual loitering outside a…
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Transport firm staff confesses to selling data to gang in Bangkok
A sophisticated operation involving the sale of personal data by a transport company employee to a criminal gang has been uncovered. The employee confessed to offering daily, weekly, and monthly data packages. At the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau, Police Lieutenant General Trirong Phewan announced the results of an investigation into the Oreo gang yesterday, February 7 at 12.30pm. This followed…
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Thaksin tasked with cryptocurrency proposal by Malaysian PM
Thaksin Shinawatra has been tasked with proposing and recommending that ASEAN consider adopting a cryptocurrency. He will undertake this role as a personal adviser to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who currently chairs ASEAN. Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin was given this responsibility by the ASEAN chair due to his interest in cryptocurrencies. He emphasised the importance of the regional…
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Furious Phuket residents demand action as gridlock worsens
Phuket’s once-idyllic Cherng Talay is now a gridlocked nightmare, with frustrated residents demanding urgent action as worsening traffic congestion grinds daily life to a halt. Residents and local officials, including Cherng Talay Subdistrict Administration Organisation (OrBorTor) Chief Manoch Panchalad, are calling for immediate solutions to ease the never-ending traffic tailbacks plaguing the area. “Every day, I see private cars clogging…
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Chiang Mai initiative swaps leaves for eggs to combat haze
An innovative initiative has been launched in San Kamphaeng district, Chiang Mai, where leaves can be exchanged for eggs every Thursday until May 15. This project aims to reduce burning and haze while promoting the production of compost for farmers as a substitute for chemical fertilisers. The opening ceremony of the Leaves for Eggs Market was held yesterday, February 7,…
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Thai military foils Harley-Davidson smuggling across Mekong River
Thai military rangers intercepted an attempt to smuggle a Harley-Davidson motorcycle across the Mekong River to a neighbouring country. The operation, which occurred at night, resulted in the arrest of a 24 year old Laotian man and the seizure of the motorcycle. Colonel Intrawut Thongkham, commander of the 21st Ranger Task Force, reported yesterday that intelligence was received on Thursday,…
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Pattaya police crack down on drug addicts setting fire to trash
Fed-up Pattaya residents got their wish when police swooped in on a notorious hotspot overrun by drug addicts, after complaints of homeless users setting fires and endangering homes. Pattaya police, led by Police Colonel Nawin Thirawit, launched a targeted operation in Soi Bongkot on Thursday, February 6, following mounting fears from locals. Residents reported that drug users had been igniting…
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Russian beauty queen faces grim future in notorious Thai prison
A former child beauty queen faces being locked up in a squalid Thai detention centre after allegedly overstaying her visa by just 10 days. Alexandra Tikhomirova, crowned Little Miss Russia in 2013, is currently behind bars in Pattaya, a popular tourist hotspot, where she is reportedly held in dire conditions. According to Russian media, the 23 year old is imprisoned…
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Three Thai clinics face fraud charges for fake service claims
The National Health Security Office (NHSO) has initiated legal action against three clinics for fraudulently claiming payments without providing actual services. The clinics allegedly used student ID copies to falsely claim services yesterday, February 7. Doctor Attaporn Limpanyalert, deputy secretary-general of the NHSO, stated that at the end of January, the NHSO filed complaints against these clinics for fraud and…
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Man caught with 800k meth pills in fake rescue car in Udon Thani
A 33 year old man was arrested after police discovered nearly 800,000 methamphetamine (meth) pills in a car adorned with rescue foundation stickers, leading them to initially believe he was assisting in a routine checkpoint in Udon Thani province. The arrest was made on February 4 outside Wat Sawang Samakkhi in Mueang district. Police Major General Suwan Chiaowanintawat, acting commander…
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Irishman arrested for cannabis shop break-in in Pattaya
Tourist Police and Pattaya Police have apprehended an Irishman following a break-in at a cannabis shop in Pattaya. The 23 year old man allegedly broke a window to access marijuana products, which he consumed until he passed out. The incident, which took place on February 2, was captured on CCTV. Following a complaint lodged at Pattaya City Police Station, an…
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Thailand unveils third phase of 10000 baht stimulus project
Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat confirmed plans to proceed with the third phase of the 10,000 baht economic stimulus project yesterday, Feburary 7. The initiative, aimed at injecting approximately 150 billion baht into the economy, is expected to start in the second quarter of the year. Discussions took place during a subcommittee meeting on economic stimulation projects, with further meetings…
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Daughter of deputy mayor arrested for call centre scam in Thailand
The daughter of a deputy mayor in Nakhon Si Thammarat was recently arrested in Samut Sakhon for her involvement in a call centre scam. The arrest followed a comprehensive investigation by cyber police into the large-scale call centre fraud targeting Thai, Chinese, Russian, and Japanese nationals. Cyber police, under the directive of Police Lieutenant General Trirong Phiuphan, coordinated a search operation…
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Toxic air killing over 100 children every day in East Asia
As Bangkok struggles with choking air pollution, forcing school closures and raising serious health concerns, UNICEF has issued a stark warning about the devastating impact of toxic air on children across East Asia and the Pacific. According to UNICEF’s latest analysis, air pollution peaks in the region during the dry season, from now until April, and is responsible for over…
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PM2.5 can lead to heart disease, Thai doctor warns
Doctor Supachai Rotkajornnapalai has raised alarms about the dangers of PM2.5 air pollution, emphasising its underestimated impact on heart health. The doctor shared a concerning case of a patient whose heart stopped despite not smoking, needing multiple medical interventions, including balloon angioplasty and defibrillation, to revive him. A 48 year old patient suffered cardiac arrest today while playing football amid…
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Burmese drug adddict fatally assaulted for sexual harassment
A group of men fatally assaulted a Burmese drug addict after he sought sex from their female friend at an apartment in the Chon Buri province. The 29 year old apartment worker, Pimchanok, called officers from Bor Win Police Station to investigate the brutal attack at building number 8 in the Si Racha district of Chon Buri yesterday, February 6. Upon…
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Baby turtles hatch on Phuket beach, but not all survive
A magical moment unfolded on Kata Noi Beach as around 70 baby sea turtles hatched and made their way into the Andaman Sea yesterday, February 6. However, not all survived the journey, with officials discovering several lifeless hatchlings and one struggling to survive. The Andaman Sea Marine and Coastal Resources Research Center was first alerted to the hatching by a…
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Fruit frenzy: Contaminated durians to China halt Thai exports
The Department of Agriculture has halted the export operations of 26 durian packing facilities after China returned over 64 tonnes of durians contaminated with Basic Yellow 2 (BY2) today, February 7. The contaminated shipment, valued at over 12 million baht, was discovered following the implementation of stricter measures by the Chinese government. Raphiphat Chandrasriwong, Director General of the Department of…
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Foreign man steals iPhone worth nearly 60,000 baht from Phuket shop
A foreign man remains at large after stealing an iPhone worth nearly 60,000 baht from a local shop near Chalong Intersection in Phuket. A Thai man took to social media in an attempt to track down the foreign thief who stole from his younger sister’s mobile phone shop near Chalong Intersection on Wednesday, February 5. He shared CCTV footage of the…
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South Thailand: Bomb attack injures four police officers in Pattani
A bomb attack occurred at the entrance of a village security post in Nong Chik district, Pattani province, injuring four police officers. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team is currently investigating the incident, which took place at 8am today, February 7. The attack was reported at the village security post located along the Don Yang-Hat Yai road. Initial reports confirm…
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Stable vision: Binance pushes for baht-backed crypto in Phuket
The Government of Thailand is being urged by Binance’s Thai branch to explore the development of stablecoins tethered to the baht, intended for use within the country and particularly within the proposed Phuket crypto sandbox. Unlike volatile digital assets such as Bitcoin, stablecoins are linked to fiat currencies, offering a more stable alternative. Nirun Fuwattananukul, CEO of Gulf Binance, explained…
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High-speed horror: American killed in fiery Pattaya crash
A late-night joyride ended in tragedy when an American motorcyclist lost control and crashed into trees on Thappraya Road, Pattaya, dying instantly. The Sawang Boriboon Rescue Centre received reports yesterday, February 6, at 4.36am of a fatal motorcycle accident near Soi Thappraya 9. Emergency responders arrived to find 53 year old Leo Williams, an American national, lying lifeless in a…
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Toddler mauled by vicious dog in Ranong, mother demands justice
A devastated mother is demanding justice after her three year old son was viciously attacked by a Bangkaew dog in the Kapoe district of Ranong, leaving him with a severe head injury. The shocking incident occurred on February 1 while little Thanawat Makmun was playing outside his home. Without warning, the dog, owned by local Pramote Sae-lo, lunged at the…
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Thai Airways’ big bet: 8 brand-new Airbus jets to boost fleet
Thai Airways is making a major move to modernise its fleet, signing a lease agreement for eight brand-new Airbus A321neo aircraft with Dublin-based SMBC Aviation Capital. The deal, confirmed on February 5, will see the cutting-edge jets delivered between 2026 and 2027 as part of the airline’s long-term expansion strategy. This latest addition comes just months after Thai Airways made…
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