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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Man arrested after 18 years for assaulting minor in Thailand
A 37 year old man, Apichat, was apprehended after evading arrest for 18 years following a criminal act involving a minor. He was accused of luring a 17 year old girl, Bee, on a trip to Bang Saen Beach, where he later got her drunk before committing sexual assault. Police Colonel Witthaya Sriprasertphap, acting commander of the Crime Suppression Division,…
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Thai Cabinet allocates 3.14 billion baht for new Phuket hospital
The Thai Cabinet has sanctioned a budget of 3.14 billion baht for the establishment of Songklanagarind Hospital Phuket, a significant healthcare endeavour under Prince of Songkla University (PSU). This project, scheduled for execution between 2026 and 2029, is designed to bolster healthcare services across Phuket and the Andaman region. The allocated funds are set to be distributed over four fiscal…
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Thailand tops travel list for Chinese New Year celebrations
Thailand has emerged as a preferred destination for travellers during the Chinese New Year, offering convenience and safety, according to tourists. Digital travel platform Agoda highlighted Thailand’s popularity for the festival, which began on February 5, marking the Year of the Snake. The platform noted a significant increase in accommodation searches in December, with Bangkok remaining the top choice for…
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Thai app Jagat banned for illegal gambling activities
The Jagat application has been deemed illegal by the Department of Provincial Administration, as it falls under gambling activities. Yesterday, February 1, Police Lieutenant General Trirong Phiwphan, Commissioner of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB), announced that the Bureau is coordinating with the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DE) to block the app. Previously, Jagat gained popularity for enabling…
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Thai police crackdown on border call centre gangs
Operation Aranyaprathet 68 SEAL BORDER aims to dismantle a network of call centre gangs and online fraudsters, rescuing a tortured Chinese interpreter and preventing mule accounts from being smuggled across the border. Yesterday, February 1, Police Lieutenant General Yingyot Thepchamnong, Commissioner of the Provincial Police Region 2, unveiled progress in this operation, which has been monitoring the Thai-Cambodian border near…
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Uttaradit fried chicken vendor wins 12 million baht lottery
A fried chicken vendor in Uttaradit province has become the region’s latest millionaire after winning 12 million baht in the lottery. The unexpected windfall came from a ticket given as a bonus, which initially seemed unappealing due to its repeated numbers. The Government Lottery Office announced the results for the draw dated yesterday, February 1. The winning number for the…
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Explosives found near election unit in Chumphon oil palm plantation
Three grenades and nearly 100 machine gun rounds were discovered just 50 metres from a local election unit in Chumphon province. The incident occurred at 1pm yesterday, February 1, when a worker inadvertently kicked a suspicious bag while working. Police Lieutenant Colonel Apichat Yamee of Pathio District Police Station received a report from Sunthorn Thamniam, the village head of Mueang…
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Thai hostages freed by Hamas set for repatriation from Israel
Foreign Affairs Minister Maris Sangiampongsa arrived in Israel yesterday, February 1, to supervise the anticipated repatriation of five Thai nationals who were recently released after being held hostage by Hamas for 15 months. Maris, along with Chief of Defence Forces General Songwit Noonpakdee, arrived in Tel Aviv yesterday morning local time. They later visited the five Thai nationals at Al-Shamir…
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Illegal recycling site found with 3,600 tonnes of power lines
An unlicensed recycling facility in Samut Sakhon province has been found with illegally stored power lines, following a fire at a nearby plastics factory. The incident occurred on January 29 in Ban Phaeo district when a fire erupted at a plastics factory, leading to an investigation. Police discovered materials marked for recycling by a Chinese-owned company, including power lines from…
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Thailand’s air quality crisis: 64 provinces hit by severe dust pollution
Unsafe levels of ultrafine dust pollution affected 64 out of 77 provinces in Thailand, as reported by the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) this morning. At 7am, today, February 2,17 provinces were experiencing hazardous red levels of PM2.5 particles. Sing Buri recorded the highest PM2.5 level at 95.5 microgrammes per cubic metre. It was closely followed by Sisaket…
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Thailand sees slight temperature rise with isolated southern storms
The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) forecasted a slight increase in temperatures due to weakening cold air masses, alongside isolated thunderstorms in parts of the south for February 2. The high-pressure system affecting upper Thailand is diminishing, resulting in a 1 to 2 degrees Celsius rise in temperature and morning fog. Northern and northeastern regions remain cool to cold, while…
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Gas explosion in Nonthaburi townhouse leaves 1 injured
A gas explosion occurred in a two-storey townhouse on Tiwanon Road, Pak Kret district, Nonthaburi province, resulting in one injury. Police and forensic officers, along with a rescue foundation, responded to the incident which occurred yesterday, January 31, leaving the house severely damaged. The explosion caused the front windows to shatter and fall to the ground, while side windows were…
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Car rental leads police to massive drug haul in Pathum Thani
A man who rented a car and failed to return it has led police to a significant drug find in Pathum Thani. A Toyota Vios was discovered abandoned yesterday, January 31, with over 100 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine (Ice) inside. Police Colonel Kiattisak Mitprasat from Khlong Luang Police Station received a report from a car rental company representative about a…
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Phichit candidate reportedly abducted in Nakhon Sawan
A candidate for the Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO) in Phichit, Witya Mala, along with his wife, was reportedly abducted in Nakhon Sawan just before the election. Witya informed his father via phone that he was being held by an unidentified group, who claimed they would release him the following day. Reports reached journalists yesterday, January 31 at 5.30pm that independent…
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Swiss tourist reunited with lost Samsung mobile in Pattaya
A Swiss tourist in Pattaya, who had misplaced his Samsung S24, has been reunited with his phone thanks to the efforts of a good Samaritan and the Bang Lamung police. On January 29, Police Colonel Navin Sinthurat, Chief of Bang Lamung Police Station, directed his team to return the device after it was handed over by a helpful man named…
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Fire erupts at Ubon Ratchathani petrol station, blaze contained
A fire broke out at a petrol station in Warin Chamrap district, Ubon Ratchathani province yesterday, January 31 at 6.30pm. This incident occurred on the same day that a molotov cocktail attack was launched at Somdet Phra Yuparat Hospital in Det Udom district. The Fire & Rescue Thailand Facebook page shared images of the petrol station engulfed in flames, with…
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Thai police uncover illegal Bitcoin mining, costing 500 million baht
In Samut Sakhon, an extensive illegal Bitcoin mining operation was uncovered by Thai police yesterday, January 31, resulting in significant financial losses due to unauthorised electricity usage over a three-year period. The operation, which led to over 500 million baht in losses, was discovered during a raid conducted by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) following abnormal power consumption reports…
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Bangkok campaign targets rice field burning to combat air pollution
Bangkok’s governor, Chadchart Sittipunt, has announced a campaign to eliminate burning in rice fields to tackle air pollution caused by fine particulate matter (PM2.5). The initiative, launched yesterday in Nong Chok district, aims to address the issue across 80,000 rai of rice paddies and 4,000 farming households in 10 districts, including Nong Chok, Khlong Sam Wa, and Lat Krabang. Over…
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Thaksin Shinawatra allowed to leave Thailand with 5m baht surety
The Criminal Court has granted Thaksin Shinawatra permission to temporarily leave Thailand, requiring a 5 million baht cash surety to ensure his return. The former prime minister received approval yesterday, January 31 to visit Malaysia on Sunday and Monday. Thaksin named himself and Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa as witnesses, supported by documentation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to validate…
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Pattaya tourism surges with Russian and European influx
Pattaya has experienced a notable increase in tourism during the current High Season, with a significant influx of visitors from Russia and Europe, as reported by Thanes Supharahasrangsi, president of the Chon Buri Tourism Association. On January 29, Thanes highlighted that many of these tourists are opting for extended stays in the city, contributing to a vibrant local economy. Thanes…
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Geckos’ centipede battle sparks lucky number frenzy (video)
A spine-chilling video of two geckos battling over a centipede has sent netizens into a frenzy—not just for the drama, but for the potential lottery numbers hidden in the showdown. TikTok user @yowtamadai posted the eerie clip on January 30, showing two geckos locked in a fierce tug-of-war over a centipede. The video, captioned “Every day, oh my,” quickly gained…
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British dad mysteriously vanishes in Bangkok
A British dad has vanished in Thailand after failing to board his flight home—sparking fears from his distraught family. The 33 year old Brit, James Sangwine, from Epping, Essex, jetted off to Bangkok on January 18 to visit a friend but hasn’t been heard from since he left for a night out on January 20. His partner, 38 year old…
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Cold weather warning in Thailand with frost on mountain tops
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a weather warning for today, February 1, highlighting cold to chilly conditions in the north and northeast, with frost expected on mountain tops. Residents are advised to be cautious of fire hazards due to dry weather, while South Thailand faces monsoon effects with high waves at sea. In the next 24 hours, a…
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Russian man rescued after car crashes into tree, suspected drugs found
A Russian man crashed his sedan into a tree at the side of the road in the southern province of Phetchaburi, sustaining serious injuries. A packet of white powder, suspected to be a drug, was found in his possession. A video shared by Channel 8 shows rescuers, police officers, and residents in Phetchaburi attempting to retrieve the 38 year old…
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5 Chinese nationals arrested crossing illegally into Thailand
Thai police arrested five Chinese men last night as they attempted an illegal border crossing from Myanmar into Thailand’s Tak province, raising further concerns about the region’s notorious scam operations. Border patrol officers from the Ratchamanu Taskforce discovered the group at 8.30pm, yesterday, January 30, wading through the Moei River from Myawaddy to Mae Sot district. The men—29 year old…
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Phumtham dismisses refugee employment proposal as impractical
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai expressed disapproval of Fair Party list MP Kannavee Suebsang‘s proposal to offer employment to refugees. Phumtham considers it impractical. Phumtham addressed concerns over the United States’ decision to reduce funding for hospitals in nine refugee camps along the Thailand-Myanmar border. He noted that the Thai government is also impacted by this decision,…
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Thaksin begs Chiang Mai to deliver a landslide victory
Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra made a passionate last-minute appeal to his supporters, urging them to turn their loyalty into votes as Chiang Mai gears up for the Provincial Administration Organisation (PAO) elections tomorrow, February 1. Returning to his home province on Thursday, the 75 year old political titan took the stage in a high-energy rally to back Pichai Lertpongadisorn,…
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Thai man allegedly kills 3 snakes before taking his own life
A Thai man allegedly killed three pet snakes before taking his own life at a condominium in Nonthaburi province, near Bangkok, due to a conflict with a monk in the Isaan province of Nakhon Phanom. A security guard at the condominium near Tiwanon Intersection in Nonthaburi province reported the resident’s death to Mueang Nonthaburi Police Station and the Por Teck…
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Sky’s the limit: AIS takes off with HOVERAir X1 Pro Max drone
In a daring leap into the skies, Advanced Info Service (AIS) has launched its first drone, the HOVERAir X1 Pro Max, setting its sights on the lucrative drone market. The high-flying gadget is now ready for takeoff at AIS service shops, promising to boost revenue from retail outlets and capture the imaginations of tech enthusiasts and adventurers alike. In a…
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Sacred tattoo event in Nakhon Pathom draws blessings
A sacred tattooing event at Wat Sawang Arom in Nakhon Pathom’s Khun Kaeo subdistrict featured a woman receiving a talisman on her hand from Luang Phor Pae. The event, part of the 9 Temples, 99 Luknimit ceremony, runs from January 25 to February 23. The ceremony’s highlight is the world’s largest Luknimit, available for public gilding. Taking place during the…
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