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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Catamaran catastrophe avoided: Foreign tourists saved off Phuket
Disaster was narrowly averted today as a catamaran carrying 38 foreign tourists capsized off the coast of Phuket, prompting a panicked scramble before nearby speedboats rushed to the rescue. At around 1pm today, January 13, the catamaran Emiray 888 found itself in deep trouble. As it set sail from Chalong Pier in Phuket’s Mueang district for a day trip to…
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Chiang Rai hospital error leads to death of woman in dental surgery
A family in the northern province of Chiang Rai is seeking compensation from a private hospital for the death of a Thai woman who suffocated during dental surgery. The deceased, 33 year old Katesuda Buanark, passed away at a private hospital in Chiang Rai on December 19 last year. Katesuda primarily resided in Singapore with her husband and nine year…
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Thailand’s new housing project targets lower income families
Lower-income Thai citizens will soon have access to an affordable housing project through the Homes for Thais initiative, which offers accommodation on state-owned land without requiring down payments. The programme instead implements a monthly rental system. The Transport Ministry will present the project details to Cabinet today, January 13. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will launch the initiative on Friday, January…
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DoE warns against illegal job agencies after 10 million baht scam
The Department of Employment (DoE) has advised those seeking overseas employment to verify agencies with the DoE to prevent falling prey to illegal operators. This caution comes after 50 individuals from Nakhon Ratchasima reported to the Anti-Human Trafficking Division (ATPD) that they were swindled out of 10 million baht by agents promising jobs in South Korea. Yesterday, January 12, DoE…
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Frost warning: Phetchabun chills hit a cool -3 Celsius
In Nam Nao district, Phetchabun province, temperatures have dropped to a chilling -3 degrees Celsius, with frost covering the ground and car rooftops. In 2023, the temperature reached a record low of -5 degrees Celsius. The provincial governor urged close monitoring of the situation. A Facebook user reported that today, January 13, they awoke at 4am to find the temperature…
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Built-in loan apps raise data security fears for Oppo and Realme users
The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society urged representatives of the electronics company Oppo and its subsidiary Realme to clarify allegations of illegal data collection from built-in loan apps found on their smartphones. A technology-focused social media influencer, known as คุณลุงไอที (Khun Lung IT, meaning IT uncle), took to his official Facebook page to warn Oppo and Realme smartphone users…
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Bomb blast near TK Park Pattani injures six officers
A bomb explosion occurred in a side alley near TK Park, central Pattani, injuring six volunteer officers. The incident happened at 8am today, January 13, just 20 metres from the Mueang Pattani Police Station. The assailants had hidden the explosive device in a vehicle parked in front of a row of shophouses, causing damage to nearby buildings. Residents expressed alarm…
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Protesters accuse Thai govt of favouring Thaksin in hospital stay
A group of protesters plans to submit a letter to the government, criticising it for allegedly granting former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra special treatment at Police General Hospital last year. Thaksin, who was meant to be serving a prison sentence for abuse of power, was reportedly allowed to remain in hospital instead, according to former red shirt leader, 58 year…
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Forest fires in Pak Chong extinguished after eight-day battle
Forest fires on Khao Loi mountain in Pak Chong district, Nakhon Ratchasima, have been extinguished after burning for eight days. Officials suspect the fires were initiated to facilitate a wildlife hunt. Chaiwat Chuenkosum, governor of Nakhon Ratchasima, stated that multiple agencies, including the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), the Royal Forest Department, and local administration, collaborated…
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Thai police intercept pickup with illegal Burmese migrants
Thai police intercepted a pickup truck carrying six illegal Burmese migrants in Kanchanaburi province. Yesterday, January 12, a joint operation involving multiple law enforcement agencies led to the arrest of two Myanmar nationals. They were allegedly paid 3,000 baht per person to transport the undocumented migrants. Police Major General Nakarin Sukonthawit, commander of Kanchanaburi provincial police, received a tip-off about…
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Bangkok taxi driver slashes passenger on face in fare dispute (video)
A Thai taxi driver claimed self-defence after slashing a male passenger’s face on the roadside in the Silom neighbourhood of Bangkok on Friday, January 10. A witness shared a video of the incident near Silom Soi 6 in Bangkok at about 1am on Friday on his Up Dol Facebook account. The video showed the witness intervening in the argument between…
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Swimming, tourist boats banned at Phi Phi Island due to rough seas
Officials have temporarily banned swimming and tourist boats at Phi Phi Island due to strong winds and rough seas. Officials have placed red flags along the beaches in Koh Phai, Ao Nang subdistrict, Mueang Krabi district, and other marine tourist areas to ensure safety. This decision was made yesterday, January 12, following continuous strong winds in the afternoon. Emergency personnel,…
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Bangkok man arrested for motorcycle theft after licence plate swap
A patrol unit from Phetkasem apprehended a 37 year old man for motorcycle theft, catching him in the act as he attempted to swap out the licence plate of the stolen motorcycle. The arrest occurred yesterday, January 12 at 3pm, in the Lak Song subdistrict, Bang Khae district, Bangkok. The suspect, 37 year old Chaiyot “Boy” Boonyawong, confessed to stealing…
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17 arrested: Phuket police roll the dice on illegal gambling
Phuket City police swooped down on an illegal gambling den in Phuket Town on 12 January, bagging 17 people in the process of a dramatic after-dark sting. The raid, executed with precision by officers in tandem with provincial police, caught the crooks red-handed at a residence on Soi Wichit Songkhram 4, just after 9pm. Upon arrival, officers immediately sensed something…
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Thai man smears faeces on rescuer after toilet request denied
A Thai man smeared faeces on a rescuer’s face after the latter refused to let him use his motorcycle to go to the toilet because the man had just crashed his pickup on a road in the central province of Chachoengsao while reportedly rushing home to use the bathroom. The local news Facebook page, Bang Paking News (คนข่าวบางปะกง), reported the…
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Police intercept over 200 motorbikes in Kanchanaburi for violations
Over 200 motorbikes from the Nam Mai Arb gang were intercepted by police in Kanchanaburi for various legal violations. The gang, travelling from Nong Khao Police Station in Tha Mueang district towards Kanchanaburi City, was stopped by police at 7.10am yesterday, January 12, after receiving reports from locals about their noisy presence on Highway 324. Upon receiving the report, Police…
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Thailand video news | Taxi driver slashes passenger in Bangkok, Japan’s ‘Cuddle Cafes’ combat loneliness
In today’s Thailand video news, Alex delivers a comprehensive roundup of stories from across Thailand and Asia. From a shocking altercation in Bangkok’s Silom district to a human skeleton discovery in Chon Buri, the coverage highlights key incidents making headlines. Other stories include an update on Thailand’s weather warnings, the lifting of Phuket’s building restrictions, and a lawsuit by Leicester…
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Making waves: Miss Grand Roi Et turns up heat with sexy swimwear
The Miss Grand Roi Et 2025 beauty pageant ignited quite a stir, thanks to a daring choice of swimwear that sent social media into a frenzied meltdown. Contestants strutted their stuff in swimsuits that some deemed trendy but others branded as inappropriate because they aren’t practical to wear for a swim. Held on Saturday, January 11, the pageant didn’t shy…
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Russian man remains free after jet ski theft attempt in Phuket
Police are searching for a Russian man who stole a jet ski from a Thai operator on Bang Thao Beach in Phuket on Friday, January 10. Fortunately, the victim managed to retrieve the stolen vehicle. The Thai jet ski rental operator filed a complaint against the Russian man, identified as Mikhail Kolodnyi, at around 3pm on Friday at Choeng Thale…
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Thailand and China unite to tackle call centre scams and trafficking
Thailand and China have joined forces to combat call centre scams, human trafficking, and transnational crime, with a focus on locating missing individuals who have been deceived into travelling to neighbouring countries. A meeting was held yesterday, January 12 at the Royal Thai Police headquarters in Bangkok, attended by senior officials from both nations. Police General Thatchai Pitanilabutr, the National…
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Phuket scam busted: Con artist’s mule accounts hit a dead end
Phuket police slammed the brakes on a staggering 22 million baht scam operation, ensnaring a suspect accused of creating mule accounts for a crafty con gang, with one even masquerading as a top politician The Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) revealed that the devious group duped unsuspecting victims by impersonating a well-known political figure, luring them into investing in a…
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Foreign man found dead after fall from 23-storey Bangkok building
A foreign man was found dead after falling from a 23-storey building in the Phaya Thai area of Bangkok. The incident occurred at 5.30pm yesterday, January 12, with his body discovered inside a school’s perimeter. No identification documents were found on him. Police Lieutenant Weerachai Kaewsanga from Phaya Thai Police Station received a report about the fall near Si Ayutthaya…
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Man escapes as car with LPG system catches fire
A man escaped unharmed when his car, a Honda Accord, equipped with an LPG system, caught fire shortly after he started the engine. The incident occurred at 7pm yesterday, January 12 at a parking lot behind Thammasat University Examination Centre in Rangsit, Pathum Thani province. An LPG system in a car is a fuel system that allows the vehicle to…
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Clearing the air: Bangkok takes a breather with work-from-home push
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt today is rolling out a novel work-from-home initiative alongside a push to expand the clean air shelter project in more schools, all in a bid to tackle the city’s relentless PM2.5 pollution problem. The 58 year old city chief noted a breath of fresh air yesterday, January 12, with improved air quality in Bangkok, as PM2.5 levels…
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Myanmar driver hits pedestrian on Vibhavadi Rangsit, fatal accident
A Myanmar national driving a black Chevrolet pickup truck reportedly struck a pedestrian, resulting in a fatality, on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, Pathum Thani, yesterday, January 12. The incident occurred near a previous bus fire tragedy that claimed 23 lives. Police and medical personnel responded promptly to the scene. The accident took place on the inbound express lane of Vibhavadi Rangsit…
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Heartbroken Irish mum honours ‘special son’ lost in Thailand
The mother of a young Irishman paid tribute to her “special son” who died last week while scuba diving in Thailand. The heartbroken mother is now trying to repatriate the body of her beloved 21 year old son from County Clare, whose life was tragically cut short in Koh Tao. Robert “Robby” Kinlan, died unexpectedly on January 9 while on…
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Motorcycle accident in Buriram caused by blanket entanglement
A young couple was involved in an unexpected accident after a blanket they were using for warmth became entangled with their motorcycle’s chain, causing it to crash in the middle of the road. The unfortunate incident, which occurred yesterday, January 12, left the man with a chipped tooth and the woman with a cut lip. Fortunately, a 10-wheel truck following…
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15 year old British-Thai girl rescued after years of rape by mother’s lover
The Be One organisation rescued a 15 year old half-Thai, half-British girl in the Isaan province of Udon Thani, after her Thai mother’s lover had raped her for four years since she was 11. Be One’s founder, Chalida “Ton Or” Palamart, accompanied the 15 year old British-Thai girl and her 41 year old aunt to file a complaint against the girl’s…
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Pattaya on pause: Plan ahead or lose the booze
Local officials in Pattaya issued a gentle reminder to plan carefully for upcoming events in the city including the Chon Buri local elections and the booze bans. Locals, visitors and tourists in Pattaya should mark their calendars as the region is likely to go dry from 5pm on January 31 to 5pm on February 1. While the exact date hasn’t…
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Thailand braces for cold snap with Bangkok at 16 degrees
The Thai Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) today, January 13, issued a weather forecast indicating a further drop in temperatures across Thailand, with Bangkok experiencing lows of 16 degrees Celsius and strong winds. The upper northern and northeastern regions are expected to see cold to very cold weather, with the highest areas experiencing even colder temperatures. The department advises residents…
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