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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Foreign TikToker goes viral for innocent mistake with Thai monks
A foreign man went viral on Thai social media for his TikTok video featuring an innocent mistake with two Thai monks at an airport in Thailand. The TikTok account @thibo_fockenoy shared a video of him requesting to take a picture with two Thai monks at the airport last week. The foreign man captioned the video, “Very loving people, though. #thailand…
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Father’s drug-fuelled attack leaves son critically injured
A 25 year old father was reported to have assaulted his seven year old son at their home in Sri Bunrueng district, Nong Bua Lamphu province, after consuming drugs. The attack, yesterday, February 9, involved a wooden pestle, leaving the child with serious injuries, including bleeding from the ears. Rescue team leader Doctor Napasdon Saengklang detailed the incident, explaining that…
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2 Thai LGBTQIA+ university students arrested for soup attack
Police arrested two LGBTQIA+ university students in a soup attack on another student in Pathum Thani province near Bangkok on Friday, February 7, and denied their bail requests. The victim, whose name remains undisclosed, filed a complaint with Khlong Luang Police Station on Friday following the attack at a restaurant, reportedly over financial issues. At the station, the victim happened…
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Phuket police turn up the heat on Peach Hill Resort fire probe
Phuket City Police have launched a probe into a fierce fire that ignited at the Peach Hill Resort on Laem Sai Road in Karon on the evening February 7. The flames spurred a dramatic emergency response, with local police and fire teams racing to the scene shortly after being alerted at around 6pm. The alarm bells first rang for Police…
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Russian tourist vows Pattaya return after cops catch thief
Na Jomtien officers have taken a bow after collaring a 40 year old Thai man accused of swiping a Russian tourist‘s valuables right from under his nose. The brazen beachside bandit targeted 45 year old Mr A, a Russian visitor enjoying a refreshing dip near a resort in the sunny enclave of Na Jomtien, Sattahip, Chon Buri. Mr A had…
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DoE raid: Unlicensed foreign teachers schooled in surprise sweep
Department of Employment (DoE) officials swooped into Bangkok’s Ratchada and Bang Na areas to check on foreign teachers without any certification in a surprise operation. Hot on the heels of last week’s shock arrest of eight South Korean nationals teaching without valid work documentation, officials are leaving no stone unturned to rectify the situation. “Search, Arrest, Fine, Deport” is the…
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Suphan Buri crackdown uncovers illegal pharmacy selling Tramadol
In Suphan Buri, a crackdown on illegal pharmacies selling dangerous drugs under the guise of cannabis shops resulted in arrests by local administrative and public health officials. The operation targeted the sale of Tramadol, a controlled substance, to youths and the public. Yesterday, February 8, Chaiyathat Jessadapakkorn, chief of the drug suppression and social order task force in the Mueang…
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Thai hostages return home after release by Hamas
Today, February 9, at 7.35am, five Thai hostages released by Hamas returned to Thailand, welcomed by foreign affairs minister Maris Sengiamphong at Suvarnabhumi International Airport. The emotional reunion saw families embracing with tears of joy at the return of their loved ones. Maris expressed deep satisfaction at witnessing such heartfelt family reunions, noting the difficult years apart. Families mentioned their…
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Monitor lizard invades Bangkok home, elderly woman startled (video)
A large monitor lizard unexpectedly entered a home, startling an elderly woman. Her daughter speculated the reptile was driven by a dog while attempting to steal eggs. The incident was captured on video and shared widely on social media. Yesterday, February 8, reporters visited the scene in the Bang Khun Thian coastal area of Bangkok, where the event occurred in…
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Lion’s night roars in Chon Buri spark panic and police response
Residents and tourists in Chon Buri’s Phra Tamnak Soi were left anxious after a two year old male lion roared throughout the night, causing widespread concern. The noise prompted locals to contact the Pattaya City Police Station following disturbances reported by those living in Mueang Pattaya district’s Nong Prue subdistrict, particularly between Sois 5 and 6, Phra Tamnak, across from…
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Security guard killed in knife attack after altercation in Bangkok
A security guard was found dead following a confrontation with his estranged wife at an apartment complex in Thung Song Hong, Lak Si district, Bangkok, early today, February 9. The incident reportedly escalated when the man allegedly struck his wife with a gun, prompting her to retaliate with a knife, resulting in his death. The couple had been separated for…
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Chiang Rai bans oil refueling into containers to combat crime
Chiang Rai provincial officials issued an urgent directive prohibiting the refuelling of oil into containers such as jerry cans, with violators facing legal action. This measure aligns with the Thai government’s policy to combat call centre gangs. Yesterday, February 8, Deputy Governor Norasak Suksomboon, acting on behalf of the Chiang Rai governor, announced the directive dated February 7, stating that…
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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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