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 Is private health insurance in Thailand worth it? Real costs vs risks explained
Thailand has a strong healthcare system with both public and private options. Public hospitals offer affordable care, but many people, including expats, choose private health insurance for faster service, modern facilities, and more treatment choices. To decide if private health...
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Caught in the act: Khon Kaen cops bust hotel prostitution racket
Khon Kaen police smashed an alleged prostitution ring operating brazenly in a well-known hotel, in a sensational sting operation. A Khon Kaen police spokesperson called the operation a “masterstroke in undercover policing,” cornering the suspect right in the heart of the city’s hospitality scene. The drama unfolded in the early hours of this morning, February 21, as Khon Kaen’s Provincial…
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Foul play: Thai rubber plantation cockfight ruffled by police raid
Royal Thai Police (RTP) yesterday swooped on an illicit cockfighting ring hidden in the heart of a rubber plantation in Nakhon Si Thammarat. The brazen operation unfolded yesterday, February 20 at 4.30pm, catching both gamblers and organisers off guard. The ringmaster had audaciously chosen to stage these brutal battles only on Buddhist holy days but his cunning plan unravelled spectacularly.…
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Thai woman missing in Oman after abuse by Bangladeshi boyfriend
A Thai woman has been missing for three months her parents revealed, adding that they fear for her life after friends made known she was a victim of abuse by her Bangladeshi boyfriend in Oman. Before her disappearance, she informed a friend about suffering physical abuse at the hands of her boyfriend. The local Facebook news page, Lampang Variety, shared a missing…
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Little thieves in big trouble: Teenagers nabbed for stealing motorcycles
Chachoengsao province was rocked by a cheeky two-wheeled crime spree as local police uncovered a shocking twist: the culprits behind the stolen motorcycles were none other than a trio of audacious teenagers aged just 13 to 15. Leading the pint-sized pilferers was a 15 year old ringleader with a foot already in legal trouble, having been out on bail for a…
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Peeping Tom busted: Ex-brother-in-law’s 3-year peep show horror
In a perverted tale of betrayal and invasion of privacy, an ex-brother-in-law has been arrested for being a Peeping Tom after waging a sinister three-year campaign of secret filming, threats, and harassment against his own sister-in-law. The sordid saga unfolded with the arrest of 30 year old Kaweedech (surname withheld) yesterday, February 20, after his relentless torment of his former…
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No dice: Thai casino entry plan unlikely to get Cabinet approval
A new proposal by the Council of State for Thai nationals to enter casinos is unlikely to receive Cabinet approval, according to Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. The proposal requires Thais to maintain a minimum of 50 million baht in fixed deposit accounts for six months before accessing a casino entertainment complex. Anutin, who also serves as a Deputy Prime Minister…
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2 Indian men attacked in Pattaya for allegedly groping Thai women
A gang of Thai people attacked two Indian men for allegedly groping the breasts and bottoms of two Thai women on a road along Pattaya Beach. The altercation occurred near Pattaya Beach at around 5.30am,yesterday, February 20. CCTV footage showed two Indian men running away from a group of Thai women. The women were heard screaming for help, prompting motorcycle taxi…
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Rice and fall: Thailand faces grain pains as India lifts export limits
Thailand’s rice market, once riding high, now faces a shaky season as Indian export restrictions relax, threatening to steal the spotlight and curb the kingdom’s grain gains. After a bumper year, it seems that the golden grains might lose their sparkle, casting a shadow on Thailand’s export figures. Despite a slight boost in Thai rice production, set to rise by…
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Cheers: Thailand’s booze rules shake-up promises economic tonic
In a move that could pop the cork on a 100-billion-baht economic boom, Thailand is considering scrapping its afternoon booze sales ban: a measure that could turn holidaymakers’ frowns upside down and get tills ringing right across the Land of Smiles. Industry leaders are raising a glass to the potential windfall, with the promise that lifting these restrictions could lure…
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Thai-ing the knot: Thailand pushes for free trade deal with gulf nations
Thailand is advancing negotiations on a free trade agreement with Gulf countries to boost trade, tourism, and investment. Nalinee Taveesin, the chair of Thai Trade Representatives, described the Gulf countries as Thailand’s most significant market in the Middle East, with trade between the two regions reaching approximately US$36 billion last year. Non-oil and natural gas trade saw nearly a 10%…
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3 year old Thai boy killed and 11 others injured in Phang Nga bus accident
A three year old Thai boy lost his life in a coach bus accident that also injured 11 others in the southern province of Phang Nga. Officers from Takua Thung Police Station were alerted to the accident on Phetchakasem Road in the Takua Thung district at around 6pm, yesterday, February 20. Upon investigation, they found the overturned coach on the left…
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Visas in the mist: Thai immigration to probe Israeli influx in Pai
Pai, a once-idyllic northern Thai haven for globetrotters, is now at the centre of a simmering scandal as immigration officials gear up to investigate the visa and work permit statuses of Israeli visitors. Complaints about rule-breaking Israelis have stirred up a tropical storm of controversy, prompting officials to act after locals reportedly said “Pai is no ‘promised land’ for Israeli…
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Romance scam goes from hearts to handcuffs as cops nab couple
A romance scam has ended in handcuffs for a Chinese woman and her Thai accomplice, who spun a web of deceit to con romantics out of a staggering 91 million baht. The pair turned a Bang Phli housing estate into the epicentre of their elaborate romance-investment scam, fooling victims with promises as hollow as their fraudulent hearts. Zhou Zhou and…
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Kratom and e-cigarette vendors arrsted after girl’s lung damage
Police arrested two Thai vendors selling e-cigarettes and kratom drinks outside a school in the Isaan province of Buriram after a 12 year old schoolgirl was found to have suffered severe lung damage from nearly two years of vaping and kratom consumption. The school, located in the Satuek district of Buriram, rushed the 12 year old girl to hospital after…
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Thai woman caught swiping British man’s ATM card in Pattaya
A 54 year old Thai woman was nabbed in a bold operation by Pattaya police officers after allegedly swiping an ATM card from a British expat and splurging on a 40,000-baht spree. The arrest unfolded when Pattaya City police, alongside Task Force 2, swooped in on the suspect, Kam, at a local restaurant near the entrance of Soi Jomtien 4.…
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Thailand braces for severe storms and temperature drop
Unpredictable weather, including thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds, is affecting northern and northeastern Thailand, with hail reported in some areas. The south is experiencing heavy rain and strong winds. Temperature drops are expected as the region faces these weather changes. The Meteorological Department of Thailand’s forecast for today, February 21, predicts that easterly and southeasterly winds will carry moisture from…
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British woman’s dream Thailand trip turns surgery nightmare
A British woman thought she was embarking on a holiday of a lifetime to mark hers and husband’s golden wedding anniversary. But their romantic escapade to exotic Thailand has spiralled into a medical horror story that’s left the beloved granny fighting for her life! Their sun-soaked plans were ruined when Pamela Gatehouse, from Carshalton, Surrey, fell victim to a terrifying…
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Thai massage shop owner attacked after accusing rival of black magic
Three Thai women attacked a massage shop owner in the central province of Ayutthaya after the victim accused one of them of performing black magic against her. The female massage shop owner travelled from Ayutthaya province to Bangkok to seek justice from the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive, after her case had not progressed for two months since December of the…
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India offers free 30-day visa for Thai tourists until end of the year
To boost Thai tourist arrivals and balance the growing number of Indian tourists visiting Thailand, India is offering Thai travellers a 30-day visa-free entry until the end of 2025. The Indian government announced that Thai visitors could now apply for an e-tourist visa online without paying any entry fee, encouraging more Thais to explore India. The Indian embassy in Thailand…
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Moroccan man arrested in Turkey for Chiang Mai murder
Interpol arrested a Moroccan national in Turkey for allegedly murdering his Thai LGBTQ lover, a beauty surgeon, in Chiang Mai last December. Bilal Chenfinu fled Thailand immediately after the crime, prompting an international manhunt and extradition proceedings to bring him back to face charges. Mueang Chiang Mai Police Chief Police Colonel Pratchaya Thisala confirmed that 30 year old Chenfinu was…
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Thailand’s biometric system overloaded with 50 million records
Thailand’s Immigration Bureau has hit a critical roadblock, with its biometric system reaching its maximum capacity of 50 million records, preventing new foreign arrivals from being automatically recorded. The bureau is now forced to manually document arrivals and rely on an online database for security checks until a new system is developed. Police Colonel Neti Khanboon, commander of the database…
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Man arrested for selling account used in 2.2 million baht scam
The Anti-Human Trafficking Division has apprehended a 28 year old man suspected of being a mule account holder for a scam call centre gang. The suspect, Somprasong, allegedly sold his bank account for 300 baht, which was then used to defraud victims of 2.2 million baht. His criminal history includes charges of drug use, theft, and gambling. Police Major General Songklot…
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Land probe targets resort linked to Thai minister
An investigation into alleged land encroachment near Khao Yai National Park has widened, targeting high-profile properties in Pak Chong district, including Rancho Charnvee Resort and Country Club, owned by the family of Anutin Charnvirakul, Bhumjaithai Party leader and Thailand’s Interior Minister. The probe, led by an advisory committee to the agriculture minister, inspected three sites in the district on Tuesday,…
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Cloud storage exposes 15 year old Thai rapist abusing 6 year old girl
Police in the Isaan province of Surin arrested a 15 year old rapist after videos of him sexually abusing a six year old girl were uploaded to cloud storage. The Thailand Internet Crimes Against Children Unit (TICAC) received a report about the sexual abuse of the six year old Thai girl from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children…
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Chiang Rai man arrested for illegal firearm collection
Police arrested a 44 year old man in the Mueang district, Chiang Rai, after he posted images of illegal firearms on his Facebook account. Upon searching his home, Police discovered a substantial collection of firearms, reportedly purchased from acquaintances. Some weapons were sent by customers for repainting. Yesterday, February 19, Police Lieutenant General Tairong Phiwphan, alongside high-ranking officers, ordered a…
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Blowing smoke: 12 year old girl fights for life after two years vaping
A 12 year old girl in Buriram is fighting for her life after vaping for two years, causing almost 100% damage to her lungs. Her family had no idea about her dangerous habit until they were informed by her school, highlighting the growing crisis of youth vaping in Thailand. The shocking revelation came when teachers at her school in Don…
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Filming dispute with Indian men sparks Pattaya Beach brawl
A late-night brawl erupted near Pattaya Beach last night, February 19, leaving four people injured after a confrontation between two Thai women and two Indian men turned violent. A Thai man who tried to intervene was also hurt in the chaotic street fight. The incident began when the two women, who asked to remain anonymous, were relaxing on the beach…
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Banana drama: Thai woman holds buffalo hostage over plantation feud
A Thai woman held her neighbour’s buffalo hostage to demand compensation after the animal damaged her banana plantation in the Sattahip district of Chon Buri province. However, the neighbour neither paid the compensation nor retrieved his buffalo. The 59 year old woman, Nong, called Sattahip Police Station officers to her home yesterday, February 19, to help resolve the dispute with…
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Myanmar repatriates Chinese scam workers through Thailand
Myanmar has begun repatriating hundreds of Chinese nationals forced to work in scam centres, with the first group crossing into Thailand today, February 20. This marks the start of a massive operation expected to free thousands from criminal-run compounds in Myanmar over the coming weeks. The first group of 50 Chinese workers was transported to the Thai border town of…
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Jealous ex pulls gun in Pattaya nightclub chaos
A night of fun turned into panic when a jealous ex-boyfriend pulled a gun inside a Pattaya nightclub, mistaking a waiter for his ex-wife’s new lover. The dramatic incident unfolded at a cocktail lounge in LK Metro, sending patrons into chaos and ending with the man’s swift arrest. The incident occurred at 2.06am today, February 20, when Pattaya police received…
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