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 5 ways retirees in Thailand lose money (and how to stop it)
Retiring in Thailand can be affordable and enjoyable, but many retirees lose money due to common mistakes. High living costs, scams, and unexpected expenses can quickly drain savings. There are five ways that retirees in Thailand can lose money and...
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British husband of the Thai ‘Lady of the Hills’ bailed (video)
The British husband suspected of murdering his Thai wife over two decades ago has been released on bail. The mystery surrounding the tragic case of Lamduan Armitage, whose body was discovered in the picturesque Yorkshire Dales, deepens as police make urgent appeals for information. Lamduan, known as the “Lady of the Hills,” was found lifeless in a stream near the…
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Bangkok warns of rising PM2.5 dust levels from February 6
Bangkok has issued a warning regarding PM2.5 dust levels, which are expected to reach the orange level from tomorrow, February 6 to Sunday, February 9. Residents are advised to wear masks, refrain from open burning, and report smoke-emitting vehicles via Traffy Fondue and hotline 199. Yesterday, February 4, Ekwaranyu Amrapal, Bangkok’s government spokesperson, highlighted the forecast for PM2.5 dust levels…
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3 foreigners caught in Phuket for illegal motorcycle modifications
Officers from Karon Police Station stopped three foreigners at a checkpoint on a road in Phuket due to illegal modifications to their motorcycles. Karon Police set up a checkpoint outside the Holiday Inn Resort Phuket to monitor both Thai and foreign motorists violating traffic laws. At approximately 3.30pm, Monday, February 3, officers stopped a suspicious Frenchman, 29 year old Mehdi Lamine…
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Thai space device to join China’s Chang’e 7 lunar mission
A collaboration between the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) and the China National Space Administration (CNSA) has been greenlit by the Cabinet, as announced by Minister Supamas Isarabhakdi. This partnership will see the development of a space environment monitoring device by Thai researchers. The device, known as the Moon Aiming Thai-Chinese Hodoscope (Match), is scheduled for…
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Bangkok’s new bus shelters as much use as a chocolate fireguard
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) addressed concerns regarding the transparency of its bus shelter procurement initiative amidst criticisms that they are as much use as a chocolate fireguard as the shelters won’t protect people from the sun and rain. The BMA outlined plans for two shelter models: one is 2.3 by 3 metres, accommodating three individuals, priced at approximately 230,000 baht.…
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Tiger honours ‘force of nature’ mum who shaped his red-hot legacy
Tiger Woods hailed his Thai-born mother a “force of nature” in a fitting tribute after announcing her death at the age of 80 late yesterday, adding the famous red shirt he wears at golf tournaments on Sundays was a nod to her Thai belief in red as his power colour. The golfing legend shared the heartbreaking news late yesterday, sparking…
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Russian man attacks Thai couple for honking at him in Phuket
The foreign man who attacked a Thai motorcyclist and his girlfriend for honking at him as he crossed a road in Phuket was identified as a Russian national. The foreigner reportedly crossed the road when the pedestrian signal turned red. The Thai woman, Pimpapan, shared the details of the attack by the foreign man with the news Facebook page Phuket Times…
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Man arrested in Tak for smuggling tech gear to Myanmar
A 54 year old man has been apprehended in Tak province for attempting to smuggle computer equipment and surveillance cameras across the border to a call centre gang in Myawaddy, Myanmar. The operation, conducted yesterday, February 4, was led by Police Lieutenant General Kittisak Durongkiboon and involved various enforcement teams. The man, identified as Anusak Wongnoi from Mae Sot district,…
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Missing British man found dead in Bangkok
The family of a missing British man paid tribute after he was found dead in Thailand. Essex-born James Sangwine has died after going missing in Thailand for days. Thai police have yet to release details around the circumstances of the Londoner’s death. The father of one’s family has launched a fundraiser to help bring the 33 year old man’s body…
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Chinese gambling trio busted in Bangkok luxury condo raid
Three Chinese men have been arrested in Bangkok for allegedly running an illegal online gambling network with over 200,000 members and a daily turnover exceeding 2 million baht. Tourist Police raided a luxury condominium in Huai Khwang today, February 4, apprehending 41 year old Wen Chong, 24 year old Peng Cheng, and 31 year old Po Hong. The suspects were…
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Toxic smog disrupts Bangkok flights as PM2.5 levels soar
Bangkok’s toxic air pollution has reached hazardous levels, forcing flight diversions and sparking health warnings across the city. On Sunday morning, February 2, several flights were diverted from Don Mueang International Airport to Suvarnabhumi Airport, as thick smog reduced visibility to just 150 metres. Among the affected flights was AirAsia X Flight XJ901 from Harbin, China, which had to be…
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Ex-boxer knocked out by law after drug-fuelled crime spree
A former well-known boxer from Udon Thani was arrested for theft and drug use and causing a disturbance in a police holding cell. The incident occurred on January 29, when the ex-boxer stole 600 baht from a grocery store in Nong Phai, Mueang district, Udon Thani. Police Colonel Udomchok Singhakulsiri from the Non Sung subdistrict police station reported that CCTV captured…
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Chinese-American arrested for antisocial behaviour with fireworks
Police arrested a Chinese-born American citizen in Chon Buri for antisocial behaviour in the community by setting off fireworks, despite repeated pleas and warnings from his neighbours. A resident of a luxury housing estate in Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri, recorded a video of the fireworks and shared it with the media to seek police intervention. The footage showed a Chinese…
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Bangkok man arrested for setting fire to relative’s pickup
A 52 year old man was arrested for allegedly setting fire to a relative’s pickup in Bangkok’s Nong Chok district. The incident followed a dispute over a motorcycle accident and occurred on Saturday, February 1, when a Ford Ranger was found burned beside a house in Bangkok. Upon investigation, police discovered security camera angles had been altered, obscuring the identity…
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Israeli fugitive wanted for stabbing caught hiding in Pattaya
A 27 year old Israeli fugitive was arrested in Pattaya after Thai immigration police discovered he was wanted for a violent assault in Tel Aviv and had overstayed his visa. The suspect, identified only as T, was apprehended yesterday, February 3 after police found he was listed on an Interpol Red Notice for a gruesome attack in Israel. Officers arrested…
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Thai father shoots friend dead for repeated assaults on his daughter
A Thai father shot dead his close friend yesterday for repeated assaults on his 11 year old daughter at her school in the Isaan province of Chaiyaphum. Officers from Mueang Chaiyaphum Police Station investigated the murder of 31 year old Kittiwet at a petrol vending machine in the Mueang district of Chaiyaphum province at around 2pm, February 3. Kittiwet had sustained…
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Pharmacist in Buriram narrowly escapes attack by six American Bullies
A pharmacist in Buriram narrowly avoided an attack from six American Bullies that invaded her pharmacy and injured her disabled dog. The owner of the dogs requested the shop be closed so the dogs could run freely. However, the dog’s owner claims the pharmacist’s dog instigated the incident. Yesterday, February 3, Piyanat Munha, a 48 year old pharmacist and owner…
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Fire in Trang car paint shop causes millions in damage
A fire broke out at a car paint shop in Trang province, destroying seven vehicles and causing extensive damage estimated at several million baht. The blaze erupted yesterday, February 3 at 9pm, prompting emergency services to rush to the scene and battle the flames for nearly two hours. Police Lieutenant Colonel Vechayan Hiranyasuwan, an investigator at Mueang Trang Police Station,…
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Thai woman files theft report but police mistakenly list her as thief
A Thai woman filed a police report after losing 400,000 baht in valuables to her former tomboy girlfriend but ended up being labelled a thief herself when police mistakenly switched her name with that of the suspect. The 28 year old victim, Puifai, shared details of the crime with Channel 3 after the suspect, Earn, managed to secure her release…
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Thai teen saved from drowning in Chao Phraya River
A 24 year old rider and volunteer from the Poh Teck Tung Foundation jumped into the Chao Phraya River to rescue a 16 year old girl who had fallen in. The incident took place yesterday, February 3 at 3.30pm, and the girl was subsequently taken to Ang Thong Hospital for treatment. Police from Mueang Ang Thong Police Station had been informed…
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NHSO adds six medications to national health insurance scheme
The National Health Security Office (NHSO) board approved the addition of six medications to the national health insurance system yesterday, February 3. This initiative aims to ensure patients have comprehensive access to essential treatments, particularly for tuberculosis, nephritis, and lymphoma. The decision follows approval from various subcommittees and aligns with recommendations from the World Health Organisation on tuberculosis treatment. The…
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Five Myanmar nationals caught crossing into Thailand illegally
Five Myanmar nationals were apprehended by the Ratchamanu Special Task Force for illegally crossing into Thailand near the Moei River today. The team, led by the Naresuan Mobile Unit, was patrolling the area of Don Chai village in Mae Tao subdistrict, Mae Sot district, Tak province, today, February 4 at 1.30am, when they noticed suspicious movement in the grasslands by…
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Drunk French tourist crashes into Patong cop, arrested on the spot
A drunk French tourist crashed his motorcycle into a traffic police officer in Patong early this morning, leaving both men injured and prompting an immediate arrest. The incident occurred at 7.14am, today, February 4, on Phra Metta Road, in front of the Bangkok Bank branch. Patong police were alerted and rushed to the scene, where they found two damaged motorcycles…
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4 from over 100 Thai women rescued from illegal surrogacy in Georgia
The Paveena Foundation for Children and Women rescued four women from a group of over 100 Thai women who were deceived into travelling to Georgia for illegal surrogacy operations run by Chinese nationals. One of the victims, Na, paid 70,000 baht for her freedom and returned to Thailand to seek help from the foundation to rescue other Thai women still…
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Thailand’s 34 billion baht railway plan to boost trade and tourism
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is pushing for an 80-million-baht budget to conduct a feasibility study for a new double-track railway linking Hat Yai in Songkhla to Sungai Kolok in Narathiwat. The massive 34.59 billion baht project aligns with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s policy to enhance railway efficiency, improve connectivity between Thailand and neighbouring countries, and stimulate border trade,…
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Blaze at Trang car repair shop causes 10 million baht damage
A severe fire broke out at a major car repair shop in Mueang district, Trang province, affecting over 30 vehicles being serviced. At least seven cars were destroyed, with damages exceeding 10 million baht, as firefighters worked for 90 minutes to control the blaze. Nattapong Niamsom, Mayor of Nataluang subdistrict, mobilised fire engines and coordinated with local administrative organisations for…
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Drunken tourist passes out in front of Pattaya Police Station
A heavily intoxicated foreign man sparked alarm after collapsing unconscious outside Pattaya Police Station, leaving bystanders and officers scrambling to assist. The unnamed tourist was found lying in the parking area on Sunday night, February 2, blocking visitors from retrieving their vehicles. Police and rescue workers examined him and found no signs of assault, determining that his extreme alcohol consumption…
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Thailand caps airfares to curb Songkran holiday price hikes
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) announced yesterday, February 3, its plans to address the issue of high airfares during peak travel periods, especially around the Songkran holiday. According to CAAT chief Suttipong Kongpool, the initiative is in response to a directive from Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit, aimed at regulating airfares for the benefit of…
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Thai couple seeks answers after unborn baby vanishes from womb and hospital records
A Thai couple is demanding an explanation from a hospital in Pathum Thani province, near Bangkok, after one of their unborn children went missing from both the woman’s womb and the hospital’s database. The couple, 42 year old Wicharn and 38 year old Rungarun, sought help from non-profit organisation Saimai Survive after the loss of their unborn twins and confusion…
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Bangkok commits to dust-free classrooms amidst pollution concerns
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has committed to increasing the number of dust-free classrooms within its schools by the end of the year. During a community inspection in Watthana district, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt highlighted the need to address public concerns, particularly those related to environmental and public health issues. The 58 year old Bangkok chief confirmed that 744 out…
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