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.
-
Sponsored 12Go introduces Japan Rail Passes to enhance travel accessibility for international travellers
For those who have travelled throughout Thailand, 12Go is a well-known provider of various trips, though the platform itself has a much wider reach. Ranging from buses to planes, 12Go is undoubtedly a leading booking platform for travel throughout the...
-
Heavy rain and strong winds to hit 30 Thai provinces
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a weather forecast indicating that 30 provinces, including Bangkok, will experience heavy rainfall, strong winds, and thunderstorms. Residents are advised to be cautious, especially as 30% of the areas are expected to be affected by the severe weather. Following these weather conditions, a temperature drop is anticipated on February 17. A high-pressure system…
-
Phuket police impound 20 bikes over reckless tourist driving
Phuket’s Patong police impounded 20 motorbikes and addressed the issue of foreign tourists driving recklessly during a late-night operation intended to enhance road safety. Yesterday, February 15, at 12.30am, Patong Police officers carried out an inspection near Kasikorn Bank on Prachanukroh Road, located at the southern end of Patong. The operation focused on identifying and addressing reckless driving and other…
-
Pattaya chaos: ride-hailing driver in naval uniform arrested
A chaotic incident unfolded in Pattaya when a driver, dressed in a naval uniform and claiming to be an aide to a famous general, was involved in a hit-and-run and threatened rescue workers with a knife. The event took place at 12.30pm yesterday, February 15, when Police Lieutenant Colonel Natthakorn Chanlod of Nong Prue Police Station received a report of…
-
Russian, Thai nationals arrested in Phuket over wire fraud charges
A Russian national and three Thai citizens have been detained in Phuket in separate operations. The Russian, Egor Nikolaevich Glebov, is wanted by US police for wire fraud charges. Phuket Immigration officers and the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) carried out the raids. Glebov, a 38 year old Russian national, was apprehended at a residence in Supalai Palm Springs, Srisoonthorn.…
-
Couple arrested in Thailand for child exploitation and trafficking
Yesterday, February 15, police arrested a 35 year old woman, Wannipa, and her 43 year old husband, Uthen, for the creation and distribution of illicit content involving their 10 year old child. While Wannipa confessed, Uthen denied the charges. The arrests were conducted under orders from Police Major General Songklod Krikkritaya, with Police Colonel Pattharapong Sripinpraw and Police Lieutenant Colonel…
-
Lottery fans hunt lucky numbers for February 16 draw
Lottery enthusiasts are eagerly searching for lucky numbers ahead of the third lottery draw of 2025, scheduled for today, February 16. To enhance their chances, many are reviewing previous lottery results from February 16 over the past decade. In the February 16, 2024 draw, the first prize number was 941395, with 43 as the two-digit number. The three-digit numbers preceding…
-
Stage collapse at Yasothon event injures MP, others (video)
A stage collapse incident occurred during an event in the Mueang district of Yasothon province yesterday, February 15, resulting in several injuries, including a fractured spine for a Yasothon MP. Deputy Minister Sabida Thaiset sustained minor head injuries. While Deputy Minister Sabida was inaugurating the event, a sudden gust of wind caused a large backdrop structure on the stage to…
-
Thai man arrested after robbing gold shop for Valentine’s gift
A 26 year old man from Nakhon Si Thammarat was arrested for robbing a gold shop in Samut Prakan, claiming he needed the money to buy a gift for his partner on Valentine’s Day. The suspect, identified as Chayanan But-nga, was apprehended by police while attempting to flee the area. Chayanan was caught with a black Honda PCX motorcycle, registered…
-
Thailand’s marriage equality law requires effective implementation
Following the introduction of the Marriage Equality Law in Thailand, experts highlight the need for effective implementation and support for the LGBTQ+ community. A recent forum titled Marriage Equality: From Diverse Viewpoint to Effective Legal Implementation, organised by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation and Thammasat University, addressed how to enact the law inclusively. Academics specialising in gender studies acknowledged that…
-
Myanmar raids arrest 29, uncover illegal gambling, scams
A recent operation in Myanmar’s Tachileik led to the arrest of seven Thai and 22 Myanmar nationals suspected of involvement in illegal online gambling and scams. The arrests, conducted by Myanmar’s State Administration Council (SAC), were reported by the Tachileik News Agency. From February 12 to February 14, all 29 people were detained. On February 12, the SAC apprehended the…
-
Tourism surge in Pai threatens cultural identity and local harmony
Mae Hong Son‘s northern region of Thailand, known for its natural beauty and vibrant backpacking scene, faces challenges due to a surge in tourism. The district of Pai, once a serene market village surrounded by rice fields, hot springs, and rivers, has transformed into a bustling tourist destination. Its bohemian spirit, affordable lifestyle, and lively nightlife draw backpackers who often…
-
Thaksin Shinawatra allowed to attend ASEAN meeting in Brunei
Thaksin Shinawatra has been granted permission by the Criminal Court to attend an ASEAN meeting in Brunei on Tuesday and Wednesday. This marks the second occasion the former prime minister is allowed to leave Thailand, following the provision of a 5-million-baht cash surety. The court, however, denied his requests to visit Vietnam and Cambodia during this period. Thaksin will be…
-
Thailand braces for rain and thunderstorms from February 15 to February 21
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has forecast a shift in weather patterns across the country for February 15 to February 21, with rain, strong winds, and thunderstorms expected in various regions. Northern Thailand will experience cool to cold mornings with fog, while Bangkok faces a 40% chance of rain. Yesterday, February 15, the TMD reported a weakening high-pressure system covering…
-
Bad gift: Samut Prakan police hunt Valentine’s gold thief
The provincial police chief in Samut Prakan has ordered a manhunt for a thief who allegedly stole a gold necklace, claiming it was a gift for his girlfriend on Valentine’s Day yesterday. Police from Bang Kaew Station in Samut Prakan province responded to reports of a robbery at a gold shop located in a market behind Wat Nam Daeng in Bang…
-
Pattaya’s Oman roadshow draws huge tourism interest
Pattaya is making waves in the Middle East. City officials and business leaders landed in Muscat, Oman, to showcase Pattaya’s tourism charm, drawing overwhelming interest from local tour operators. Pattaya City, in partnership with the Chon Buri Provincial Administrative Organisation and the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Pattaya Office, hosted the Pattaya Roadshow to Muscat at the Sheraton Oman Hotel on…
-
Thai man dies falling from tamarind tree in Udon Thani
A 65 year old man fell from a tamarind tree and died in Mueang district, Udon Thani province. Police Lieutenant Colonel Peera Rasri from the Mueang Udon Thani Police Station was notified of the accident, which occurred in the backyard of a house in Village 5, Nong Na Kham subdistrict. Medical personnel from Udon Thani Hospital and rescue volunteers from…
-
Pattaya scrap yard inferno: Fire sparks 300K baht damage
A massive fire erupted at a scrap yard in Pattaya, causing up to 300,000 baht in damages and adding to growing air pollution concerns in the region. The Nong Prue Municipality’s Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department received reports of a raging fire at a scrap yard in Soi Thung Klom Tan Man 17 at 2pm on Thursday, February 13. Firefighters…
-
Thai man falls from moving train in Lopburi, dies
Passengers on a train in Lopburi were startled when a man fell from a moving train and died. The incident occurred at 5.30pm yesterday, February 14, at Lopburi railway station. Police Lieutenant Thannadon Thiangsan from the Tha Hin Police Station, along with medical personnel from Ananda Mahidol Hospital and volunteers from the Por Tek Tung Foundation, were called to the…
-
Ex-con severely injured in Nakhon Si Thammarat shooting
A shooting incident in Nakhon Si Thammarat resulted in serious injuries for a man recently released from prison. Police are focusing on a drug-related conflict as they identify the suspect involved. The incident occurred yesterday, February 14 on Yutthasat Road, Soi 16, in Pak Phraek subdistrict, Thung Song district. Police Colonel Teerawut Thepluean from Thung Song Police Station, and other…
-
4-metre king cobra slithers into Chumphon woman’s kitchen
A 55 year old woman from Chumphon province was startled when a 4-metre-long king cobra, weighing over 8 kilogrammes, slithered into her kitchen while she was eating. She abandoned her meal and called emergency services for assistance. Sarawut Muangdaeng, head of the rescue unit of the Chumphon Charity Foundation in Sawi district, received a call from Jirawan, who resides at…
-
Pattaya’s iconic sign gets a dazzling upgrade
Pattaya City’s famous hillside sign is getting a stunning new look, with a high-tech lighting upgrade set to be completed by February 27. Deputy Mayor Manoch Nongyai recently inspected the site on Pratumnak Hill, where contractors demonstrated the state-of-the-art lighting system. “The Pattaya City sign has been a landmark for over 20 years, but time has taken its toll. This…
-
Police confiscate illegal sexual enhancers worth 1.5 million baht
Police have seized and confiscated a range of sexual enhancement products branded as “Nam Phueng Pueng Pang” containing the active ingredient in Viagra, posing a potential danger to users. The operation, conducted yesterday, February 14, successfully seized items valued at over 1.5 million baht. Police Major General Pattanasak Bubpasuwan, head of the Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD), led the operation…
-
Deputy PM denies family’s golf course encroaches on reform land
Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has responded to allegations that a golf course owned by his family in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Pak Chong district might be encroaching on agricultural reform land. The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives intends to examine the land title of the Rancho Charnvee Resort & Country Club, owned by the Bhumjaithai Party leader and current interior minister.…
-
Azerbaijan eyes Phuket: Talks on direct flights and sister city plans
Phuket is on the radar for deeper ties with Azerbaijan. Governor Sophon Suwannarat rolled out the red carpet on Thursday, February 13, for Ambassador Elchin Rakub Ogul Bashirov of Azerbaijan at the Phuket Provincial Hall, where the two discussed ramping up diplomatic and tourism cooperation. With Phuket’s tourism boom in full swing: 13.1 million visitors raking in over 497 billion…
-
Bangkok braces for thunderstorms, high dust and hot afternoons
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasts scattered thunderstorms in Bangkok and its vicinity, with cool mornings and hot, hazy afternoons. High dust levels persist. The next 24 hours will see weak high pressure over the upper northeastern region and westerly winds over the north, leading to cold mornings with fog in the north and northeast. Meanwhile, southerly and southeasterly winds…
-
Most watched sports in Thailand
While Thailand may be best known for the likes of its rich cultural heritage, stunning views, and warm hospitality, it also has a thriving sports scene. There is a deep passion for traditional sports, such as Muay Thai, but there is increasing interest in international sports which are now gaining a strong following. Sports fans are now watching, and engaging,…
-
Phuket motorcycle taxi feud turns bloody in street stabbing
A long-standing rivalry between two motorcycle taxi drivers erupted into a brutal knife fight outside Vachira Phuket Hospital last night, leaving one man seriously injured. The violent altercation, which unfolded at around 9pm yesterday, February 13, saw the men stab each other in a heated dispute over passengers. Phuket City Police, led by Deputy Chief of Investigation Police Captain Pawinut…
-
Over 100 couples tie the knot in Phuket on Valentine’s Day
Romance filled the air in Phuket Town today as more than 100 couples gathered at the Mueang District Office to register their marriages in a joyful Valentine’s Day celebration. The event, which embraced love in all forms, saw couples from all backgrounds, including LGBTQIA+ partners, formalising their unions in a special ceremony. The festivities were led by Phuket District Chief…
-
Tragic temple fire in New York kills Buddhist monk
A devastating fire tore through a Buddhist temple in The Bronx, New York City, early Wednesday morning, February 12, leaving two people dead, including a Buddhist monk. The blaze, which erupted around 6am, quickly engulfed the small temple and a neighbouring residence for monks, causing irreversible damage. FDNY Chief of Department John Esposito confirmed the tragedy. “We had fire throughout…
-
Thailand’s MMA boom in 2025: How the Land of Muay Thai is embracing mixed martial arts
Thailand, long celebrated as the birthplace of Muay Thai, is experiencing a dynamic shift in its combat sports landscape. In 2025, the nation is witnessing an unprecedented surge in the popularity of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), signalling a harmonious blend of tradition and modernity in the fighting arts. Historically, Muay Thai has been the cornerstone of Thailand’s martial arts identity.…
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.