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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Sedan crashes into bus on road towards Jomtien Beach, 2 injured
A serious accident occurred on Thappraya Road in Pattaya when a sedan collided with a van and a bus, leaving two individuals injured. The Pattaya Rescue Centre was notified of the crash on the road heading towards Jomtien Beach at 7.36am yesterday, January 21. Emergency responders, accompanied by media representatives, promptly arrived at the scene. On arrival, a grey bronze…
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Police arrest man for trafficking 14 year old girl in Narathiwat
Police in Narathiwat have apprehended a 20 year old man involved in an online prostitution operation, where he allegedly arranged for a 14 year old girl to meet clients at a resort, taking a 500 baht commission per encounter. The arrest occurred yesterday, January 21. Police Colonel Songklot Krikkritaya, the acting commander of the Anti-Human Trafficking Division, instructed Police Colonel…
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Thailand tackles high airfares for Songkran festival
The Transport Ministry has directed the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) to tackle the high cost of airfares during long weekends and holiday periods, in preparation for the Songkran festival in April. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit stated yesterday that CAAT has also been instructed to devise long-term measures to control prices, ensuring airfares remain within a reasonable limit while…
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Chiang Rai teens arrested for illegal money transfers
In Chiang Rai, five teenagers were arrested for illegal activities involving mule accounts, unauthorised SIM cards, and unlawful money transfers. The arrests were made at 4.30pm yesterday, January 20, when an investigative police unit from Mueang Chiang Rai police station, led by Police Colonel Manop Senakul, detained the group. The team, also comprising Police Colonel Santi Kongsamak, Police Colonel Phiphat…
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Hospital admits infant body swap due to name, age similarities
The Department of Medical Services has addressed the issue of a hospital mistakenly swapping two infants’ bodies, acknowledging the error occurred due to similarities in the children’s names and ages, as well as their passing occurring close together. Yesterday, January 21, the Department of Medical Services issued a statement through the Pathology Institute explaining the incident. The institute clarified that…
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Thailand assures China on tourist safety amid rising arrivals
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra plans to personally assure Chinese President Xi Jinping of the safety measures in place for Chinese tourists during her visit to China next month, according to Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong. Thailand aims to attract 9 million Chinese tourists this year, marking a 35% increase from last year’s figure of 6.7 million. Sorawong stated that…
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Chihuahua attacked by delivery worker in Nakhon Si Thammarat
A delivery worker severely injured a Chihuahua named Samlee, sparking widespread outrage. The incident, reported by the Watchdog Thailand Foundation on their Facebook page, involved the worker assaulting the small dog by stomping on it before slamming it against the ground at the dog’s owner’s house in Nakhon Si Thammarat province. The dog’s owner immediately rushed Samlee to the hospital,…
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Toxic air: Thailand considers work from home nationwide
The Ministry of Public Health is set to recommend a nationwide work from home directive next week after PM2.5 ultrafine dust pollution surpassed safe thresholds in nearly every province yesterday, January 21, with Greater Bangkok experiencing the highest levels. Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin announced that a meeting would be held today to formulate strategies to address the escalating pollution…
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48 Rohingya migrants found in Phuket and Phang Nga
A group of 48 migrants, consisting of 19 men and 29 women, was taken into safe custody after being found walking along roads in northern Phuket and in Tha Nun, Phang Nga province, early yesterday, January 21. The group is believed to have travelled by boat from Bangladesh or Myanmar. Tha Chatchai police at the northern tip of Phuket were…
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Thailand braces for cold mornings and air pollution alert
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has forecasted that the cool air mass will continue to blanket the region, leading to cold mornings and frost on mountain peaks. The south will experience rain, and there is a warning for increased air pollution. Today, January 21, the high-pressure system or cool air mass persists over upper Thailand and the South China Sea,…
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GSB windfall: Bangkok man wins 40 million baht jackpot
A man from Bangkok became the lucky winner of a 40 million baht jackpot from a special one-year digital Government Savings Bank (GSB) bond. The GSB Society page congratulated Danai, the lucky winner, on this extraordinary prize, stating that the prize distribution was genuine and congratulating him on winning the substantial amount. Danai, a client from the GSB branch at…
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MK Group goes MongKol: Thai hotpot chain’s CNY rebrand
In a sizzling marketing twist, Thailand’s leading Suki restaurant chain, MK Group, embraces the cultural phenomenon of “muketing” by rebranding four Bangkok branches to “MongKol” restaurants just in time for Chinese New Year. Muketing, a fusion of marketing and the Thai term mutelu (beliefs and superstitions), integrates lucky symbols, colours, and auspicious timings into business strategies. MK Group’s new MongKol branding,…
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Philippines and Thailand forge tourism pact amid casino buzz
In a landmark move to bolster tourism and cross-border collaboration, the Philippines and Thailand inked a five-year deal focusing on mutual growth in the travel and hospitality sectors. The agreement, signed on Sunday, January 19 also hints at Thailand’s potential legalisation of casinos: a game-changing development for its tourism landscape. The Philippines, a regional leader in the casino industry with…
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2 Canadian men found supplying drugs to Phuket music festival goers
Phuket police officers discovered that the two Canadian men, who fled a police checkpoint claiming to escape from a physical assault, had been offering drugs to partygoers at the Electric Daisy Carnival Thailand 2025 (EDC Thailand 2025) music festival. Officers from Karon Police Station stopped the two Canadian men, travelling in a black Ford Raptor pickup, on Patak Road on…
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Toxic air crisis: 70 provinces choked by dangerous dust levels
Thailand woke up to alarming air quality today, with ultrafine dust particles (PM2.5) reaching hazardous levels in 70 of 77 provinces, and Greater Bangkok bearing the brunt of the toxic haze. The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) revealed that PM2.5 levels surged into the red, or hazardous-to-health, zone in 27 provinces, primarily in central Thailand. At 7am, Samut…
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Burglar captured on CCTV breaking into Samut Prakan clinic (video)
A TikTok user, @doctor_on_thegreen, shared CCTV footage revealing a burglary at their clinic. The incident occurred on January 6 at approximately 9.04pm when a man, concealing his face with a black cap, broke into the clinic using a metal bar. Despite the clinic being located on the busy Srinakarin Road and well-lit inside and out, the assailant showed no concern…
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Thai woman left in debt after lending 880k baht to friend
A woman voiced her grievances on social media after lending 880,000 baht to a close friend nearly three years ago, only to have it remain unpaid. While her friend continues to live a comfortable life, she finds herself burdened with a high-interest loan. The incident came to light yesterday, January 20, when the woman shared her story online, revealing the…
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Thai thief poses as jogger to steal over 1 million baht from luxury home
A thief posed as a resident of a luxury village in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok and pretended to jog around the community before breaking into a home and stealing over 1 million baht in cash and valuables. The 30 year old homeowner, Kanin Kosonwittayanan, contacted officers from Rattanathibet Police Station to investigate the theft at his home on the afternoon…
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Driver cheats death after terrifying Pattaya motorway smash
A 55 year old man miraculously escaped a serious accident after his car smashed into a power pole near Pattaya, leaving the vehicle mangled and the pole precariously tilted. The dramatic crash occurred on Sunday, January 19 along the parallel road of Motorway Route 7, at Kilometre 111 in Takiantia, Bang Lamung. Jakkrit Ruenarun, the driver of a grey Chevrolet…
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Cyber police arrest Suphan Buri woman for call centre scam
Cyber police arrested a 32 year old woman from Suphan Buri for her involvement with a call centre scam that targeted a grandmother and her grandson. The scam involved luring victims across the border to Poipet for facial scans, with around 30 people being deceived each month. Yesterday, January 20, Police Lieutenant General Trirong Phiwpan, Commissioner of the Cyber Crime…
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Arrest warrant for Thanasun Nilprasert after fatal teacher shooting
An arrest warrant has been issued for Thanasun Nilprasert, also known as Tee Bangluang, following the fatal shooting of a 60 year old former teacher, Nak Anantarangsi, in Nonthaburi. The incident took place on January 18, along Highway 3011 in Bang Pa-in district, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province. The police are actively pursuing the suspect and have coordinated with immigration…
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Inmate escapes Chumphon prison, manhunt underway
An inmate serving a prison term for a drug-related offence has escaped from Huai Klung temporary prison in Wang Tako subdistrict, Lang Suan district, Chumphon province, sparking a search operation. The escape occurred around 3pm, yesterday, January 20, and seven hours later, the fugitive remains at large. Prison officials, alongside police from the Lang Suan Police Station, have mobilised to…
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Thai man loses 70,000 baht after scammers use fake ID to access his credit card
A Thai man lost nearly 70,000 baht from his credit card balance after a scammer created a fake ID card, gained access to his mobile phone number, and accessed his credit card. The 37 year old oil exploration worker in Bangkok, Kittinat, gathered evidence and sought assistance from the Foundation Campaigning to Reclaim Social Justice after suffering the 70,000-baht loss.…
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Thai FDA warns against unapproved smart devices for blood sugar
The Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning against the use of Smartwatches and Smart rings for blood sugar monitoring, as the devices have not been approved and pose potential health risks. Leutchai Lerwut, the FDA’s Deputy Secretary-General, highlighted concerns that some Smartwatches and rings on the market claim to measure blood sugar levels using medical software. However,…
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Factory worker assaulted by ex-colleague in Rayong street attack
A 29 year old factory worker filed a complaint with Pluak Daeng Police Station in Rayong province yesterday, January 20 at 5pm, after being assaulted by a former colleague on a street. The ex-colleague was previously dismissed from their workplace. The incident occurred on a road in Soi Mae Nam Khu 5, Mae Nam Khu subdistrict, Pluak Daeng district, Rayong,…
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Gold rush: Daylight thief strikes Phitsanulok market
A thief snatched a gold necklace weighing 2 baht from a 65 year old shop owner in broad daylight at a market in the Phitsanulok province. The suspect fled on a motorcycle, prompting police to launch an urgent search for the thief. The incident took place at the front of First Boutique, located at 109/103 Village 7, Bang Rakam subdistrict,…
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Thai school director accused of raping colleague in car
A Thai woman accused the director of a school in the central province of Prachin Buri of raping her in his car on December 23 last year in Nakhon Nayok. She claims to have the suspect’s semen as evidence. The 29 year old victim, who works as administrative staff at a primary school in Nakhon Nayok, shared her story with news…
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Thai embassies gear up for global same-sex marriage registration
Thai embassies and consulates around the world are prepared to kick off same-sex marriage registrations on Thursday, following the Marriage Equality Act’s enactment tomorrow, January 22. From Thursday, January 23, same-sex couples will have the opportunity to register their marriages at any district office across Thailand and Thai embassies and consulates abroad. Karom Ponpornklang, deputy government spokesperson, announced yesterday, January…
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Thailand urges release of hostages amid Israel-Hamas ceasefire
Thailand is urging the release of Thai hostages from the Gaza Strip following the initiation of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire on January 19. Yesterday, January 20, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) issued a statement concerning the agreement. The statement called for the release of hostages allegedly captured by Hamas during the conflict in southern Israel which kicked off on October…
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Buriram stray cat survives dart attack, raises 10,000 baht for care
A stray cat was found severely injured with a dart embedded in its head in Buriram province. Concerned residents notified rescue services to assist the animal and the public has since raised funds for its medical treatment. Rescue personnel from the Buriram Highway Police were alerted by villagers in Kradueang village, Thanon Hak subdistrict, Nang Rong district, about a stray…
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