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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Thai man sets fire to hospital in stress over 3 million baht loss
A Thai man set fire to a hospital in the Isaan province of Ubon Ratchathani allegedly due to stress after losing 3 million baht in a real estate scam six years ago. The blaze caused 100 million baht in damages to the hospital. The fire broke out on the third floor of the third building of Det Udom Royal Crown…
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Thailand braces for cooler weather as cold front arrives
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a weather warning for today predicting cooler temperatures and strong winds due to a new wave of cold air from China. This front has reached northern Vietnam and is expected to cover upper northeastern Thailand today, February 3. This weather pattern will initially result in a temperature drop and strong winds in the northeastern…
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Three children in Buriram praised for returning lost gold necklace
Three children in Buriram province are being praised for their honesty after finding a gold necklace weighing 2 baht in front of a village shop and handing it over to the village head to locate its owner. Yesterday, February 2, at 9.33am, 66 year old Suphon Khongsotsap visited the investigating officer to report that he lost a 2 baht gold…
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Peace talks misfire: Pattaya feud ends in bullets and blown tires
In another day of drama in Pattaya, an attempt to settle a feud between two rival groups spectacularly backfired, ending with bullets flying and a vehicle caught in the crossfire. Early yesterday morning, February 2, at precisely 9am, saw the police swoop on 24 year old Aniwat, better known by the street name “Nick,” at his Pattaya home. His crime?…
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Forest fire in Phetchabun destroys 180 rai, suspects arrested
National park officials worked overnight to extinguish a forest fire in Huai Rangka, which destroyed approximately 180 rai, yesterday, February 2, in Phetchabun province. The blaze is suspected to have been started by people hunting or foraging. On the same day, several sugarcane field fires were reported along roadsides, resulting in the arrest of two people. Ronnarat Sirimakorn, head of…
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Pattaya showdown: Family feud turns into a Western gunfight
In a scene more suited to a Spaghetti Western movie, a heated feud between two local families in Pattaya last night spiralled into a gunfight, leaving several injured. The explosive altercation unfolded along the railway roadside just before Soi Siam Country Club, on the inbound stretch towards Sattahip in the Bang Lamung district. At precisely 10.06pm, yesterday, February 2, the…
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Bud luck: Bold bandit breaks into Pattaya pot shop, swipes stash
Budbox Pattaya was the scene of a daring break-in yesterday morning. The infamous cannabis shop, situated in front of the JA Plus Hotel on Soi Chalermprakiat 3, was targeted by a bold foreign bandit who smashed his way through the glass doors to make off with goods valued at around 10,000 baht. The break-in occurred at approximately 11am, yesterday, February…
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Rayong police probe thief’s death after alleged self-shooting (video)
Police summoned a subdistrict administrative organisation secretary for interrogation following an incident where a thief reportedly shot himself while fleeing. The man is revealed to be the nephew of the secretary’s wife. Police are intensifying their investigation to resolve this complex case. The incident unfolded when a thief broke into the home of Somsak, the secretary of the Pai Yub subdistrict…
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Thai Cabinet allocates 3.14 billion baht for new Phuket hospital
The Thai Cabinet has sanctioned a budget of 3.14 billion baht for the establishment of Songklanagarind Hospital Phuket, a significant healthcare endeavour under Prince of Songkla University (PSU). This project, scheduled for execution between 2026 and 2029, is designed to bolster healthcare services across Phuket and the Andaman region. The allocated funds are set to be distributed over four fiscal…
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Thailand tops travel list for Chinese New Year celebrations
Thailand has emerged as a preferred destination for travellers during the Chinese New Year, offering convenience and safety, according to tourists. Digital travel platform Agoda highlighted Thailand’s popularity for the festival, which began on February 5, marking the Year of the Snake. The platform noted a significant increase in accommodation searches in December, with Bangkok remaining the top choice for…
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Thai app Jagat banned for illegal gambling activities
The Jagat application has been deemed illegal by the Department of Provincial Administration, as it falls under gambling activities. Yesterday, February 1, Police Lieutenant General Trirong Phiwphan, Commissioner of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB), announced that the Bureau is coordinating with the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DE) to block the app. Previously, Jagat gained popularity for enabling…
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Deadly crash on Western Ring Road: 2 killed, 3 injured
A collision involving a cement-laden trailer, an unmarked police car, and a steel-carrying trailer resulted in three injuries and two fatalities. The police plan to interview the drivers and injured parties to determine the cause. Today, February 2, at 1am, Police Lieutenant Colonel Kritchatha Pratumkaew from Sam Khok Police Station received a report of a car colliding with a trailer…
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Uttaradit fried chicken vendor wins 12 million baht lottery
A fried chicken vendor in Uttaradit province has become the region’s latest millionaire after winning 12 million baht in the lottery. The unexpected windfall came from a ticket given as a bonus, which initially seemed unappealing due to its repeated numbers. The Government Lottery Office announced the results for the draw dated yesterday, February 1. The winning number for the…
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Explosives found near election unit in Chumphon oil palm plantation
Three grenades and nearly 100 machine gun rounds were discovered just 50 metres from a local election unit in Chumphon province. The incident occurred at 1pm yesterday, February 1, when a worker inadvertently kicked a suspicious bag while working. Police Lieutenant Colonel Apichat Yamee of Pathio District Police Station received a report from Sunthorn Thamniam, the village head of Mueang…
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Thai hostages freed by Hamas set for repatriation from Israel
Foreign Affairs Minister Maris Sangiampongsa arrived in Israel yesterday, February 1, to supervise the anticipated repatriation of five Thai nationals who were recently released after being held hostage by Hamas for 15 months. Maris, along with Chief of Defence Forces General Songwit Noonpakdee, arrived in Tel Aviv yesterday morning local time. They later visited the five Thai nationals at Al-Shamir…
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Civil servant caught filming police officers in Khon Kaen restroom
A civil servant from Udon Thani has been detained for secretly recording two police officers in a restroom in Khon Kaen with plans to share the footage in online groups. Police were alerted to a man exhibiting suspicious behaviour at a petrol station restroom on Mittraphap Road in the Nam Phong district of Khon Kaen yesterday, February 1, as per…
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Thailand’s air quality crisis: 64 provinces hit by severe dust pollution
Unsafe levels of ultrafine dust pollution affected 64 out of 77 provinces in Thailand, as reported by the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) this morning. At 7am, today, February 2,17 provinces were experiencing hazardous red levels of PM2.5 particles. Sing Buri recorded the highest PM2.5 level at 95.5 microgrammes per cubic metre. It was closely followed by Sisaket…
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Thailand sees slight temperature rise with isolated southern storms
The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) forecasted a slight increase in temperatures due to weakening cold air masses, alongside isolated thunderstorms in parts of the south for February 2. The high-pressure system affecting upper Thailand is diminishing, resulting in a 1 to 2 degrees Celsius rise in temperature and morning fog. Northern and northeastern regions remain cool to cold, while…
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Gas explosion in Nonthaburi townhouse leaves 1 injured
A gas explosion occurred in a two-storey townhouse on Tiwanon Road, Pak Kret district, Nonthaburi province, resulting in one injury. Police and forensic officers, along with a rescue foundation, responded to the incident which occurred yesterday, January 31, leaving the house severely damaged. The explosion caused the front windows to shatter and fall to the ground, while side windows were…
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Debt-ridden woman found dead in car in Ayutthaya
A 47 year old woman was found dead in a luxury car parked on a roadside in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, causing distress to her husband and daughter. The woman, who had been missing since she said she was going to the market the previous day, could not be reached despite numerous attempts to contact her. Police Lieutenant Thongchai Kaewjarun…
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Phichit candidate reportedly abducted in Nakhon Sawan
A candidate for the Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO) in Phichit, Witya Mala, along with his wife, was reportedly abducted in Nakhon Sawan just before the election. Witya informed his father via phone that he was being held by an unidentified group, who claimed they would release him the following day. Reports reached journalists yesterday, January 31 at 5.30pm that independent…
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Swiss tourist reunited with lost Samsung mobile in Pattaya
A Swiss tourist in Pattaya, who had misplaced his Samsung S24, has been reunited with his phone thanks to the efforts of a good Samaritan and the Bang Lamung police. On January 29, Police Colonel Navin Sinthurat, Chief of Bang Lamung Police Station, directed his team to return the device after it was handed over by a helpful man named…
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Fire erupts at Ubon Ratchathani petrol station, blaze contained
A fire broke out at a petrol station in Warin Chamrap district, Ubon Ratchathani province yesterday, January 31 at 6.30pm. This incident occurred on the same day that a molotov cocktail attack was launched at Somdet Phra Yuparat Hospital in Det Udom district. The Fire & Rescue Thailand Facebook page shared images of the petrol station engulfed in flames, with…
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Kasikornbank: Verify SIM card name by April 30
Kasikornbank has announced that mobile banking customers need to ensure their registered name matches their mobile SIM card name by April 30. The bank outlined two conditions for this requirement. Customers who have not been contacted need not take any action. Kasikornbank communicated through its Facebook page, KBank Live, regarding a measure to enhance mobile banking security. This initiative requires…
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Bangkok campaign targets rice field burning to combat air pollution
Bangkok’s governor, Chadchart Sittipunt, has announced a campaign to eliminate burning in rice fields to tackle air pollution caused by fine particulate matter (PM2.5). The initiative, launched yesterday in Nong Chok district, aims to address the issue across 80,000 rai of rice paddies and 4,000 farming households in 10 districts, including Nong Chok, Khlong Sam Wa, and Lat Krabang. Over…
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Thaksin Shinawatra allowed to leave Thailand with 5m baht surety
The Criminal Court has granted Thaksin Shinawatra permission to temporarily leave Thailand, requiring a 5 million baht cash surety to ensure his return. The former prime minister received approval yesterday, January 31 to visit Malaysia on Sunday and Monday. Thaksin named himself and Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa as witnesses, supported by documentation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to validate…
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Pattaya tourism surges with Russian and European influx
Pattaya has experienced a notable increase in tourism during the current High Season, with a significant influx of visitors from Russia and Europe, as reported by Thanes Supharahasrangsi, president of the Chon Buri Tourism Association. On January 29, Thanes highlighted that many of these tourists are opting for extended stays in the city, contributing to a vibrant local economy. Thanes…
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Fire devastates home in Phuket, leaves resident in shock
A fire erupted at a two-storey residence in Samkong Park Village, located north of Phuket Town, early yesterday, January 31. The incident left a 53 year old local in shock and resulted in extensive property damage. Phuket City Police received notification of the fire on Pracha Samakkee Road in Ratsada at 12.20am. Firefighters were promptly dispatched and worked for about…
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British dad mysteriously vanishes in Bangkok
A British dad has vanished in Thailand after failing to board his flight home—sparking fears from his distraught family. The 33 year old Brit, James Sangwine, from Epping, Essex, jetted off to Bangkok on January 18 to visit a friend but hasn’t been heard from since he left for a night out on January 20. His partner, 38 year old…
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Cold weather warning in Thailand with frost on mountain tops
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a weather warning for today, February 1, highlighting cold to chilly conditions in the north and northeast, with frost expected on mountain tops. Residents are advised to be cautious of fire hazards due to dry weather, while South Thailand faces monsoon effects with high waves at sea. In the next 24 hours, a…
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