News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. The Thaiger delivers the latest national news that matters.
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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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Thailand tightens exhaust checks to combat PM2.5 pollution
The Department of Land Transport (DLT) has intensified its efforts to inspect exhaust emissions from trucks and buses across Thailand to tackle the PM2.5 air pollution issue. Nearly 1,000 vehicles were banned yesterday, February 24. Jirut Wisalchit, DLT Director General, reported on the progress of the vehicle inspections, which align with the Ministry of Transport’s policy to address and prevent…
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Golden crab in Phayao sparks lottery frenzy with lucky numbers
As the lottery draw approaches, a bizarre discovery in Phayao province has locals buzzing with excitement and hope for good fortune. A golden crab, caught by a local fisherman, is believed to be a sign of luck, with mysterious numbers appearing on its belly. Thet Wongseekaew, a resident of Ban Tam subdistrict, Mueang district, stumbled upon the rare golden crab…
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3 Thais, 1 foreigner arrested for kidnapping 2 Vietnamese men
Police arrested three Thai men and one foreigner after the gang attempted to kidnap two Vietnamese men for ransom on Kho Simbi Road in Phuket at the weekend. Officers from Mueang Phuket Police Station were alerted to the kidnapping at 11.46pm on Saturday, February 22, by a friend of the Vietnamese victims. The two Vietnamese nationals, 40 year old Van…
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Thai police crack down on illegal e-cigarettes near schools
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) Commissioner ordered a strict crackdown on illegal e-cigarettes, particularly around schools and educational institutions, to protect children and youths. Yesterday, February 24, Police Lieutenant General Achayon Kraithong, spokesperson for the RTP, stated that the directive follows the government’s policy to curb illegal e-cigarette sales. Police General Kittirat Phanphet, Police Commissioner, responded promptly to the directive…
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Iranian man arrested at Bangkok airport over indecent act charges
Thai police apprehended a 31 year old Iranian man at Suvarnabhumi International Airport as he attempted to flee the country. He is accused of committing an indecent act against a female rider on Sunday, February 23. The incident occurred while she was driving a passenger, prompting her to seek help at a police post. The case progressed when, at 1.47am…
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CCTV captures shocking transgender brawl in Pattaya
Tourists were left stunned as a brutal brawl between two transgender women erupted at a beer bar on Pattaya Central Road Sai 2, shattering the city’s reputation as a world-class family-friendly resort. Caught on CCTV and now viral on Thai social media, the violent altercation unfolded on February 15 at 10.30pm, right in front of passing tourists. The shocking footage…
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Thai car market hits speed bump, FTI urges govt to drive recovery
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) is urging a turbocharged response from the government to rev up the nation’s sputtering car market. Demand for motors has hit a roadblock, with a particular skid in pickup truck sales. According to January’s numbers, it’s been a bumpy ride, causing manufacturers to slam the brakes on production by more than 200,000 units over…
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Foreign man walks naked in Phuket, ignoring bystanders’ shock
A foreign man was seen walking naked outside a convenience store in Phuket last night shocking bystanders and drawing hilarious comments from Thai netizens. The Phuket Times shared pictures of the naked foreigner yesterday, February 24, with a caption that read, “This foreign man walked naked in Soi Ta-iad, Phuket. He does not care about anyone and does not feel embarrassed.”…
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Thaksin skips rumoured meeting with Newin amid political tensions
Political drama unfolded at the Pullman King Power Hotel on Rangnam Road as former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra failed to appear for a highly anticipated meeting with Newin Chidchob, the influential figure of the Bhumjaithai Party yesterday, February 24. Despite rumours of a secret dinner to resolve political rifts between Pheu Thai and Bhumjaithai, Thaksin was a no-show, leaving reporters…
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Dialling disaster: Thailand scammed-stiff by high-tech hustlers
A new report stated that Thailand is under siege from a tsunami of scam calls and dodgy SMS messages, with a jaw-dropping 168 million reported in 2024. That’s according to the latest annual report by Gogolook Thailand, the trust-tech titan behind the Whoscall anti-scam app. And it’s a record-breaker, marking the highest in five years! The report reveals crafty con…
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Fraud and gossip blamed for fatal stabbing in Bangkok mall
A Thai man who stabbed his manager to death at a shopping mall in Bangkok on Sunday, February 23, claimed that the victim committed commission fraud and gossiped about him with other colleagues. The fatal stabbing took place in an electronics store on the fifth floor of the shopping mall at closing time, around 10pm. The store manager, 40 year…
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Who qualifies for 2025 Thailand welfare cards?
Thailand will open registration for a new round of state welfare cards next month, aimed at supporting low-income people and vulnerable groups. It has been two years since the last registration round, from September 5 to October 31, 2022. This time, the government is gearing up to help even more people in need, with a financial aid package of 1,545…
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Thailand men’s national ice hockey team: Rising in the world of ice hockey
Ice hockey may not be the first sport that comes to mind when thinking about Thailand, a country known for its tropical climate and love for football and Muay Thai. However, the Thailand men’s national ice hockey team has been making strides in international competitions, proving that the sport has a growing presence in Southeast Asia. 1xBet is a great…
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Hiss-terical escape: King cobra slithers into chaos during Kamala transfer
An encounter with a king cobra swiftly spiralled into chaos when the slithery reptile made a daring escape during its transfer to a new container in Kamala. The incident triggered an urgent and tense effort to recapture the elusive serpent on Saturday, February 22. The king cobra had been captured earlier that day at a hotel in Kamala by Kusoldharm…
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Retired Thai teacher kills 2 in drink driving incident in Chiyaphum
A retired Thai teacher denied being intoxicated after causing a drink driving incident that killed two people on Bamnet-Jaturat Road in Bamnet Narong district, in the Isaan province of Chaiyaphum, yesterday, February 23. Officers from Bamnet Narong Police Station rushed to intervene as a group of the victims’ relatives attempted to lynch the 67 year old suspect, Prapaisri Kaewkul. ThaiRath…
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Concerns rise over vapes with sedative drugs sold to Thai teenagers
The Thai government has issued a warning to teenagers about the growing trend of zombie cigarettes, which contain sedative drugs and have been found circulating in the Thonglor entertainment area. According to Anukul Prueksanusak, the Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister’s Office, these synthetic drugs are part of a new wave of homemade narcotics. Despite ongoing government efforts to combat…
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Foreign couple urged to use hotel for sex instead of Pattaya Beach
A Thai man urged foreigners to return to their hotel for sex rather than engage in public indecency after he and four friends caught a foreign couple having sex on Krating Lai Beach in Pattaya. Witnesses shared a video of the explicit act with Thai news agencies on February 22 where it quickly went viral on Thai social media. The…
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Over 1,600 foreigners detained in Pai for traffic, immigration offences
In Pai district, Mae Hong Son, over 1,600 foreigners were apprehended last year, primarily for traffic and immigration offences, with Israeli visitors comprising 13 of the latter group, as reported by the police. Police Major General Songkrit Ontakrai, the Mae Hong Son police commander, addressed recent social media rumours suggesting that locals faced numerous issues with allegedly unruly Israeli visitors.…
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Thai father commits suicide to avoid penalty for daughter’s sexual abuse
A Thai father committed suicide in a durian plantation in the southern province of Chum Phon today, February 24, to escape a legal punishment after his 15 year old daughter came forward to seek justice after years of sexual abuse. The community leader in the Phato district of Chum Phon revealed to MGR Online that the teenage victim’s 15 year…
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Thai police seize 400,000 meth pills, capture Laotian suspect
Police from Chanuman Police Station pursued a drug trafficking gang smuggling methamphetamine into Thailand, successfully arresting one Laotian suspect and seizing 400,000 pills. Two other suspects escaped by boat on February 23. Police Lieutenant Komsan Kamwan reported the arrest following a tip-off about drug smuggling at Ban Si Sombun, Chanuman district, Amnat Charoen province. The operation took place in the…
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New coronavirus HKU5-CoV-2 identified, no human infections reported
The Ministry of Public Health has verified the identification of a new coronavirus, HKU5-CoV-2, by a laboratory in China, stating that no human infections have been reported to date. Doctor Opas Karnkawinpong, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, indicated that the virus, discovered by Chinese researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, belongs to the Merbecovirus subgenus.…
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British woman seeks Thai netizens’ opinions over Buddha tattoo
A British woman reached out to netizens in Thailand after facing a legal threat from some Thai nationals due to a tattoo of a Buddha image on her arm. British social media influencer Emily Srichala shared a video on Facebook and TikTok on February 23, seeking opinions from Thai people after receiving a message from Thai nationals regarding the tattoo…
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Bangkok revamps Klong Toey Market walkway for pedestrian safety
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is undertaking renovations of the walkway at Klong Toey Market on Rama IV Road following the removal of an extension market that had occupied the footpath for nearly 20 years. Known as Rim Khlong Hua Lamphong Market or Talat Lao, this street-side market has been a longstanding fixture in the area. The BMA aims to…
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Thai transwoman sexually assaults and blackmails 13 year old boy
A Thai transwoman in the Lat Krabang district of Bangkok allegedly sexually assaulted a 13 year old boy and blackmailed the victim with explicit pictures and videos. The teenage victim and his parents reported the sexual assault to the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive. The boy revealed that the incident took place at the suspect’s accommodation in the Lat Krabang area…
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Truck accident claims life of young driver in Samut Prakan
A tragic accident occurred today involving a six-wheel truck that collided with a parking post in Bang Pu Mai, Mueang district, Samut Prakan province. The 26 year old driver, Kwanchai, who had been employed for less than a month, was found dead at the scene, pinned between the door and the truck. Police from Bang Pu station, along with officers…
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Former Thai PM Thanin Kraivichien passes away at 97
Thanin Kraivichien, the 14th Prime Minister of Thailand and former President of the Privy Council during the reign of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great, passed away yesterday, February 23, at the age of 97. His family has announced that the schedule for his royal cremation and religious ceremonies will be shared in due course. Born in Bangkok on April…
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Phuket taxi driver threatened, suspects identified by police
Cherng Talay police officers identified two men accused of threatening a metered taxi driver after he picked up two foreign passengers at Boat Avenue, Phuket, earlier this month. The legal status of the aggressors remains undetermined. Phudit Sa-atphan, a legally registered metered taxi driver, publicly urged the police to intensify their efforts following his formal complaint on February 8. The incident…
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Thaksin apologises for 2004 Tak Bai massacre amid bombings
Thaksin Shinawatra has issued an apology regarding the tragic events of the Tak Bai massacre in Narathiwat province, which took place in 2004 under his leadership. The former Thailand PM acknowledged procedural errors during his tenure and expressed remorse to the Muslim community. Thaksin stated his deep concern for the citizens during his time as PM, admitting that mistakes were…
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Progressive Party MP faces rape charges, awaits court’s decision
The Thai Progressive Party has not yet expelled Bangkok MP Chaiyamparwaan Manpianjit, who faces charges for allegedly raping a Taiwanese tourist in Chiang Mai. The party awaits the prosecutors’ decision on whether the case will proceed to court. Yesterday, February 23, the party released a statement expressing serious concern over the allegations involving Chaiyamparwaan. “We are well aware that this…
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Chinese-Thai duo arrested for 30 million baht crypto scam
A Chinese man and a Thai woman have been apprehended in connection with a money laundering operation linked to a cryptocurrency investment scam. This fraudulent scheme is believed to have caused damages exceeding 30 million baht (US$897,640), with an estimated annual transaction volume of over 10 billion baht (US$299,213). Assets worth 20 million baht (US$598,372) have been seized. Yesterday, February…
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