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 Why retirees in Thailand are choosing long-term health insurance over quick fixes
Retirees in Thailand are increasingly seeing the importance of health insurance in protecting their well-being during retirement. With insurance requirements for retirement visas and rising healthcare costs, many are moving away from short-term plans and choosing long-term coverage. Long-term health...
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Visas in the mist: Thai immigration to probe Israeli influx in Pai
Pai, a once-idyllic northern Thai haven for globetrotters, is now at the centre of a simmering scandal as immigration officials gear up to investigate the visa and work permit statuses of Israeli visitors. Complaints about rule-breaking Israelis have stirred up a tropical storm of controversy, prompting officials to act after locals reportedly said “Pai is no ‘promised land’ for Israeli…
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Thai social security spending sparks outrage over lavish expenses
Spending by the Social Security Office (SSO) has generated significant public outrage for its luxury spending, which includes first-class flights, an 850 million baht web application, and 450 million baht for calendars. The issue emerged when Rukchanok Srinork, a People’s Party Bangkok Member of Parliament (MP) and member of the House committee overseeing budget planning and expenditure, disclosed details of…
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Romance scam goes from hearts to handcuffs as cops nab couple
A romance scam has ended in handcuffs for a Chinese woman and her Thai accomplice, who spun a web of deceit to con romantics out of a staggering 91 million baht. The pair turned a Bang Phli housing estate into the epicentre of their elaborate romance-investment scam, fooling victims with promises as hollow as their fraudulent hearts. Zhou Zhou and…
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Kratom and e-cigarette vendors arrsted after girl’s lung damage
Police arrested two Thai vendors selling e-cigarettes and kratom drinks outside a school in the Isaan province of Buriram after a 12 year old schoolgirl was found to have suffered severe lung damage from nearly two years of vaping and kratom consumption. The school, located in the Satuek district of Buriram, rushed the 12 year old girl to hospital after…
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Thailand braces for severe storms and temperature drop
Unpredictable weather, including thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds, is affecting northern and northeastern Thailand, with hail reported in some areas. The south is experiencing heavy rain and strong winds. Temperature drops are expected as the region faces these weather changes. The Meteorological Department of Thailand’s forecast for today, February 21, predicts that easterly and southeasterly winds will carry moisture from…
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Teenage tearaways turns Pattaya street into war zone
On a night that will be remembered for all the wrong reasons, residents of Pattaya’s Soi Masong-Kai Muay found themselves caught in chaos as teenage tearaways turned their quiet neighbourhood into a scene resembling a war zone. Explosives and brawls turned the tranquil street into a battlefield, forcing frightened families to flee for safety. Local reporters descended on the embattled…
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British woman’s dream Thailand trip turns surgery nightmare
A British woman thought she was embarking on a holiday of a lifetime to mark hers and husband’s golden wedding anniversary. But their romantic escapade to exotic Thailand has spiralled into a medical horror story that’s left the beloved granny fighting for her life! Their sun-soaked plans were ruined when Pamela Gatehouse, from Carshalton, Surrey, fell victim to a terrifying…
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Thai massage shop owner attacked after accusing rival of black magic
Three Thai women attacked a massage shop owner in the central province of Ayutthaya after the victim accused one of them of performing black magic against her. The female massage shop owner travelled from Ayutthaya province to Bangkok to seek justice from the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive, after her case had not progressed for two months since December of the…
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Moroccan man arrested in Turkey for Chiang Mai murder
Interpol arrested a Moroccan national in Turkey for allegedly murdering his Thai LGBTQ lover, a beauty surgeon, in Chiang Mai last December. Bilal Chenfinu fled Thailand immediately after the crime, prompting an international manhunt and extradition proceedings to bring him back to face charges. Mueang Chiang Mai Police Chief Police Colonel Pratchaya Thisala confirmed that 30 year old Chenfinu was…
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Buriram students hospitalised after using kratom water, e-cigarettes
Emergency services in Buriram province transported three students, two from primary school and one from secondary school, to the hospital. They experienced chest tightness, difficulty breathing, and low oxygen levels after using e-cigarettes and consuming kratom water for a year. On February 18, Facebook user Paphawarin Simlakorn from the Don Mon Subdistrict Municipality’s emergency unit shared a post warning parents…
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Thailand’s biometric system overloaded with 50 million records
Thailand’s Immigration Bureau has hit a critical roadblock, with its biometric system reaching its maximum capacity of 50 million records, preventing new foreign arrivals from being automatically recorded. The bureau is now forced to manually document arrivals and rely on an online database for security checks until a new system is developed. Police Colonel Neti Khanboon, commander of the database…
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Man arrested for selling account used in 2.2 million baht scam
The Anti-Human Trafficking Division has apprehended a 28 year old man suspected of being a mule account holder for a scam call centre gang. The suspect, Somprasong, allegedly sold his bank account for 300 baht, which was then used to defraud victims of 2.2 million baht. His criminal history includes charges of drug use, theft, and gambling. Police Major General Songklot…
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Cloud storage exposes 15 year old Thai rapist abusing 6 year old girl
Police in the Isaan province of Surin arrested a 15 year old rapist after videos of him sexually abusing a six year old girl were uploaded to cloud storage. The Thailand Internet Crimes Against Children Unit (TICAC) received a report about the sexual abuse of the six year old Thai girl from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children…
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91 mobile phones seized as 8 Chinese arrested in Thailand
Eight Chinese nationals were arrested in Yasothon province for immigration violations after police found them travelling on a tour bus with 91 mobile phones, sparking suspicions of a scam operation amid a crackdown on illegal businesses in Thailand. The arrests were made early yesterday morning, February 19, when police searched a bus travelling from Bangkok to Khemmarat in Ubon Ratchathani.…
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Chiang Rai man arrested for illegal firearm collection
Police arrested a 44 year old man in the Mueang district, Chiang Rai, after he posted images of illegal firearms on his Facebook account. Upon searching his home, Police discovered a substantial collection of firearms, reportedly purchased from acquaintances. Some weapons were sent by customers for repainting. Yesterday, February 19, Police Lieutenant General Tairong Phiwphan, alongside high-ranking officers, ordered a…
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Blowing smoke: 12 year old girl fights for life after two years vaping
A 12 year old girl in Buriram is fighting for her life after vaping for two years, causing almost 100% damage to her lungs. Her family had no idea about her dangerous habit until they were informed by her school, highlighting the growing crisis of youth vaping in Thailand. The shocking revelation came when teachers at her school in Don…
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Banana drama: Thai woman holds buffalo hostage over plantation feud
A Thai woman held her neighbour’s buffalo hostage to demand compensation after the animal damaged her banana plantation in the Sattahip district of Chon Buri province. However, the neighbour neither paid the compensation nor retrieved his buffalo. The 59 year old woman, Nong, called Sattahip Police Station officers to her home yesterday, February 19, to help resolve the dispute with…
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Child abduction scare in Nakhon Phanom prompts school warnings
A recent incident involving a suspected child abduction gang has caused alarm in Nakhon Phanom province. Three men in a pickup truck allegedly attempted to lure students with sweets, leading to widespread concern among parents and teachers. The local education office issued a warning to schools in the area. A 10 year old student, referred to as Noy, attending Baan…
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Myanmar repatriates Chinese scam workers through Thailand
Myanmar has begun repatriating hundreds of Chinese nationals forced to work in scam centres, with the first group crossing into Thailand today, February 20. This marks the start of a massive operation expected to free thousands from criminal-run compounds in Myanmar over the coming weeks. The first group of 50 Chinese workers was transported to the Thai border town of…
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Jealous ex pulls gun in Pattaya nightclub chaos
A night of fun turned into panic when a jealous ex-boyfriend pulled a gun inside a Pattaya nightclub, mistaking a waiter for his ex-wife’s new lover. The dramatic incident unfolded at a cocktail lounge in LK Metro, sending patrons into chaos and ending with the man’s swift arrest. The incident occurred at 2.06am today, February 20, when Pattaya police received…
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Thailand’s tourist influx generates over 270 billion baht revenue
Thailand has experienced a significant influx of over 5.5 million international tourists between January 1 and February 16, as reported by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports under the leadership of Sorawong Thienthong. This surge in visitors has resulted in the generation of more than 270 billion baht (US$8 billion) in revenue, playing a crucial role in the country’s ongoing…
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Phuket hosts Deep South youth for cultural exchange
Phuket is gearing up to host disadvantaged youth from Thailand’s Deep South as part of the San Jai Thai Su Jai Tai project, an initiative designed to bridge cultural gaps and provide life-changing experiences for young people from conflict-affected regions. Phuket Provincial Chief Administrative Officer, Thiraphong Chuaychu, announced the initiative at a meeting held at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday, February…
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Tragic shooting in Buriram: Wife critical, husband dead
A tragic incident unfolded in Buriram yesterday where a 46 year old street vendor named Somsak allegedly shot his 51 year old wife, Nahathai, a school director, before turning the gun on himself. Nahathai remains in critical condition at Buriram Hospital. The incident took place around 9.30am, yesterday, February 19, in the Mueang district of Buriram province. Nahathai was reportedly…
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US searches for Koh Samui soar after The White Lotus premiere
Thailand is basking in the international spotlight following the season premiere of HBO’s hit series The White Lotus, which showcases the stunning island of Koh Samui as its primary filming location. Since the premiere, Agoda has reported a remarkable 12% surge in accommodation searches for Koh Samui, with interest from the United States skyrocketing by 65% compared to last month’s…
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Louis Vuitton’s chic travel guide gives Bangkok the luxury treatment
Thailand’s cultural capital just got a designer makeover with the launch of an ultra-exclusive travel guide that promises to put Bangkok on the opulent itinerary. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has teamed up with luxury powerhouse Louis Vuitton to unveil the much-anticipated Louis Vuitton City Guide Bangkok 2025. The launch event, held on Tuesday, February 18, at the Maison…
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Speeding motorbike crashes into power pole on Phuket road
A young man was critically injured after losing control of his motorbike and crashing into a power pole on Thepkrasattri Road in Phuket early this morning. The accident occurred near the entrance of Soi Srisoonthorn (Soi RCA) in Village 5, Srisoonthorn, at around 2.40am, today, February 20. Emergency responders from the Kusoldharm Foundation and a medical team from Thalang Hospital…
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Green gone wrong: Police raid illegal cannabis factory in Bangkok
Police raided a cannabis factory in a well-known market in the Don Mueang districk of Bangkok, arresting three foreign nationals overseeing operations. Legal proceedings are underway for the building owner and employer. Yesterday, February 19 at 2pm, Police Colonel Sukrit Mankalasawat from Don Mueang Police Station directed efforts to investigate the site. Armed with a search warrant from the Criminal…
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British and German sex pests snared in Pattaya sting
A German citizen and a British national face ten years in prison after being arrested in Pattaya on suspicion of horrific sexual offences against minors in Thailand. The pair, arrested yesterday, February 19, face four-to-ten years in jail and a fine from 80,000 baht to 200,000 baht for their predatory pedophile behaviour. The first suspect, 68 year old German national…
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Taiwan warns citizens about visiting Thailand over fraud risks
Taiwan issued a stark warning to its citizens, naming Thailand among five Southeast Asian countries considered high-risk destinations due to their association with fraud rings. The advisory also includes Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos. According to a Taiwan News report, the Taiwanese Interior Ministry is taking proactive measures to protect its citizens from falling victim to scam operations. Travellers to…
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Man shot by police after machete attack in Nakhon Si Thammarat
A 57 year old man wielding a machete was fatally shot after attacking police and residents in Nakhon Si Thammarat’s Thung Song district. The incident occurred yesterday, February 19, when police attempted to subdue him following reports of his violent behaviour. At the scene in Mueang Nakhon Si Thammarat, officers discovered the body of the victim, Adisak, with a bullet wound to…
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