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 police replace fines with flowers for Valentine’s Day
Yesterday, on February 14 at 10.30am, Police Colonel Phattana Ropru, head of Don Hua Lo Police Station, together with traffic police officers, set up a checkpoint on Don Hua Lo–Thong Khung Road in front of the Don Hua Lo Municipality in Mueang district, Chon Buri. The operation was carried out as part of routine efforts to maintain traffic discipline and…
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Pattaya Beach operation targets homeless and beggars
Pattaya City officials carried out an operation along Pattaya Beach yesterday, February 12, to regulate homeless people and others staying overnight in the area, while urging the public to stop giving money to beggars. The operation took place at Pattaya Beach in Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri, led by Deputy Mayor Damrongkiat Pinijkarn with teams from the Department of Social…
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Thai masseuse in Germany sued for providing ‘special service’ without consent
A Thai masseuse in Germany has to pay €1,000 in compensation to a male client after she sexually assaulted him by providing “special services” without consent. The complainant, a 26 year old German software engineer, identified only as Ben, reported the sexual assault to police two days after it occurred at a massage shop on Osloer Straße in Berlin. The…
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Election ballot barcode prompts debate over traceability
Questions have been raised about an election ballot barcode after an Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) official said it is used as a security control measure, while separate comments raised concerns that ballots could be traceable. Yesterday, February 12, at the ECT Office, Acting Sub Lieutenant Phasakorn Siriphokyaporn, deputy secretary-general of the ECT, responded to public grievances about barcodes on…
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Taiwanese man arrested for unlicensed dental clinic in Phuket
Police raided an unlicensed dental clinic in Phuket yesterday, February 12, and arrested a Taiwanese man accused of providing treatment without permission. Wichit Police Station officers, working with the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office, carried out the operation at 6.10pm at Sunrise Smile Dental Clinic, located on the second floor of a building behind a department store in Wichit sub-district, Mueang district,…
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Women accuse undertaker of sexual abuse during cleansing ritual
Two women yesterday, February 12, filed complaints with the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) in Bangkok against a well-known undertaker in Ang Thong, accusing him of sexually abusing them during ritual cleansing ceremonies to remove black magic and misfortune. At 2pm, paranormal investigator Jiraphan “Mor Pla” Phetkhao accompanied the two alleged victims to meet Police Major General Charoonkiat Pankaew, deputy commissioner…
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Songkhla teacher denies mistreating student as motive for fatal shooting
A male teacher denied claims that he mistreated the younger sister of an 18 year old gunman in a fatal shooting at Phatongprathan Kiriwat School in Hat Yai district, Songkhla, on Wednesday, February 11. The teenage suspect, Khemmanan, also known as Khem, entered the school at about 4pm and held students and teachers hostage before opening the fire. The principal,…
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Police seize M16 rifles and grenades in Nakhon Si Thammarat raid
Police in Nakhon Si Thammarat arrested three men and seized military-grade weapons during a raid on a house in Thung Song district yesterday, February 12, as part of a crackdown on online arms trafficking. The announcement was made by Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Police following an operation carried out under national policy directives to suppress crime involving firearms and explosives.…
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Nine foreigners busted in Phuket luxury villa poker raid
Police in Phuket arrested nine foreign nationals at a luxury villa in Rawai on February 11 after uncovering an illegal poker operation promoted through Instagram that required players to pay 20,000 baht per session. Officers had received information that a group of foreigners were advertising poker games via an Instagram account named Poker Level. The promotional messages, written in Russian,…
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ECT rejects Chon Buri vote recount request, cites lack of corruption evidence
The Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) formally rejected a request for a vote recount in Chon Buri’s District 1, stating there was no concrete evidence to support allegations of corruption. On February 9, a group of voters gathered at a badminton court in Chon Buri province, which had been used to store ballots from the District 1 polling station, after…
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Thailand News | Russian man assaults Thai woman in Pattaya, Krabi installs heart-shaped traffic lights for Valentine’s day
In today’s episode we will be talking about a Russian arrested for assault in Pattaya, a stolen pickup tracked by GPS, an illegal doctor exposed, a bizarre fermented-fish protest in Bangkok, Krabi’s Valentine traffic lights, and a US$2.8 billion corporate shake-up in Malaysia. Russian Man Assaults Thai Woman in Pattaya A Russian man has been arrested in Pattaya after assaulting…
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Thai single mother dies after assault by boyfriend in South Korea
A Thai single mother from Chaiyaphum was found dead in Mokpo, South Korea, on February 12 after allegedly being assaulted by her Thai boyfriend. South Korean police have taken the man into custody and are pursuing legal action. The case came to light after the Facebook page ท่านเปา เรื่องนี้ต้องใส่ใจ shared details of the incident. The victim was identified as Sunantha…
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Thailand deploys rainmaking aircraft to tackle PM2.5
Yesterday, February 12, the Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation said it is continuing its operations in Bangkok and surrounding provinces, as well as the North and Northeast, to help disperse PM2.5. Monitoring indicated PM2.5 levels between February 12 and 16 would be moderate to beginning to affect health (yellow to orange). The operations, led by Director-General Rachen Silparaya,…
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Pattaya man stabs British tourist in Pattaya over drug dispute
A Thai man stabbed a British national outside a convenience store in Pattaya earlier today, February 13, claiming the foreigner punched him and broke his tooth after he insisted he was not a drug dealer. Officers from Mueang Pattaya Police Station were alerted to the incident at 1.29am at a convenience store along Jomtien Beach Road. Police arrived at the…
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Overlapping score sheets seen again in Trang vote count footage
A viral video recorded in Kantang district, Trang province, appeared to show two election officials marking tallies behind overlapping score sheets, raising eyebrows regarding the transparency of the process. The footage, shared today, February 12, by the Facebook page “อีซ้อขยี้ข่าว อีซ้อ”, shows a similar setup to a previously circulated clip in which score sheets are placed over one another on a…
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Krabi installs heart-shaped traffic lights for Valentine’s Day
Krabi Municipality installed heart-shaped red traffic lights at major intersections in the city yesterday, February 11, to celebrate Valentine’s Day, later sharing photos on its official Facebook page. The unusual traffic lights, shaped like hearts instead of the standard circular red signal, were posted on the official Krabi Municipality Facebook page and quickly drew attention online. The decorative red signals…
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Man throws fermented fish at Election Commission office in Bangkok
A man wearing exercise clothing and carrying a tennis racket hurled bags filled with fermented fish paste at the wall of the Election Commission office in Bangkok, today, February 12, claiming he was unhappy with the agency’s performance. The incident occurred while most reporters were gathered to cover political activist Sonthiya Sawatdee, who had arrived to submit a petition urging…
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Three Chinese men arrested after illegal border crossing in Sa Kaeo
Thai rangers in Sa Kaeo arrested three Chinese men yesterday evening, February 11, after they were found illegally crossing into Thailand from Cambodia through a natural path in Aranyaprathet district, reportedly intending to seek business opportunities in Bangkok. According to a report from the Burapha Task Force, Aranyaprathet rangers intensified patrols along the Thai-Cambodian border and intercepted the group at…
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Man rams his own stolen pickup to stop thief in Korat
A Nakhon Ratchasima man recovered his stolen pickup truck yesterday, February 11, after locating it several kilometres from his home via GPS and ramming it in an attempt to stop the suspect, though the man managed to escape. The 61 year old man said he woke up at around 5am and noticed that his pickup truck, usually parked in front…
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Thailand News | shooting and hostage situation at Patong Prathan Khiriwat School (Hat Yai), Bangkok offers free Valentine’s Day marriage services
In todays stories I will be talking about a school hostage crisis in Hat Yai, a tourist found injured in Pattaya, major visa changes nationwide, Bangkok’s free Valentine weddings, new sugar rules, monks completing a 3,700-km peace walk, and Thailand’s corruption score falls. Shooting and Hostage Situation at Patong Prathan Khiriwat School (Hat Yai) On 11 February 2026, an 18-year-old…
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School shooting in Songkhla leaves principal dead, students injured
A young gunman stormed into Phatongprathan Kiriwat School in Hat Yai, Songkhla, yesterday afternoon, February 11, after seizing a police rifle, opening fire on staff and students, and taking hostages before eventually surrendering. Police were first alerted to the incident at 2.54pm after receiving reports of a young man armed with a machete in the Thung Lung area. Officers and…
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Bangkok offers free Valentine’s Day marriage services with prizes for couples
Bangkok is set to celebrate Valentine’s Day 2026 with a citywide initiative allowing couples to register their marriages at 10 specially themed venues, including romantic and unique locations across the capital. Narong Ruangsri, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) permanent secretary, announced that couples can register either at district offices or at designated off-site events on February 14. Each location will…
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Thailand to revise visa policies in economy revamp efforts
Thailand’s Cabinet has formally approved a new phase of visa policy changes aimed at attracting more tourists, digital nomads, students, and retirees as part of a broader economic stimulus strategy. Deputy government spokesperson Aiyarin Phanrit confirmed yesterday, February 10, that the Cabinet has endorsed a proposal by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs covering short-, medium-, and long-term visa measures. The…
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Thailand launches taxi QR code system for tracking, safety and complaints
Thailand’s Department of Land Transport (DLT) has introduced a three-colour QR code system in taxis nationwide, allowing passengers to verify drivers, track trips in real time, estimate fares and file urgent complaints. The initiative aims to improve passenger safety and service transparency across the industry. QR code stickers are now being installed on approximately 70,000 metered taxis currently in operation,…
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Thailand News | Thai election talks on hold pending official results, new taxi QR code system rolls out to help riders track and fare estimate
Today we’ll be talking about election coalition talks as well as debates over vote counting transparency, a suspect nabbed with rhino horns at Suvarnabhumi Airport, and a little later QR code systems are rolling out in Thai taxis just in time for the Chinese New Year travel rush. Thai Election Talks on Hold Pending Official Results Acting prime minister Anutin…
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Thailand’s corruption score falls in 2025 index
Thailand’s score in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) slid to 33 out of 100, down from 34 the year before, placing the country 116th out of 182 countries in the global rankings, according to Transparency International’s latest survey released yesterday, February 10. The CPI, published annually by the global anti‑corruption watchdog, ranks nations by perceived levels of public‑sector corruption…
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Thailand redefines ‘normal sweet’ drinks to 50% sugar
Thailand’s Department of Health has officially implemented a new sugar standard effective today, February 11, redefining the “normal sweet” level in beverages as just 50% of the original recipe. The move is part of a nationwide collaboration between the Department of Health and nine major beverage brands, including Café Amazon, Inthanin, All Café, Black Canyon, PunThai and Chao Doi. From…
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Oil spill from sunken cargo ship off Phuket not expected to threaten islands
Authorities say a refined oil spill from a cargo ship that sank near Phuket over the weekend is unlikely to threaten nearby islands or coral reefs, with the slick now drifting out to open waters. The Pollution Control Department (PCD) confirmed yesterday, February 10, that the latest oil spill modelling shows the refined petroleum is moving southwest, away from coastal…
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February 11 weather: Foggy mornings, warmer days, Southern rain
Thailand is waking up to foggy mornings and a slight warm-up today, February 11, as the moderate high-pressure system covering upper Thailand and the South China Sea continues to weaken, according to the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD). While temperatures are on the rise, cool conditions persist in the upper regions. Authorities are urging people to stay healthy amid the fluctuating…
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Man walks into Pattaya police station with drugs, begs to be arrested
A man stunned officers at Bang Lamung Police Station in Chon Buri today, February 10, when he walked in holding methamphetamine and crystal meth, requesting to be arrested because he was unhappy living outside of prison. The incident occurred around midday while investigators were working inside the station. Officers reported that the man calmly approached the inquiry desk, handed over…
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