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 How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?
Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....
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Thai-Indian man arrested at border with 15.7 million baht suspicious cash
Police arrested a Thai-Indian man after he entered Thailand from Cambodia with 15.7 million baht in cash, which he claimed to have won from gambling. Officials from the Sa Kaeo Immigration Office stopped the Indian-born Thai man at the Khlong Luek Border Checkpoint in Aranyaprathet district, in the northeastern province of Sa Kaeo, yesterday, February 23. He was wearing a…
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PETA warns tourists to stay away from Thailand’s Moo Deng (video)
Animal rights organisation PETA urged British tourists to stay clear of Thailand media darling Moo Deng and other famous animals in the nation’s zoos. Pygmy hippo Moo Deng, whose name translates to “bouncy pork” in Thai, has sent visitor numbers at Khao Kheow Open Zoo skyrocketing. However, this surge in popularity has prompted concern from animal welfare groups like Born Free…
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Phuket aims for 500 billion baht in tourism revenue this year
Phuket is set to bring in a tourism revenue of 500 billion baht this year, as outlined by the Provincial Governor, Sophon Suwannarat. Last year’s tourism revenue was deemed successful, with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) reporting that over 13.14 million tourists visited, generating at least 497 billion baht. Sophon highlighted this year’s goal of 500 billion baht, noting…
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Thai woman stops British man’s suicide attempt at Bangkok airport
A Thai woman yesterday intervened in a British man’s suicide attempt at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, which ultimately led to a successful rescue. Officers from Suvarnabhumi Airport Police Station reported that the rescue operation began at around 8pm, yesterday, February 23. They were alerted to investigate a foreign man who was sitting on the barrier rail of a bridge…
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A monk, a woman, a cucumber, and a bout of mutual masturbation
The crumbling Buddhist faith of Thailand is under question once more after yet another monk became embroiled in a scandal following a bout of mutual masturbation with a woman in a video call. A temple in Ban Chang district, Rayong has become the talk of the town after a cheeky prank involving a woman using a cucumber to masturbate led…
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Police interrupt group sex of 6 men in Bangkok public park
Police officers last week interrupted a kinky group sex session involving at least six men in a public park in Bangkok’s Bang Khen district. Esor News shared a video and pictures of the group of men fleeing from police officers on Thursday, February 20. The video captured police officers blowing a whistle loudly and chasing the perverted exhibitionists as the men hurriedly…
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Police fish out man’s body found floating in Pattaya Bay
Pattaya City police yesterday reported that the body of a man was found floating in Pattaya Bay. Locals informed Pattaya police about the body spotted in the water near Pratumnak Hill, approximately 300 metres from the coast. The dead man, believed to be between 40 and 50 years old, was discovered face down in the sea. He was wearing black…
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Phuket officials tackle drug issues in Rawai sea gypsy community
Officials from Phuket Mueang District Office are intensifying their efforts to address drug-related concerns within the sea gypsy community in Rawai. The goal is to implement initiatives that will bring about long-term positive effects. Mueang Phuket District Chief Pairoj Srilamul led a community forum at the village on February 20, accompanied by Rawai Deputy Mayor Thiraphong Thaodaeng, government officials, local…
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Concerns rise over illegal rentals by Chinese condo owners
A popular Facebook page has highlighted concerns over Chinese property owners purchasing and illegally renting out condos as daily accommodations, bypassing hotel registration processes. The page reported issues faced by residents in buildings where units are rented out on platforms like Airbnb. Residents have observed a constant influx of foreigners with luggage, likening it to a nearby large hotel. The…
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Motorcycle gang shooting injures three in Phatthalung
Three people sustained injuries in a shooting involving a motorcycle gang in Phatthalung province. The assailant, who had no prior conflict with the group, returned to shoot a 12 year old girl after initially targeting others. At approximately 2.30am yesterday, February 23, Police Captain Wuttichai Saengchatree of Khuan Khanun Police Station was informed of a shooting on the Asian Highway…
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Phuket scam victims rise to 5,500, losses hit 413 million baht
Over 5,500 people in Phuket were victims of scam calls and online fraud last year, with losses escalating to 413 million baht, as confirmed by Police Colonel Kritsada Manawongsakun, Director of the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) Region 5. Pol. Col. Kritsada stated that while the trend has been rising since 2022, there was a significant increase in scam calls…
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Explosions in southern Thailand ahead of Thaksin’s visit
Explosions erupted this morning in Thailand’s southern border provinces of Yala and Narathiwat ahead of the visit by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. In Yala province, a civilian lost his life and seven police officers sustained injuries following a bomb explosion in front of a supermarket in Bannang Sata district yesterday night. The incident occurred on Highway 10, in front…
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Bangkok woman arrested for illegal cannabis sales
Child and Women’s Welfare Division officers yesterday arrested a 32 year old woman for selling cannabis products online for over five years, earning a profit of approximately 1 million baht per month. The arrest took place following a search at her residence in the Khlong Chao Khun Sing subdistrict, Wang Thonglang district, Bangkok, and at her cannabis dispensary, also in…
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Israeli embassy urges tourists to follow new behaviour guidelines
The Israeli Embassy in Thailand has introduced guidelines aimed at promoting a positive image of Israeli nationals in Thailand, following criticisms over perceived disruptive behaviour in Pai district, Mae Hong Son province. On February 21, the embassy posted on its Facebook page a set of behavioural recommendations for Israelis visiting Thailand. This move was in response to concerns from Thai citizens…
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Nine Afghans detained for illegal entry with Thai smugglers
In Songkhla, nine Afghan nationals caught illegally in the country, along with three Thai individuals suspected of smuggling, were detained in two separate incidents yesterday, February 22. Immigration officers, police from Provincial Police Region 9, and Tourist Police intercepted a pickup truck in Hat Yai district, Songkhla, near a garbage dump in tambon Khuan Luang. The vehicle, bearing Narathiwat licence plates,…
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Senators urge justice minister’s removal over election probe
A group of senators is advocating for the dismissal of Justice Minister Police Colonel Tawee Sodsong due to the Department of Special Investigation’s (DSI) plan to examine complaints linked to last year’s Senate election. The DSI is set to convene on Tuesday, February 25, to deliberate on whether to pursue an investigation into vote-fixing allegations. This follows demands from unsuccessful…
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Thai man chases foreigner with knife in Pattaya after fare dispute
In Pattaya, a Thai man was observed pursuing a foreigner with a knife along Jomtien Second Road, allegedly due to a fare dispute. The incident was initially reported on February 21, when a video was posted to a Facebook group. The footage depicted a Thai man, donning a full-face helmet, chasing a foreigner on the street with a knife. The…
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Turkish hitchhiker praises Thai locals for aid on Chiang Mai trip
A Turkish hitchhiker expressed gratitude to Thai locals who assisted him with transportation costs to Chiang Mai after he spent six hours attempting to hitchhike. The man, a YouTuber, is travelling the world to learn about different cultures. The incident gained attention when a photo of the Turkish tourist, who was in Rangsit at the time, was shared online. The…
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Thunderstorms and strong winds across 39 Thai provinces
Thailand’s Meteorological Department (TMD) warned 39 provinces about thunderstorms, strong winds, hail, and potential lightning today, February 23. A new high-pressure system from China has moved into northern Vietnam and is expected to cover northeastern Thailand and the South China Sea, bringing moisture from the South China Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. This will result in unstable weather in…
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Transgender scammer causes distress in Thai massage deception
A 39 year old transgender, identified as Luk, was brought in for questioning by the Bang Yai police in Nonthaburi over allegations of impersonating a Thai massage housekeeper to scam men into paying deposits for services. The incident caused significant distress to the real housekeeper, 53 year old Thanida, who had strangers regularly knocking on her door due to the…
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British man drops cocaine at Phuket Airport and causes a scene
A British man caused a scene at Phuket International Airport on February 18 after allegedly dropping a bag of cocaine while rolling on the floor in a frantic outburst. The suspect, who had arrived from Shanghai on Juneyao Air flight HO 1323, reportedly began shouting and rolling on the ground, drawing the attention of immigration officers. Footage shows him lying…
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Fake doctor arrested at Samut Prakan clinic for illegal practice
A fake doctor was apprehended at a clinic in Phra Samut Chedi while administering injections to a patient. This occurred around 3pm yesterday, February 21. Nuttanaporn Wongboonkeokul, a 32 year old pharmacist and head of the consumer protection and pharmaceutical health group in Samut Prakan province, alongside Police Lieutenant Colonel Prayoon Pattanuli, Deputy Superintendent of Investigation at Phra Samut Chedi…
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Police dismantle illegal Cambodian settlement in Sa Kaeo
Police in Sa Kaeo province dismantled a Cambodian settlement illegally established on Thai soil for over a year, following orders from the regional police chief. Yesterday, February 21, officers discovered the settlement and arrested several illegal immigrants. Under the directive of Police Lieutenant General Yingyot Thepchamnong, the region’s police chief, strict enforcement against illegal immigration was emphasised. This operation aligns…
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Suphan Buri temple abbot arrested for child assault and indecent images
A temple abbot in Suphan Buri has been arrested for sexually assaulting a 13 year old child and capturing indecent images. Police promptly coordinated with the monastic council to defrock the abbot, who now faces legal proceedings. On February 21, a complaint was filed against the abbot of a temple in Dan Chang district, Suphan Buri province, accusing him of…
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Bangkok faces severe air pollution as PM2.5 levels rise
The Pollution Control Department has issued a warning concerning high PM2.5 levels across 32 provinces in Thailand, with Bangkok experiencing the most severe pollution. Predictions indicate that PM2.5 levels in Bangkok and its vicinity are likely to rise in the upcoming week. Yesterday, February 21, the Air Pollution Resolution Communication Centre of the Pollution Control Department released a report on…
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Man arrested for distributing child pornography on social media
Police apprehended a 44 year old man, Pattanakorn (surname withheld), for allegedly distributing child pornography on social media under account X. He is accused of creating and sharing content featuring people in school and various professional uniforms to lure victims into secret groups with a membership fee. The arrest took place at his residence in Mueang district, Nakhon Ratchasima province…
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Freedom Beach reclassified for business and ecotourism operations
Businesses and small vendors have been granted permission to operate on over 41 rai of Freedom Beach, following its reclassification by the Royal Forest Department as Recreational Forest. Deputy Director-General Bannarak Sermthong confirmed that the reclassification was publicly announced on January 31 and took effect upon publication in the Royal Gazette on February 19. Bannarak explained that the new designation…
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Man sets motorcycle on fire near Pattaya station, investigation underway
Witnesses reported an unusual incident near Pattaya Railway Station where a man allegedly set his motorcycle ablaze before walking away. At 8pm on February 20, Bang Lamung Police Station received reports of a motorcycle fire in the vicinity of Pattaya Railway Station. On being informed, police coordinated with Pattaya’s fire department, which dispatched a fire truck to the location. Upon…
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White Lotus season 3 boosts Koh Samui tourism by 88%
The third season of the HBO series The White Lotus has led to an 88% increase in Internet searches for Koh Samui and a 44% rise in hotel bookings on the island, according to tourism executives. The Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) predicts that Koh Samui may not experience a low season this year due to the popularity of the…
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Phuket police arrest 13 Chinese tourists in illegal gambling raid
Phuket Provincial Police arrested 13 Chinese tourists involved in an illegal gambling operation in Phuket Town, supported by locals. The raid, led by Police Colonel Ekkalak Boonsangcharoen, occurred at the Phuket Poker Sports Club in Soi Poonphol at 11pm on February 20. The gambling venue, managed by a Thai national, was secretly catering to Chinese gamblers. During the operation, police…
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