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 Is private health insurance in Thailand worth it? Real costs vs risks explained
Thailand has a strong healthcare system with both public and private options. Public hospitals offer affordable care, but many people, including expats, choose private health insurance for faster service, modern facilities, and more treatment choices. To decide if private health...
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Sex, lies and seaside sweeps: Pattaya cops accused of cover up
Pattaya cops are under fire after a recent crackdown on foreign sex workers along Pattaya Beach was branded a “PR stunt” by furious locals and expats, who say Thai officials are ignoring the city’s deeper problems while putting on a show for the cameras. On December 26, a joint operation between Pattaya Tourist Police, Chon Buri Immigration, and the Social…
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Drunk taxi driver tees off in Phuket road rage meltdown
A booze-fuelled drunk taxi driver sparked chaos on a busy Phuket road after allegedly smashing into a parked car, then battering the other driver with a golf club in a shocking midday meltdown. The unhinged attack, caught on video and now circulating widely online, took place around 12.19pm, yesterday, May 12, outside a 7-Eleven in the Baan Lipon area of…
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Thailand Covid-19 cases rise, six fatalities reported in a week
Thailand is experiencing a rise in Covid-19 infections, with six deaths reported last week, prompting warnings from health professionals. Doctor Thira Woratanarat from Chulalongkorn University highlighted the concerning trend based on the Department of Disease Control‘s (DDC) data. Dr Thira noted that 16,607 infections were recorded between May 4 and May 10, an increase from the 14,680 reported the previous…
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BMW crash scandal fails to put brakes on election victory
Despite a lingering BMW crash scandal and outstanding compensation to victims, a politician and his mother clinched victory in the Thanya Buri Municipal Mayor and Council Members election yesterday. Kritsada Leenawarat, the former Thanya Buri Municipality, stepped aside this year, endorsing his wife, Yupayao Leenawarat, as the mayoral candidate for the Thanya Kaona Party. Their son, Smiththipat “Peach” Leenawarat, also…
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Man arrested in Bangkok for exploiting youths in trafficking scam
Police apprehended a 20 year old man in Din Daeng, Bangkok, linked to a human trafficking operation exploiting youths via Facebook. Police revealed that the suspect, along with four accomplices, falsely promised lucrative overseas jobs, leading to the victims being recruited by a call centre gang. Abdul Waris, yesterday, May 12, was arrested under a warrant from Phitsanulok provincial court dated…
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Shocking end: Two killed by live wire in Hua Hin flood horror
A Saturday night storm turned deadly in Hua Hin when two people were electrocuted after their motorbike struck a sagging power cable during flash floods, leaving locals reeling and officials scrambling to inspect the town’s tangled wiring. Tragedy struck on Soi 94 in Hua Hin on Saturday, May 10, when two people lost their lives after being electrocuted amid torrential…
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Woman found dead in Udon Thani pond after family dispute
A 54 year old woman was found dead in a pond in Udon Thani after reportedly expressing distress over her children not allowing her to work. The incident was discovered at 7.30pm on May 12 when Police Lieutenant Songphop Kamjai, Deputy Inspector at Mueang Udon Thani Police Station, received a report of a drowning. Rescue teams were called to search…
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Laotian woman dies in Bangkok house fire, 4 others escape safely
A Laotian woman lost her life after a fire broke out at her family home in the Bang Khun Thian district of Bangkok in the early hours of this morning. Four other family members sustained injuries in the fire today, May 13. Tha Kham Police Station and the Bang Khun Thian district firefighter team were alerted to the blaze at…
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Mud, sweat and tiers: Probe into fatal Phuket landslide stuck in dirt
A deadly landslide that claimed 13 lives in Phuket last August remains mired in red tape, as police refuse to move forward without expert proof that dodgy construction played a part in the tragedy. Nearly a year after killer landslides tore through forest land in Kata, Karon police say their investigation is still on hold, with no charges laid and…
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Israeli man arrested for illegal motorcycle rentals on Koh Pha Ngan
Another Israeli brought shame on himself after being arrested for allegedly operating an illegal motorcycle rental business on Koh Pha Ngan, generating millions of baht annually with nearly 100 vehicles. Thai police discovered the man, Pavel Fadeev, used a Thai woman’s account for transactions. The arrest comes only days after a shameless Israeli woman refused a polite request to remove her…
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Foreign tourists try to steal from tip box in Koh Phi Phi bar
A Thai bar owner on Koh Phi Phi, an island in the southern province of Krabi, exposed four foreign tourists who attempted to steal money from a tip box by sharing CCTV footage of the incident online. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Thaiger (@thethaigerofficial) The bar owner, Thanee Suksrimuang, posted the video on…
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Hanging by a thread: Phuket rocked by third tragic suicide in a week
Phuket has been plunged into fresh heartbreak after a woman was found dead in her home, the third suspected suicide on the island in just seven days. A 42 year old woman was discovered hanged inside her house in Kathu, Phuket, in what police believe to be a suicide, marking the latest in a string of grim discoveries to shake…
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Baht to the future: 20 baht Bangkok train fare plan on fast track
Bangkok commuters could soon be zipping across the city’s electric rail network for just 20 baht a ride, no matter how far they go, as the government pushes ahead with its wallet-friendly fare cap. The Department of Rail Transport (DRT) officially proposed a flat-rate fare ceiling of 20 baht for all electric train services, with Cabinet approval expected later this…
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Myanmar man arrested for murder of Bangkok gym owner
A 23 year old Myanmar national has been apprehended for the alleged murder of a fitness centre owner in Bangkok. The incident occurred after the suspect, Saihan, reportedly threatened his pregnant wife, leading to a deadly confrontation when he attempted to enter her employer’s home. Police Colonel Thitipong Siya, along with Police Colonel Pramote Chanbungkaew, led the investigation team from…
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Thai taxi driver wanted for murder and robbery of old woman
Police are searching for a Thai motorcycle taxi rider who allegedly murdered an 89 year old woman in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat and stole her valuables worth approximately 260,000 baht. Officers from Mueang Nakhon Si Thammarat Police Station discovered the body of the woman, Nin, in a grassland along Terd Phrakiat Road at around 1.30pm yesterday, May…
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Fire at Bangkok factory causes toxic air pollution and evacuation
A fire broke out at a factory in the capital containing 300 tonnes of plastic pellets, resulting in air pollution and chemical emissions. Residents within a 300-metre radius were evacuated, with recommendations to avoid using air conditioning and instead use fans for ventilation. At 1.30pm yesterday, May 12, at the incident command centre located at Lam Pa Ong School, Doctor…
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Heavy rain warning across 46 Thai provinces, including Bangkok
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) today sounded the alarm with a dire weather warning. An impending deluge is set to drench 46 provinces, including Bangkok – with a staggering 70% of the area bracing for a serious soaking. Residents are urged to batten down the hatches and prepare for potential havoc, including dangerous flash floods. Stay safe and keep your…
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Phuket seas claims the life of another Aussie tourist
Phuket police issued a warning to swimmers following a second Aussie tourist death inside a week off a popular holiday resort beach. An Australian father-of-two washed ashore at the weekend two weeks into a dream holiday with his wife. Anthony John Heathcote was reported missing last Wednesday. His body was eventually found on Saturday, May 10, in waters about 20…
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Thai businesses urged to boost online religious donation offerings
The Thai Ministry of Commerce is encouraging businesses selling religious offerings to embrace online donation platforms and collaborate with spiritual tourism companies to create pilgrimage packages. This initiative aims to distribute income to local communities, especially during religious holidays like Visakha Bucha Day, when Buddhists engage in rituals such as almsgiving and online donations. Thailand, a predominantly Buddhist nation, celebrates…
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Bang Khen police tracks down two wheeled parcel thief
Earlier today, May 12, police in Bang Khen apprehended a suspect for allegedly stealing parcels from houses and dormitories while around on his pushbike, before opening them for personal use. Police Colonel Anant Warasat, the superintendent of Bang Khen Police Station, instructed an investigative team to facilitate the arrest of the theft suspect, 40 year old Suchat. The arrest took…
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Man arrested after knife attack on wife over infidelity claims
Early this morning, May 12, a domestic dispute in Sing Buri province turned violent as a man attacked his partner, citing infidelity. He was detained by an onlooker after the knife attack, with police arriving at the scene moments later. At 6am this today, Police Lieutenant Sthaporn Buttaka of Mueang Sing Buri Police Station, Sing Buri province, was alerted to…
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Thailand Post ends talks with Chinese firm over joint venture
Thailand Post, a state-run logistics enterprise, has terminated year-long negotiations with a Chinese logistics firm over a joint venture that failed to deliver anticipated benefits. The discussions aimed to boost Thailand Post’s logistics volume between the two markets, influenced by the prevalence of Chinese products in the local e-commerce sector. Thailand Post President Dhanant Subhadrabandhu stated that the joint venture…
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Corrections Department denies plan to challenge Thai doctors’ disciplinary action
The Department of Corrections refuted claims yesterday, May 11, that it intended to seek a court order to overturn a decision by the Medical Council of Thailand (MCT) regarding disciplinary action against three doctors linked to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s contentious hospitalisation. The department clarified that it had only become aware of the MCT’s decision through media outlets and…
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Tragic head-on collision in Uthai Thani claims one life
At 4am today, May 12, Police Lieutenant Colonel Suriyan Sutthinithikornkul of Huai Khot Police Station in Uthai Thani province was notified about a head-on collision on the Ban Thung Sali–Ban Chum Thahan road in Moo 7, Suk Thueai subdistrict, Huai Khot district, Uthai Thani province. The accident resulted in one fatality and another person trapped inside a vehicle. The police…
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Arrest warrant issued for Sia Golf in Songkhla officer attack
An arrest warrant has been issued for Sia Golf, a 28 year old man involved in an incident where a group attacked a police officer at a polling station in Songkhla province. The attack on Police Lance Corporal Nisathit Khongthep, from the 43rd Border Patrol Police Company, occurred while he was on duty maintaining order during local elections at polling…
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Pattaya targets illegal tour guides in tourism crackdown
Officials are cracking down on illegal tour operators and nominee-run tourism businesses in Pattaya and across the country, aiming to clean up the sector ahead of the “Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism and Sports Year 2025” campaign. Between October 2024 and March 2025, officials inspected 940 tour operators and 338 guides nationwide, uncovering widespread violations. Many operators were found working without…
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Police pursue leads in Trang oil palm plantation triple murder
Police have uncovered a significant lead in the case of four people found murdered and burnt in an oil palm plantation in Si Kao district, Trang province. Initial investigations suggest the crime, believed to be committed by a group of four to five people familiar with the victims, stems from a conflict over oil palm collection. The victims, 69 year…
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Thailand and Bangladesh to advance free trade agreement talks
Previously, on May 8, Thai Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan met Bangladeshi Ambassador Fayaz Murshid Kazi to discuss advancing free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations between the two nations. Following a joint declaration of intent, senior officials will engage in online discussions to outline expectations and scope, aiming to formally initiate negotiations this year. Thailand has expressed its support for Bangladesh, the…
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Bhumjaithai Party backs 2026 budget amid coalition tensions
Members of the Bhumjaithai Party have affirmed they will support the upcoming 2026 fiscal year budget bill, expected to be presented to the Cabinet and the House of Representatives later this month. Bhumjaithai, a government coalition member with significant ministry positions in the budget drafting process, sees no reason for its MPs to oppose the bill, according to party spokesperson…
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No new anthrax cases in Mukdahan, public urged to stay alert
Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin has confirmed that no additional cases of anthrax have been detected, although he has urged those living in high-risk regions to stay alert. He cautioned against handling, slaughtering, or moving animal carcasses and advised against consuming raw meat. Somsak noted on April 2 that the total number of anthrax cases in Mukdahan province remains at…
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