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 Do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?
Thailand’s healthcare system is well-regarded across Southeast Asia, with options ranging from public hospitals to world-class private facilities. But when it comes to foreign residents or tourists, healthcare access isn’t as straightforward. So, do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?...
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Phuket lawyer accused of misconduct and affair with client’s girlfriend
A Thai man accused a lawyer in Phuket of letting him down both professionally and personally by failing to represent him properly in the court and having an affair with his girlfriend. The 29 year old man, a resident of the Kathu district in Phuket, shared his story with the media to expose the lawyer‘s alleged misconduct. He claims to have…
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Chon Buri monk caught with drugs after positive urine test
A monk in Chon Buri was defrocked and taken into custody after testing positive for drugs and admitting to using methamphetamine inside his temple accommodation. Today, May 19, officers from Huai Yai Police Station, led by Police Colonel Attapol Itthyophatsakul, along with the station’s investigation team, raided a temple in Khao Mai Kaew subdistrict, Bang Lamung district. The raid followed…
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Thai boy traumatised after being kicked by classmate’s father
A Thai father kicked a six year old boy in the head at a kindergarten in the southern province of Trang on Thursday, May 15, allegedly because the boy had played roughly with his child, which resulted in an injury. A Twitter account by the name of Mr.Hap shared a video of the physical assault on Saturday, May 17, although the…
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Argument turns deadly as nephew stabs uncle in Nakhon Ratchasima
An argument turned fatal in Nakhon Ratchasima this morning, May 19, when a 32 year old man fatally stabbed his uncle during a violent altercation following a heated argument. The incident occurred around 8.15am at a single-storey house in Ban Krabueang Noi, Phimai district. Police from Phimai Police Station responded to the scene after receiving a report from local patrol…
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2 Israeli men and Pattaya transwomen fight over sex service deposit
A group of Thai transwomen and two Israeli men are facing charges following a physical altercation over a deposit for a sex service at Pattaya Beach Road earlier today, May 19. The incident was caught on a viral video shared across Thai social media platforms. One of the foreign men was wearing a black T-shirt and shorts, while the other…
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Thailand and Indonesia shakes hands on continued partnership
Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and President Prabowo Subianto of Indonesia signed a memorandum of understanding, aiming to deepen cooperation between the two nations’ health ministries. The agreement, signed in Bangkok today, May 19, covers public health initiatives such as strengthening primary healthcare systems, communicable disease prevention and control, pharmaceutical and medical equipment security, healthcare financing, and medical tourism. In…
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Phuket set to host City Pride 2025 parade in June
Phuket City Municipality is set to host Phuket City Pride 2025 on June 28, featuring a pride parade and a day of celebrations. The event aims to highlight diversity, advocate for equal rights, and support both tourism and the local economy. The municipality is collaborating with government agencies, private enterprises, and community groups to organise the event. Chalermporn Piyanarongroj, Chief…
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Landslide at Bangkok MRT construction site leaves 1 worker missing
A worker went missing in a landslide at a construction site for the MRT Orange Line on Lan Luang Road in Bangkok today, May 19. Renowned Thai journalist Anuwat Fuangthongdang reported the accident on his official Facebook page this afternoon. “Breaking news on May 19, at noon: a construction worker at the MRT station fell into a 19-metre-deep hole and was buried by…
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South Korean man cut on face by steel plate on Pattaya footpath
A South Korean man sustained a serious facial injury yesterday, May 18, in Pattaya, after he accidentally walked into a protruding piece of a galvanised steel plate on a footpath, illegally placed by a nearby construction site. Rescuers from the Sawang Borriboon Thammasathan Foundation responded to the incident on a footpath along Pattaya Sai Sam Road at around 10.30pm. The…
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Thai Finance Ministry to ease debt relief criteria
The Thai Finance Ministry is considering easing debt relief criteria under the You Fight, We Help programme, allowing those with a single day of default to participate. Deputy Finance Minister Paophum Rojanasakul announced that discussions with the Bank of Thailand are ongoing to broaden the eligibility criteria. The proposed changes aim to expand the Pay On Time, Keep Asset measure,…
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Suspects surrender over Thai office building collapse, claim limited role
The two remaining suspects from Company V. and Associates surrendered to police due to the collapse of the new office building of the State Audit Office of Thailand. They presented evidence claiming their involvement was limited to electrical and plumbing systems, not structural work. Their lawyer prepared bail of over 1 million baht (US$30,165). Today, May 19, at Bang Sue…
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Naked Russian man escapes hospital, causes chaos in Pattaya
A naked Russian man escaped from a hospital in Pattaya and caused chaos near Naklua Market just as the clocks struck midnight yesterday, May 18. Officers from Bang Lamung Police Station were called at 12.08am to apprehend the naked man, later identified as a Russian national aged between 30 and 40. He reportedly fled from a hospital near Naklua Market…
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Claw machine crackdown in Thailand targets student routes
Police in Nakhon Si Thammarat seized dozens of claw machines placed near schools and tutoring centres this past Saturday, May 17, raising growing concern over the devices’ impact on children and their classification as gambling equipment under Thai law. The operation was led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Narakorn Ladchuay, acting Deputy Superintendent of Nakhon Si Thammarat City Police Station, in…
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Man arrested after decade on the run for machete attack
Police have apprehended a 69 year old man, Patipol, for allegedly attacking his sister with a machete in a severe inheritance dispute. The incident occurred nearly a decade ago in Chumphon province, and Patipol had since evaded capture by working as a fisherman in the sea near Chon Buri. The arrest was carried out on May 19 following the orders…
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Thailand video news | Missing British Teen found smuggling, DJ found murdered, Naked farang escapes hospital
In today’s video, we talk about a naked foreigner causing chaos in Pattaya after escaping from a hospital, the suspicious death of an Indian tourist on Koh Samet, and a missing British teen who turned up arrested in Georgia for drug smuggling. We also cover the tragic discovery of DJ Tete’s body in Kanchanaburi, a deadly wild elephant attack in…
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Thailand launches first leopard shark rewilding project in Phuket
Thailand has launched its first endangered shark rewilding initiative in Phuket, targeting the restoration of the Indo-Pacific leopard shark’s population. This effort is a collaborative venture involving government bodies, conservation groups, and international partners, marking a significant milestone in the country’s marine conservation efforts. The StAR Project Thailand (Stegostoma tigrinum Augmentation and Recovery), introduced on May 16, is spearheaded by…
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Pattaya app-based taxi rider punches Indian man for groping him
A male app-based motorcycle taxi rider repeatedly punched an Indian man outside a hotel in Pattaya last night, May 18, allegedly after the passenger had groped him during the ride. A security guard at a hotel on Soi Thep Prasit 17, in Bang Lamung district of Pattaya, called rescuers from the Sawang Borriboon Thammasathan Foundation to assist the injured Indian man,…
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Petition planned to halt Senate’s appointment powers amid election probe
A Thai Senator plans to petition the Constitutional Court for a temporary suspension of the Senate’s authority to approve appointments to independent state agencies. Finalisation of the petition is expected by today, May 19, amid ongoing investigations into the legitimacy of senatorial elections. The petition, once complete, will be presented to Senate Speaker Mongkol Surasajja for submission to the Constitutional…
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Family dispute turns violent as monk accused of assault
A family dispute escalated into violence when a woman was assaulted by a monk and his associates at her home on May 17. The incident, shared on the Facebook page “อยากดังเดี๋ยวจัดให้ รีเทริน์ part 6,” has raised questions about the monk’s involvement in the domestic conflict. According to the account, the woman’s mother had been staying at a monastic centre in…
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Woman reclaims missing car after spotting it on road (video)
A woman unexpectedly encountered her missing car being driven on the road, prompting her to leap off a motorbike taxi and reclaim it. The incident, which occurred on May 17 in Huai Khwang, gained significant attention on social media. Yesterday, May 18, 30 year old Namfon, the car owner, revealed that the situation stemmed from a year-long ordeal involving a…
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Elderly woman fatally hit by car while crossing road in Samut Songkhram
This morning, May 19, an elderly woman was fatally hit by a car while crossing the road to buy groceries in Samut Songkhram province. The woman previously received warnings from family members, who urged her to rely on them instead of purchasing groceries by herself. Today, Police Lieutenant Chanathip Ongkluab, deputy inspector at Mueang Samut Songkhram Police Station, responded to…
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Body found in barrel at reservoir near three Thai provinces
A man’s body was discovered concealed in a barrel and dumped in a reservoir bordering three provinces. The 50 year old unidentified man was found with a gunshot wound to the left chest and skull injuries by a local fisherman yesterday, May 18, at 4pm. Police from Takhro Police Station, Nakhon Sawan province, were informed by a local that a…
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Three dead in Nakhon Si Thammarat shooting tragedy
Three people lost their lives in a tragic shooting incident in Nakhon Si Thammarat province. The incident occurred yesterday, May 18, at 2pm, when a man shot two others before fleeing into nearby woods, where he ended his life. The investigation, led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Sudsakorn Samosorn, along with forensic officers and hospital staff, took place near a resort…
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Thailand plans e-commerce laws to curb foreign dominance
A Senate committee is set to propose guidelines in the draft of the Platform Economy Act to tackle the dominance of foreign companies in Thailand’s e-commerce sector. Eakchai Ruangrat, the first Vice-Chairman of the Senate committee on commerce and industry, stated that this initiative aims to restore the country’s digital sovereignty. He made these comments during a recent e-commerce seminar.…
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Nonthaburi canal walkway subsidence raises safety concerns
Residents have raised concerns over a dangerously tilted walkway near a canal in Nonthaburi province, which had worsened since the March 28 earthquake. The path’s condition is particularly problematic for students, the elderly, and bedbound individuals, prompting local authorities to discuss solutions with contractors. Locals reported significant subsidence of the canal-side walkway, causing the utility poles to tilt. The area…
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Indian man found dead after going missing from Koh Samet resort
Local fishermen discovered the body of an Indian man in the sea off the eastern province of Rayong on Saturday, May 17, three days after he had disappeared from a resort on Koh Samet. Officers from Phe Police Station had earlier received a report of a missing Indian national, 49 year old Kakumanu, from a resort on Koh Samet. Resort…
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Mysterious blaze engulfs BMW X3 in Chon Buri home
At 7.30pm yesterday, May 18, police from Mueang Chon Buri Police Station responded to a report of a mysterious fire engulfing a luxury car within a residence in village 1, Nong Mai Daeng subdistrict, Mueang district, Chon Buri province. Firefighters, along with two fire engines and the Trai Khunatham rescue team, were dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, a BMW…
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Lightning strike in Udon Thani claims two lives
A lightning strike in Baan Chaelae, Kumpawapi district, Udon Thani province, has resulted in the deaths of two men. The incident occurred as they were constructing a fish-trapping raft. Emergency services faced challenging conditions to retrieve the bodies amidst severe rainstorms. On May 17, heavy rain and lightning hit the region, leading to the deaths of 68 year old Wirun…
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Bangkok taxi driver arrested for indecent act on teen
A 62 year old taxi driver was arrested for allegedly committing an indecent act on a 15 year old girl in Bangkok. He claimed his age made him uninterested in romantic pursuits and insisted his actions were paternal. Yesterday, May 18, Police Major General Witthaya Sriprasertphap directed the arrest operation, with Police Colonel Manoon Kaewkam and Police Lieutenant Colonel Rueangwit Duangjinda…
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Urgent call for help to remove massive net from coral reef
A post was recently shared online by a Facebook user, Rainan Denben, this past weekend on May 17, seeking assistance in removing fishing nets entangled in coral reefs at a national park in Koh Bulon Le in Satun province. The use of nets in fishing is regulated by laws to prevent ecological imbalance, however, some netting methods still adversely affect…
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