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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Thinking of retiring in Thailand long-term? Thailand is a popular choice for retirees because of its beautiful landscapes, warm climate, and affordable living. Cities like Chiang Mai and coastal areas offer a relaxed lifestyle with friendly communities. The country also...
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Phuket raids uncover major illegal cigarette smuggling network
A coordinated operation in central Phuket led to raids on four key locations, targeting an illegal cigarette smuggling network. The crackdown, linked to influential figures in the area, was initiated after local reports of untaxed cigarette distribution. The operation by the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA) was conducted under the guidance of Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.…
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Transport worker arrested for stealing amulets worth 16 million baht
A 36 year old employee of a transport company was arrested for stealing sacred Ai Khai amulets worth 16 million baht. Trusted with keys to a storage room, he allegedly took the items to sell last year. Yesterday, April 20, at 4pm, Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, along with other senior officers, reported the arrest of Thanaphat at his residence…
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Thai man stabs ex-girlfriend 12 times in Bangkok rented room
A Thai man murdered his ex-girlfriend by stabbing her 12 times in a rented room in Bangkok on Saturday, 19 April, after seeing her with a new boyfriend. Officers from Wat Phraya Krai Police Station, along with a medical team from Charoenkrung Pracharak Hospital, rushed to assist the victim, 28 year old Nattacha Tojeen, and arrested the perpetrator, 29 year old…
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Pheu Thai confident on 2026 budget bill amid casino tensions
Deliberations on the 2026 budget bill are anticipated to start late next month in the House, with the ruling Pheu Thai Party expressing confidence in its passage, despite mounting tensions within the government coalition over the push to legalise casinos in Thailand. A Pheu Thai MP, Sutin Klungsang, announced that the bill will be discussed in a Parliamentary session scheduled…
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Pattaya tourists use water guns to put out fire on food cart
A group of tourists attending the Wan Lai Festival, an extension of the Songkran Festival in Pattaya, helped to extinguish a fire on a food cart using their water guns. A video capturing the remarkable moment when tourists assisted a Thai vendor in suppressing the fire on his cart was shared by Channel 7 yesterday, April 20. The incident occurred…
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Thai man arrested on train after faking gunshot story
A 39 year old man was apprehended on a train yesterday following an investigation revealing he fabricated a story about being shot. The suspect, identified as Ma-usman, had accidentally shot himself. Police Major General Khongkrit Lertsitthikul directed the arrest yesterday, April 20, with the coordination of various police officials including Police Colonel Intharat Panya and Police Lieutenant Colonel Warisorn Matcha.…
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New roof welcomes shade to Pattaya’s Bali Hai Pier
Tourists heading to Koh Larn can now enjoy a cooler wait at Pattaya’s Laem Bali Hai Pier, thanks to a new roof installed over the ferry boarding area. The pier, a key launch point to the popular island, has long been criticised for offering little protection from the intense sun. That’s now changed with the addition of a large roof…
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Senior monk in scandal after photos with woman surface
A controversial incident involving a senior monk has emerged in Nakhon Si Thammarat’s Ron Phibun district. Photos recently surfaced allegedly showing a monk and a woman both naked in a bathroom, with the woman bathing the monk. The monk is identified as a senior ecclesiastical official and a subdistrict chief monk. The incident has prompted locals to demand accountability. Residents…
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Bangkok man arrested for drug sales from rental room
Police in Chokchai district apprehended a 29 year old man for operating a daily rental room used for selling e-cigarettes and illegal substances, including ketamine pods and methamphetamine. Police discovered financial transactions totalling 1 million baht (US$29,985) over six months. The suspect, , Wanakaset “Film” Wattanakaset, faces four serious charges. Today, April 21, police officials, including Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom,…
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Early morning fire destroys bus on Rojana Road in Ayutthaya
A fire engulfed a white bus parked on Rojana Road, outbound towards the entrance of Wat Khan Ham, in Khan Ham subdistrict, Uthai district, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province. The incident was reported to the 191 Ayutthaya Provincial Police Radio Centre at approximately 5.30am today, April 21, prompting a coordinated response from Khan Ham subdistrict’s fire brigade and the Phutthai…
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Ratchaburi soldier surrenders after allegedly shooting wife
In Ratchaburi province, a soldier turned himself in to the police after allegedly shooting his 28 year old wife at their home in Mueang subdistrict, Photharam district. The incident reportedly took place during the night, following which the soldier, Thawisak, fled the scene. Thawisak, a sergeant major, arranged through family members to surrender to police. He was picked up by…
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Drug-fuelled gay man arrested after stabbing and setting monk on fire
Police arrested a gay man for attacking a monk with a Stanley knife and setting him on fire at a temple in the northeastern province of Buriram. The monk remains in critical condition. Officers from Huayrat Police Station were called to assist the severely injured monk, 70 year old Suppatin Taewonrum, at Ta Sao Temple in Huayrat district, Buriram, on…
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Udon Thani train station security guard accused of sexual assault
An 18 year old Thai woman accused a security guard at a train station in the northeastern province of Udon Thani of sexually assaulting her. The guard denied the allegation. The young woman called officers from Mueang Udon Police Station to Udon Thani Railway Station at 3.30am on Saturday, April 19, reporting that the 53 year old security guard, identified…
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Class dismissed! Foreign teacher busted for illegal online lessons
A foreign language teacher with a huge online following has been hauled in by Thai immigration cops, after teaching Thai without a licence from her living room turned classroom. The female online foreign teacher found herself at the centre of a classroom controversy after being arrested in Samut Sakhon for illegally offering online Thai lessons, despite not holding a valid…
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City Hall pledges extra funds for earthquake repair after criticism
City Hall has responded to criticism regarding the inadequacy of compensation offered for home repairs to earthquake victims, stating that additional funds may be allocated in exceptional circumstances. The compensation issue was addressed during a press conference on earthquake relief, led by Deputy Bangkok Governor Tavida Kamolvej, after a public outcry was triggered by a complaint posted on Facebook by…
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Canadian caught riding illegal scooter rental graft in Koh Pha Ngan
A Canadian man’s tropical dream has come skidding to a halt after he was busted running an illegal electric scooter rental business on the paradise island of Koh Pha Ngan, all while on a tourist visa. Thai police arrested the 34 year old Canadian, known only as Mr A, after discovering he was illegally operating a lucrative scooter rental business…
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Multiple locals injured in shooting during dinner in Narathiwat
An unidentified number of gunmen opened fire on a group of locals dining outdoors in Thailand’s southern province of Narathiwat yesterday, leaving several people injured. Officers from Waeng Police Station were alerted to the shooting at a house in Waeng district at around 7.15pm, yesterday, on April 20. Police responded to the scene along with an emergency team from Waeng…
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Boob job and Thailand: Kerry Katona’s big move unveiled (video)
Former Atomic Kitten star Kerry Katona vowed to quit England for Thailand and to get her boobs done after naming the Land of Smiles as her “happy place.” The ex-singer, reality TV star, and OnlyFans creator, shared an emotional video in which she spoke about her desire to move her five children to Asia, swap catfights for cannabis retreats and…
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Cabinet reshuffle expected by July, economic affairs focus
A Cabinet reshuffle is anticipated before July, with political analysts predicting changes within the economic affairs ministerial positions. Despite anticipated adjustments, the Bhumjaithai Party is expected to remain in the ruling coalition, which is vital for the government’s stability. Yutthaporn Issarachai, a political science lecturer at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, indicated to the Bangkok Post that this reshuffle would likely…
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Teenager surrenders after fatal stabbing in Phuket
A 19 year old man has turned himself in to the police following the fatal stabbing of a 59 year old man in Phuket. The stabbing victim, identified as Chatuchok, was found unconscious with a knife wound to his abdomen near a grocery store in Soi Hon Saithong, Mueang district. Emergency services transported him to the hospital, but he later…
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Thunderstorms set to rock Thailand, 28 provinces warned
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a stormy forecast for today, April 21, predicting sizzling heat, thunderous storms, and fierce winds across upper Thailand. A whopping 28 provinces are set to feel the full force of Mother Nature’s wrath! Locals are urged to batten down the hatches and brace themselves for wild weather. With the mercury soaring, it’s crucial to…
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Fake motorbike taxi driver terrorises tourists in two-alley stick-up
A bogus biker posing as a motorbike taxi driver turned a quiet Pattaya night into a scene of panic, pulling a gun on terrified women, including a mum with her toddler in tow. At 8.46pm, yesterday, April 20, Pattaya police were scrambled after a masked motorbike maniac armed with a gun targeted tourists in a brazen double robbery in Soi…
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Songkran sham: Pattaya slashers rob tourists in beach bag blag
What was meant to be a splash-tastic celebration turned into a soggy Songkran nightmare for dozens of tourists in Pattaya, after crafty crooks dipped their fingers into more than just water buckets. Over 20 foreign tourists were left high and dry after falling victim to a wave of pickpockets and bag slashers during the wild Songkran water festivities along Central…
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Monk severely injured in Buriram over fictitious debt
A 70 year old monk was severely injured after being attacked in his quarters in Buriram province. The attacker is suspected of having assaulted the monk over a fictitious debt of 2 million baht. The father of the alleged 34 year old attacker claims mental instability, stating his son has been talking to himself for about a year. At 7.30am today,…
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Chiang Mai election campaign attacked by village head
A violent altercation occurred during an election campaign in San Phi Suea subdistrict, Mueang district, Chiang Mai province. The village head of Tha Duea yesterday, April 19, reportedly drove a vehicle into a campaign assistant before attacking the team with a stick, causing injuries. Pawit Boonchala, a candidate for municipal mayor, explained that the incident happened at 5.45pm while his…
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Thailand pushes for streamlined durian export process to China
Thailand aims to enhance durian exports to China, its largest market, with the Commerce Ministry urging Chinese officials to ease chemical screening procedures for Thai durians. Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan met with Wu Zhiwu, Consul-General of China, and Zhang Xiaoxiao, Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy’s Economic and Commercial Office, in a bid to facilitate this process. During the meeting, Pichai…
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Police arrest motorcycle theft gang in Samut Prakan
Police have apprehended a motorcycle theft gang in Samut Prakan, seizing vehicles and parts intended for resale. One victim, who had purchased their motorcycle just four months ago, was left distressed after discovering only the vehicle’s frame remained. Yesterday, April 19, at Bang Phli Police Station, Police Colonel Phairoj Petchploy and an investigative team announced the arrest of 22 year…
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Man shot dead after argument with tattoo artist in Samut Sakhon
A man was fatally shot after a dispute with his tattoo artist yesterday, April 19, at 9pm. The incident occurred on a road in Mueang Samut Sakhon district, Samut Sakhon province, after which the suspect fled the scene on a motorcycle. Police Lieutenant Samart Tingwang, deputy inspector at Mueang Samut Sakhon Police Station, was alerted to the shooting and coordinated…
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Phuket landslide probe delayed due to missing evidence
The investigation into the fatal landslide in Kata, Phuket, which occurred last August and resulted in 13 deaths and numerous injuries, has been delayed as Karon Police are awaiting further documentation to confirm whether construction was a contributing factor. The questioning of victims has been concluded, but additional documents are needed, according to Police Lieutenant Colonel Ekkasak Kwanwan, Senior Inspector…
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Fire devastates Ayutthaya home, numerous pets lost
A fire engulfed a single-storey house in Mueang Lam Ta Sao, Wang Noi district, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province yesterday, April 19, resulting in extensive damage and the deaths of numerous pets. The owner attempted to rescue his animals but was restrained by emergency services. The incident was reported at 10.31pm yesterday, Police Lieutenant Phuriwat Pansrikaeng from Wang Noi Police…
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