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 aims for noodle world record at mega fest
Phuket is turning up the heat this June as it launches a mouth-watering attempt to make culinary history, by setting a Guinness World Record with its beloved Phuket Hokkien Noodles. The sizzling spectacle will headline the Phuket Peranakan Festival 2025, taking place from June 20 to 22. Over 200 chefs, restaurants and community groups will team up to showcase the iconic…
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Public outrage after People’s Party member arrested in drug trafficking
The People’s Party issued a public apology after one of its members, a candidate in the upcoming Samut Prakan Municipal Council election, was arrested for drug trafficking along with three other suspects yesterday, May 7. Officers from Min Buri Police Station carried out a crackdown on a drug trafficking gang known as Boon Raksa. Four suspects were apprehended, and a…
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Cambodia, Laos ban Thai livestock over anthrax fears
Cambodia and Laos have temporarily halted the importation of livestock and related products from Thailand to prevent the spread of anthrax. According to China’s Xinhua News Agency, Cambodia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries has implemented this precautionary measure and is closely monitoring the anthrax situation in Thailand. The ministry stated that while there are currently no anthrax cases in…
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Lampang and Phayao men arrested for running porn group
Police yesterday arrested two men from Lampang and Phayao, administrators of a secret online porn group named Boarding V.4, for distributing explicit content to increase engagement. The group, with over 500,000 followers, also advertised online gambling websites. Police Major General Witthaya Sriprasertphap, head of the Investigation Bureau, yesterday, May 7, ordered the arrest of 31 year old Pongsakorn and 30…
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Thai politician arrested for drug trafficking in Bangkok bust
The People’s Party Samutprakarn’s Facebook page issued an apology to the public following the arrest of a party candidate for drug trafficking. Yesterday, May 7, police colonel investigators from Min Buri Police Station apprehended 27 year old Apivat, known as Fluke, with a substantial amount of drugs including 480,000 methamphetamine pills, 1 kilogramme of crystal methamphetamine, and 1 kilogramme of…
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Police officer slits his throat to escape arrest after stealing gold
A Thai police officer slit his own throat at a police station in the southern province of Trang yesterday, May 7, after being caught stealing a gold necklace from a food vendor. The 34 year old female vendor, Pornpimon, complained to Na Yong Police Station officers on May 3 that her gold necklace, worth over 100,000 baht, was stolen at…
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Pattaya air con blaze sparks high-rise chaos
Panic swept through a Pattaya high-rise last night as a fire erupted on the 19th floor, forcing a frantic evacuation of terrified residents and tourists. The blaze broke out just after 8pm yesterday, May 7, at a 29-storey condominium located in Soi Chaiyapruek 3. According to the Pattaya City Disaster Relief Centre, flames were first spotted in Room 1911, with…
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Two soldiers injured in Yala province IED attack
Two soldiers were injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) attack targeting military engineers from the 15th Engineer Battalion. The incident occurred at 5pm yesterday, May 7, in Raman district, Yala province, as the soldiers were returning to their base after completing a canal dredging mission. The attack took place in front of a cemetery in the village of Kototura,…
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People’s Party slams pricey Thai Parliament car park project
The People’s Party (PP) disclosed details about another expensive parliamentary project involving the construction of a car park building. Parit Wacharasindhu, an MP from the opposition who leads a House committee focused on political development, mass communications, and public involvement, stated yesterday that the House of Representatives’ secretariat announced a successful bidder for a 104.5 million baht project to design…
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Pattaya babe steals disabled Aussie man’s cash while he showers
A disabled Aussie man hoping for a bit of holiday romance in Pattaya was left red-faced and out of pocket, after a beachside beauty vanished with his cash while he was in the shower. Adding insult to injury, the victim’s wheelchair had “Quickie” emblazoned on the back, a name that turned out to be more prophecy than brand, as the…
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Rescue vehicle runs red light and kills woman on Lamphun road
A rescue vehicle ran a red light in the northern province of Lamphun and crashed into two motorcycles, resulting in the death of a Thai woman. Officers from Mueang Chi Police Station were alerted to the accident at Doi Ti Intersection on the Lampang–Chiang Mai Road at around 8.30pm on Tuesday, May 6. Witnesses reported that a rescue vehicle belonging…
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Midnight copper thief plunges Phuket villas into darkness
A cunning cable thief struck under the cover of darkness in Phuket’s Chalong area, cutting off power to six luxury homes, and leaving residents fuming and fearful of more attacks. At around midnight on Saturday, May 3, a thief dug into the ground at the Siwalee Village section of Land & Houses Park and made off with a bundle of…
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Thai provinces braced for storms and heavy rain
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a weather forecast, predicting thunderstorms and strong winds across 40 provinces, including Bangkok, with heavy rainfall expected in the southern region covering 60% of the area. Residents are advised to exercise caution due to severe weather conditions today, May 8. In the next 24 hours, the upper part of Thailand will experience thunderstorms…
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BoT tipped to slice interest rates as inflation and exports wobble
Thailand’s top money men are sharpening their scissors, with experts betting the Bank of Thailand (BoT) will slash interest rates at least twice more this year to prop up the faltering economy, rocked by a US trade war and dwindling tourist numbers. In a shock twist, April saw the consumer price index (CPI) shrink by 0.22%, the first drop in…
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Aussie tourist drowns near Phuket’s Koh Racha Yai
An Australian tourist tragically drowned on May 6, just off the coast of Phuket’s Racha Island, as he reportedly went for a swim while intoxicated. The 22 year old tourist was initially revived with CPR, but was pronounced dead upon his arrival at a nearby hospital. On May 6, at 2.28pm, the Phuket Tourist Assistance Centre (Pearl Centre) received a…
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Irishman arrested after late-night Pattaya bar brawl
It was a booze-fuelled brawl in the heart of Pattaya’s nightlife strip that left blood on the floor, staff in hospital, and an injured Irishman claiming he’s the real victim. At 3.19am today, May 7, the Sawang Boriboon Rescue Centre in Pattaya received a call about a violent altercation at a beer bar in Soi 6, off Pattaya Second Road.…
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Bangkok’s SAO collapse sparks charges and corruption probe
The fallout from the deadly collapse of a State Audit Office (SAO) building in March is spiralling into a legal and political firestorm, with engineers, local officials, and shady foreign firms all under the microscope. The Metropolitan Police Bureau is preparing to file multiple charges against engineers and SAO officials responsible for the construction of the building, which came crashing…
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Bangkok–Moscow flight diverts to Delhi after mid-air fume scare
A Bangkok-to-Moscow Aeroflot flight carrying over 400 passengers made an unexpected emergency landing in Delhi yesterday after the crew detected a suspicious odour — sparking fears of smoke in the cabin and prompting a rapid response from Indian airport emergency services. Aeroflot flight SU273, operated by a Boeing 777-300ER registered RA-73142, departed Bangkok yesterday, May 6, at 1.40pm local time,…
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Thai tourists tricked by scam travel agency, losing 5 million baht
A Thai man issued a warning to travel enthusiasts after he and his friends were tricked by a travel agency into purchasing a package tour to Pakistan, resulting in a loss of 240,000 baht. Numerous other victims have since come forward, with total losses estimated at around 5 million baht. The man shared details of the scam on his Facebook…
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Fish from hell: Thai trucker KO’d by flying tuna in Samut Prakan
In a freak accident that sounds more like a scene from a slapstick comedy than real life, a Thai truck driver was left bloodied and bruised after a massive frozen 40-kilogramme tuna fell from the sky, straight onto his head. The bizarre incident happened around 12pm today, May 7, at Suphanawa Pier, Lock 6, in Songkhonong subdistrict, Phra Pradaeng district,…
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Thai F-16s scramble as Myanmar fighter sparks panic
A Myanmar fighter jet triggered a tense military response this week after flying close to Thai airspace in Kanchanaburi province, prompting the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) to deploy two F-16 fighter jets to intercept what was initially classified as an unidentified aircraft. But according to Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, the drama never truly crossed the line, literally. “The aircraft…
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Bangkok building collapse: 13 still missing, search continues
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) continues its search and recovery operations for the 13 people still missing after the collapse of the newly constructed State Audit Office building. Suriyachai Rawiwan, the Director of the BMA’s Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, announced on Monday that rescue teams can now access the entire basement area, measuring 40×40 metres. As of that day,…
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Burmese worker busted in Phuket for 1.1 million baht cash heist
A 23 year old Burmese worker has been arrested for stealing over 1.1 million baht from his employer’s home in Phuket. The Myanmar national, Nye Bo Thet, was arrested as part of a Cherng Talay Police crime suppression campaign running from May 1 to May 7. Police tracked the suspect down and nabbed him outside Building 92 of the Baan…
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Police bust motorcycle theft ring, arrest three suspects
In the early hours of this morning, police apprehended a group involved in motorcycle theft and illegal sales across borders. The operation, led by Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, resulted in the arrest of three suspects with existing warrants. Wuichai, also known as Kee, today, May 7, was captured on charges of night-time theft committed with an accomplice. The investigation…
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Teen arrested after shooting incident over personal dispute
A teen suspect was arrested following a shooting incident involving 15 rounds, reportedly due to a personal dispute. The 19 year old suspect claimed self-defence, stating, “If we didn’t act, they would have,” following several previous altercations. The incident occurred when two people on a red PCX motorcycle, with an unidentified license plate, stopped and fired approximately 15 shots at the…
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Lèse majesté: US academic fights Thai university sacking
A US academic is challenging his dismissal from a Thai university after being sacked following a dropped lèse majesté charge. The American national claims the termination was unlawful, lacked due process, and violated university regulations. The case has sparked debate over academic freedom and the treatment of foreign scholars in Thailand. Chambers, a former lecturer in the Faculty of Social…
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3.0 earthquake hits Nakhon Si Thammarat, prompts evacuations
An earthquake measuring 3.0 on the Richter scale struck Nakhon Si Thammarat at 5.31am today, May 7. Residents in several subdistricts reported feeling tremors, and some areas heard loud noises. Hospitals swiftly evacuated buildings while assessing potential damage. The Earthquake Observation Division of the Thai Meteorological Department detailed that the quake occurred at a depth of 1 kilometre in Sai…
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Thai man cites niece’s alleged abuse in murder of her husband
Police arrested a Thai man for the murder of his niece’s husband at a durian plantation in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat. He confessed to taking revenge on behalf of his niece, who was repeatedly abused by her husband. Officers from Thasala Police Station responded to the death of 47 year old Thai man, Somchai, at the durian…
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Illegal cigarette network dismantled, 42 million baht fines issued
The Economic Crime Suppression Division, in collaboration with the Excise Department, dismantled a major international illegal cigarette trafficking network. Two Cambodian nationals, 35 year old Chiva Chuoy and 35 year old Nak Khoeun, were apprehended with 50,000 packs of illegal cigarettes, facing fines of up to 42 million baht (US$1.28 million). Yesterday, May 6, at 1.30pm, Police Major General Thasaphum…
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Hotpot horror: Beer glass brawl erupts in Pattaya restaurant
What started as a sizzling night out at a popular Pattaya hotpot spot boiled over into a glass-shattering fight that sent three people to the hospital and left diners in shock. Earlier this week, a heated row at a well-known hot pot restaurant in Central Pattaya exploded into violence between a transgender woman, a woman, and the woman’s brother, turning…
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