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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Buriram United mishap sparks football field safety concerns
Some things just shouldn’t happen to you on a football pitch in the middle of a match. But in Thailand, footballer Theerathon Bunmathan of Buriram United shared how he fell into a pit whilst contending against Khon Kaen United, nearly breaking his left leg. The shocking incident happened yesterday at Khon Kaen’s administrative stadium and has since caused a stir…
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Devastating Rayong motorbike accident takes young boy’s life
A 12 year old boy’s life was cut short when his motorbike collided with a pickup truck in a violent road accident. The heart-wrenching scene transpired in the Rayong province at around 1.10am this morning, shocking the serene local township of Ban Chang. Upon arrival, police officials observed a horrific sight on Ban Chang-Phala Road. The lifeless body of the boy…
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Nightclub shooting: Man accidentally fires gun into his own leg
Most nightclub shootings involve some sort of fight or commotion with a melee of people, but not always. A sudden gunshot incident in a popular nightclub in Hat Yai left a man nursing a self-inflicted leg injury, causing considerable alarm among the hundreds of patrons. The nightclub had to cease operations today for immediate investigation. Hat Yai Police were notified…
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Aussie bridesmaid drops out over 227,000 baht wedding bill
An Australian woman named Grace recently shocked the public after revealing that a friend had attempted to charge her approximately 10,000 Australian dollars (227,858 baht) to participate in her wedding as a bridesmaid. The sum of this wedding bill, Grace revealed, was to cover every aspect of the celebratory pre-events, including the costs of a spa day, skincare treatments, a…
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Mother’s Day cake inscription misunderstanding goes viral
Life in Thailand can be full of lost in translation moments but on Mother’s Day – celebrated in Thailand yesterday – a translation was lost between a cake order and the inscription on the cake. A Thai woman’s attempt to surprise her mother with a cake went awry when the bakery, instead of just scribing the single line, “Love you,…
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Sex worker impersonates woman to get customers in Guangdong
A standard arrest of a sex worker by law enforcement in Yangjiang, Guangdong province, in China came with a shocking twist. On closer inspection of the person they arrested on the streets close to Jong San Park, they discovered that the woman detained was in reality a man impersonating a female. The 39 year old perpetrator named Lam had a…
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Motorbike crash: Tragic accident claims man’s life in Pathum Thani
Alcohol seems to be the cause of a tragic motorbike crash that occurred earlier today. A 26 years old man lost his life while his female companion faced injuries during a big bike accident. Their vehicle collided with a bridge over Khlong Thep Kunchon, Khlong Luang district, Pathum Thani province when the driver reportedly lost control of the bike. At…
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Alleged police extortion targeting Burmese worker sparks concern
In a shocking case of police extortion, a group of men claiming to be police officers are alleged to have swindled a Burmese worker under the threat of severe repercussions. The incident took place in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region and was just investigated. On August 12, Athiwat Sirikangwalwang, founder of the Fearless Step Facebook page, investigated the incident at a…
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Missing Thai man sought after Phetchaburi boat accident sparks online appeal
A man has appealed for information on social media about his missing 25 year old brother following a boat accident in the central province of Phetchaburi. He lost contact with his brother’s partner, who was accompanying him on the trip. The incident happened on August 12, and the search is ongoing. In a frantic Facebook post dated August 12, a…
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Two tourists missing as waterspout capsizes boat in Phetchaburi province
In an unfortunate incident in Phetchaburi province, two tourists have gone missing when their tourist boat was capsized by a waterspout while sailing across Bang Ta Boon Bay near the Ban Laem district. The dreadful event occurred on a Saturday afternoon, around 5pm and was reported to the police on emergency number 191. The boat, carrying seven tourists, was in…
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Wild elephant captured after 22 days of disruption
Perhaps only in Thailand can an elephant be avoiding a court order for disturbing the peace. After 22 days on the lam, a wild elephant has been successfully captured in the Nop Phi Tham district of the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat. The “elephant arrest” was made to comply with a court order issued to relocate it due to…
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Chinese passenger denied flight boarding, hits police with skateboard
A Chinese passenger was captured in a viral TikTok video clip attempting to assault a Tourist Police officer at Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok with a skateboard. The unruly passenger had become enraged after the captain of a flight back to China declined his boarding due to concerns about his disruptive behaviour, thus proving the captain’s point. Pol. Maj. Gen.…
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Chinese woman’s ex-boyfriend engaged to her mother
In an occurrence that rivals even soap opera plot twists, a woman returned home after three years of studying abroad only to find her former boyfriend set to become her stepfather. In her absence, the ex-boyfriend had started dating her mother and then proposed in front of her. The incident was reported by CTWANT, featuring a young woman from China. She…
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Missing boy’s body found in Kraw River after motorbike collision
A tragic end has come to the story of a 14 year old boy who has been missing since a motorcycle accident on a bridge flung him into the river below. After searches were hampered by strong currents and the darkness of night, at around 11.30am, the boy was found. After a relentless search by divers and locals, Yodsapon’s body…
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National Mother’s Day weekend anticipates 2.6 million trips boosting Thai tourism revenue
Anticipation is building up in the kingdom of Thailand as the upcoming long weekend for National Mother’s Day approaches, strategically set from August 12 through August 14. According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the weekend is estimated to see a surge of 2.6 million local travels yielding total revenue of approximately 8.76 billion baht (US$249 million). This flurry…
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Pattaya police intensifies crackdown on illegal firearm possession
The sun had just started setting over the Pattaya skyline on August 12, as a team of vigilant officers from the Banglamung Police, led by Pol. Col. Nawin Sinthurat, intensified their efforts to crack down on illegal firearms. Situated along the Eastern Gulf coast of Thailand, Pattaya is a city known for its lively nightlife and stunning beaches. However, recent…
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Online romance scam netted 36 million baht, 1 arrest
Law enforcement officials arrested an accomplice in a large-scale online romance scam that swindled more than 36 million baht from victims. A 26 year old man from Uthai Thani province had opened a bank account for someone else, allegedly unaware it would be used in fraudulent activities. In an operation led by Pol Lt Gen Warawut Watnakornbuncha, Investigation Bureau Chief,…
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Policeman arrested for firing gun in hospital over boyfriend troubles
A lover’s spat at a Bangkok hospital ended with a policeman being arrested outside of the hospital where he had fired a gun during an argument with his boyfriend. The incident took place at 6.30am today. A 22 year old policeman, was taken into custody near a hospital with a semi-automatic gun. Upon his arrest, the policeman claimed he had…
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Hospital theft: loot stolen by men posing as relatives recovered from sewer
Two individuals, notorious for their thefts within hospitals, were arrested in a rented room in Trang province after trying to flush the evidence. The suspects are accused of a series of thefts carried out in various hospitals, impersonating patients’ relatives. Upon arrest today by officers from the Thung Song police station in Nakhon Si Thammarat, they were caught with some…
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Police arrest savage suspect after 17 years on the run
A man known for his ferocity, who had been on the police’s most-wanted list, was arrested yesterday after 17 years on the run from a homicide case in Satun province. The suspect, previously involved in a nasty public brawl, was detained at his residence in the province’s Lang Suan district. Today, Police Colonel Montri Theskan ordered Police Lieutenant Colonel Phongoanot…
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Major post-midnight inspection conducted at Jomtien Beach
In the wake of suggestions put forth by local proprietors and representatives from the business and tourism sectors, a team of over 200 officers from Bang Lamung District conducted an inspection tour along the coastal stretch of Jomtien Beach in Pattaya, Thailand. This early morning examination of the beach vicinity started at 1.30am today. Phisit Sirisawatdinukul, the District Chief of…
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Boy, 14, vanishes in river after horrifying motorcycle accident
The search continues for a 14 year old boy who fell into the river after a severe motorcycle accident, as his distraught mother made an urgent heart-wrenching plea. The unfortunate event occurred in the middle of a bridge in Prachinburi province when the young boy’s motorcycle collided with a pickup truck. The high velocity of the impact flung him into…
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Umphang Hospital grapples with 40 million baht deficit due to Myanmar crisis
The Thai-Burmese frontier healthcare services face a financial crisis as a result of the current political turmoil in Myanmar. It has been reported that Umphang Hospital, situated in Thailand’s Tak province, has been hit by a considerable deficit of 40 million baht. The hospital has been forced to turn to the Ministry of Public Health for assistance. Umphang Hospital has…
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Police arrest Thais for alleged smuggling of Burmese refugees
In the district of Khun Yuam, in Mae Hong Son province, law enforcememyannt apprehended three Thai citizens who were allegedly facilitating the illegal smuggling of Burmese refugees from a temporary holding facility. The event unfolded on Thursday evening. Several of these migrants, comprising five children and five adults were discovered in the culprits’ vehicles when they were apprehended the following…
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Chinese tourists to Thailand may drop as tour group restrictions lift
In the wake of China’s announcement to allow tour groups to visit Japan and several other nations for the first time since 2020, Thailand’s tourism industry braces itself for a sharp fall in Chinese tourists. This drop is in part caused by ongoing visa application challenges, in spite of the government’s efforts to simplify the process. This recent development comes…
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Pheu Thai Party urges caretaker government to halt civil servants relocation
The Pheu Thai Party is calling for the caretaker government, under PM Prayut Chan-o-cha’s leadership, to heed the national constitution by not relocating leading civil servants, particularly permanent secretaries, whilst the new administration is being formed. Phumtham Wechayachai, the party’s deputy leader, voiced these calls recently. Phumtham issued a statement in which he admonished the transitional approach of Prayut’s government, reminding…
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Central Retail partners with Ant Group to launch Alipay+ for Asian tourists in Thailand
For the convenience of Asian tourists from China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and South Korea, Central Retail Corporation (CRC) has announced its partnership with Ant Group, introducing Alipay+ a comprehensive solution for international digital payments. This digital offering will enable travellers to use local digital wallets such as China’s Alipay, Hong Kong’s AlipayHK, Malaysia’s Touch ‘n Go eWallet and South Korea’s…
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Australian tourist disrupts Pattaya temple, allegedly high on cannabis
The peace of a local Buddhist temple in South Pattaya was abruptly shattered yesterday morning as a seemingly stoned Australian tourist started to wreck the sanctuary. Jason Bradley Scott snuck into the temple at dawn, allegedly high on cannabis, and did damage before injuring himself while trying to flee. Wat Chai, also known as Wat Chai Mongkol Royal Monastery, situated in…
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Revving up for flavour: World Kaphrao Thailand Grand Prix 2023 set to race Thai fast food fame worldwide
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) yesterday announced the opening of the World Kaphrao Thailand Grand Prix 2023 event to promote the popular Thai fast food dish throughout the globe. The event will take place along the Phadung Krung Kasem Canal near Hua Lamphong Train Station in Bangkok between August 25 and 27. TAT director Yuttasak Supasorn revealed that the…
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Spanish tusker-tamer’s uproarious elephant escapade sweeps online spotlight in Thailand (video)
A Spanish woman, well-versed in transforming tusker-sized tales into online sensations, couldn’t resist sharing her uproarious rendezvous with an elephant during a recent Thailand escapade. The self-deprecating woman, Julia Candela, with a penchant for furry and tusked friends alike, took to TikTok to unveil her rib-tickling tête-à-tête with an elephant in Thailand that left her momentarily nose-to-nose with the ground.…
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