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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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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Pattaya pushes ahead with Jomtien beachfront revamp
Pattaya’s development plan is gaining momentum, with Mayor Poramet Ngampichet inspecting progress on the Jomtien Beachfront Landscape Improvement Project. The facelift aims to create a more tourist-friendly and organised coastline, with completion targeted for late 2025. A key feature of the upgrade is a significant increase in public parking, expanding from just over 300 spaces to between 700 and 800.…
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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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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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Ayutthaya high-speed rail plans raise UNESCO heritage concerns
Plans to build a high-speed rail station in Ayutthaya have sparked fears that the project could threaten the city’s World Heritage status. Ayutthaya Historical Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991, lies near the proposed site of the Ayutthaya station, part of the Thailand-Laos-China high-speed railway project. Concerns have been raised over potential visual and structural impacts on the…
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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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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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Tragic collision on Rama 2 Road leaves one dead, one injured
A tragic accident occurred when a truck carrying cattle collided with the rear of an 18-wheeler truck transporting animal feed, resulting in one fatality and one critical injury. The incident took place around 6am today, May 19, on Rama 2 Road, Samut Sakhon province, as the victims were returning to Phetchaburi from buying cattle in northeast Thailand. Police Major Sukkrit…
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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 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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Motorcyclist dies in truck crash in Bang Pakong
A tragic accident occurred when a 34 year old man crashed his motorcycle into the back of a truck in Bang Pakong district, Chachoengsao province. The incident happened at 1am today, May 19, as Thanapon was riding his motorcycle near a department store on Bang Na-Trat Road. Upon arrival, Police Lieutenant Suriya Phumwat and rescue teams found Thanapon’s body lying…
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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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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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Thai durian vendor disappears with 1 million baht in gold and cash
A female durian vendor in the southern province of Surat Thani disappeared with over 1 million baht in gold accessories and at least 100,000 baht in cash. Her family fears she may have been assaulted and robbed. The family of the 43 year old durian vendor, Sujittra, better known as Jay Kaew, sought help from Mueang Surat Thani Police Station…
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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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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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Local politician and wife killed in tragic Trang motorcycle crash
A tragic incident occurred when a car, reportedly driven under the influence, collided with a motorcycle, resulting in the deaths of 57 year old local politician Adisak or Luangchai and his 35 year old wife, Daojai, in Trang province early today, May 19. The incident took place on the road between Baan Khuan and Khuan Pring intersection, in Baan Khuan…
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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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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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Thai Airways’ comeback plan takes flight
Following a comprehensive business rehabilitation, Thai Airways International (THAI) has launched its Fly for the New Pride campaign, as it anticipates resuming trading on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET). The airline now operates with reduced debt and new revenue streams. Celebrating its 65th anniversary, the airline has lowered its liabilities from approximately 400 billion baht to around 80 billion…
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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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Tragic electrocution claims couple’s lives in Bangkok home
A couple was found deceased from electrocution at their home in Bangkok’s Nong Chok district on May 18. Initially thought to be a seizure, the wife attempted to assist her husband, leading to both being electrocuted. At 7.53am, Police Lieutenant Suwat Deepholngam, deputy inspector of Suwinthawong Police Station, received a report of an electrocution incident at a residence in Krathum…
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Heavy rain forecast across Thailand with risk of flash floods
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a warning for May 19, forecasting heavy rain across 42 provinces in Thailand, including Bangkok. The rain is expected to affect 60% of the area, with risks of flash floods and water runoffs. The Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand are predicted to experience high waves. The weather forecast for the next…
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