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 Thailand vs. the West: What expats save on healthcare each year
Healthcare in Thailand is much cheaper than in Western countries, making it a great choice for expatriates looking for affordable medical care. Both public and private healthcare options offer high-quality services, with savings of up to 80% on procedures like...
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Bangkok minimarts busted for selling illegal drugs and herbs
In a major crackdown on illegal drug sales, the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) raided six minimarts in Bangkok for illegally selling drugs and unregistered herbal products. The operation, led by Police Lieutenant General Jiraphop Phuridet, Commissioner-General of the CIB, and Dr Surachoke Tangwiwat, Secretary-General of the FDA, resulted in the arrest of five…
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Thai police seize firearms, arrest 12 in illegal arms crackdown
According to Thai police, 12 people were detained on June 9 as part of a nationwide crackdown on the illegal arms trade. Officers confiscated 18 firearms and over 30,000 rounds of ammunition. Those apprehended range in age from their early 20s to 50s and were captured during operations in Bangkok and several other provinces in the past week, as stated…
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Jetstar Asia to ground flights by end of July amid rising costs
Just a little over a year after its new route from Singapore to Krabi took flight, the Singaporean airline JetStar Asia will cease services next month. Full refunds will be offered for affected passengers. The airline, part of the Qantas Group, has struggled to cope with rising supplier costs, high airport fees, and fierce competition in the regional low-cost flight…
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Student brawl in Kanchanaburi leaves four injured
In Kanchanaburi, over 30 students from Tha Maka became embroiled in a conflict that escalated into a brawl at a busy intersection. Four students were injured in the incident. Police have arrested one person found with a weapon and are conducting further investigations. The event occurred yesterday, June 10, at a traffic intersection in the municipality of Tha Ruea Phra…
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Bugged out: Heartbroken Indian sprays mozzie repellent in mouth
A heartbroken Indian man was rushed to hospital in Pattaya after he reportedly sprayed mosquito repellent into his own mouth, and went into violent shock. Rescue workers were called to a five-storey commercial block in the Nong Prue area of Bang Lamung today, June 11, after the man, identified as 33 year old Devaraj, was found foaming at the mouth…
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Albanian tourist drowns at Karon Beach, husband in distress
A 43 year old Egyptian man was seen in distress at a hospital’s emergency room in Phuket after his 41 year old Albanian wife drowned at Karon Beach. They had arrived in Phuket, checked into a hotel, and within two hours, she tragically drowned. Police Captain Charat Lempan from Karon Police Station received a report at 6pm yesterday, June 10,…
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Thai tourism at a crossroads: Can the industry survive?
Thailand’s tourism industry is facing a critical turning point, according to Yuthasak Supasorn, Chairman of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) and former governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). While Thai tourism has weathered numerous crises in the past, it is now confronted with a significant structural change and a noticeable decline in tourist numbers. “Thai tourism…
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Woman caught transporting 200,000 meth pills in Thailand
A woman involved in the transportation of 200,000 meth pills from northern to southern Thailand was intercepted by police before receiving her 50,000 baht payment. Upon realising the operation had failed, she fled into the forest, fearing for her life, but later turned herself in to the police. Yesterday, June 10, Police Major General Witaya Sriprasert ordered Police Colonel Phataravut…
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Mystery man goes viral for ‘following’ cars at Phuket traffic light (video)
A strange and amusing moment captured on TikTok has taken the Internet by storm, as a young man in Phuket gained viral attention for his quirky behaviour at a traffic light intersection. The video, shared by a TikTok user named Pond, shows the man standing at a red light on Wichit Songkhram Road in Kathu subdistrict, pretending to drive behind…
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Thai netizens divided over video of foreign couple having sex in car
Thai netizens are divided after a video of a foreign couple in Phuket having sex in their car went viral on Thai social media today, June 11. The Phuket Times Facebook page reported that the incident took place in a vehicle parked outside Phuket International Airport. The page stated in the post… “Disgusting!’ The car is shaking! They’re having sex…
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Pickup truck with migrant workers crashes in Songkhla, driver flees
A pickup truck carrying undocumented migrant workers drove against traffic and collided with a car, causing the truck to overturn. The incident resulted in several injuries among the workers, while the truck driver fled the scene. Yesterday, June 10, Police Colonel Surachit Phetchajom, superintendent of Sadao, received a report of a collision with multiple injuries on Kanchanawanich Road near the…
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More Malaysians than Chinese choose Thailand as holiday spot
Malaysia has surpassed China to become the leading source of tourists to Thailand, with over 2 million Malaysian visitors in the first five months of 2025. This news comes as Thailand experiences a booming tourism sector, with a total of over 15 million foreign visitors recorded between January 1 and June 8. Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong revealed that…
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Hung out to dry! Mystery over death of Thai worker in Israel
A Thai family is crying foul after a young agricultural worker was found hanged in Israel, despite showing no signs of despair before his sudden death. Grieving relatives of 27 year old Athin “Arm” Seeluang, from Udon Thani, say they simply don’t believe he took his own life, and are calling for a full investigation into the tragedy. The alarm…
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Thai actor poses as royal family to swindle old woman out of 10 million baht
A Thai actor faked royal family ties and swindled over 10 million baht from an 87 year old retired teacher, claiming his mother was suffering from cancer. The elderly victim, Samai, sought assistance from non-profit organisation Saimai Survive after the significant loss shattered her retirement plans. The suspect, Karn, was a supporting actor in a Thai television drama series and…
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Thai Smile shuts down after a decade of losses
After over a decade of struggling with continuous financial losses, Thai Airways International (THAI) has officially dissolved its wholly owned subsidiary, Thai Smile Airways. The decision marks the end of the budget airline’s operations, bringing a turbulent chapter to a close. The dissolution was officially announced to the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) on June 5, following a resolution passed…
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Driver injured as paper boxes fall from truck in Chachoengsao
A personal vehicle collided with compressed paper boxes that had fallen from a truck on a road in Klong Khuean district, Chachoengsao province, yesterday, June 10. The driver, a 45 year old woman named Thananit, was critically injured and lost consciousness. The incident occurred when a belt securing the boxes snapped, causing them to fall onto the road. Emergency services…
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Thailand sukiyaki price war heats up as restaurants slash prices
Sukiyaki restaurants are slashing their prices in a fierce battle to attract customers, as tighter budgets and the sluggish economy continue to affect consumer spending. However, while the price war promises short-term gains, its long-term impact on sales and brand perception remains uncertain. Leading the charge are MK Restaurants and Suki Teenoi, two major players in the local sukiyaki scene.…
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Police arrest drug suspect after dramatic Nonthaburi chase
A police patrol yesterday apprehended a suspected drug ringleader after a dramatic chase in Nonthaburi on June 10. The suspect, who attempted to flee on a motorcycle, was eventually shot and injured by police when he attacked them with a knife. The incident began around 7.30pm, yesterday, June 10, when officers from Rattanathibet Police Station received a report of a police…
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Thai Customs seize 700 plus tonnes of toxic waste from Morocco
Thai Customs intercepted over 700 tonnes of toxic waste disguised as “zinc concentrate” in a joint operation with specialist agencies. The hazardous shipment, which arrived from Morocco, contained dangerously high levels of lead, cadmium, and other heavy metals. The officials’ successful bust at Bangkok Port highlights Thailand’s ongoing battle against illegal imports of toxic materials. The seized containers, weighing a…
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Full steam ahead! Thai transport tsar fast-tracks mega makeover
Thailand’s transport tsar has slammed the accelerator on the kingdom’s biggest infrastructure schemes, ordering faster progress on high-speed rail, expressways and electric bus upgrades. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit is leading the charge, with a major push to speed up the second phase of the Bangkok–Nong Khai high-speed rail line, and billions of baht in investment ready to be unleashed. Following…
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Mother and daughter die in Bangkok cement truck collision
A tragic accident occurred yesterday when a mother and her nine year old daughter died after their motorcycle was hit by a cement truck. The incident, reported at 5.30pm, yesterday, June 10, took place on Sai Mai Road near Soi Sai Mai 51 in Bangkok. Police Lieutenant Thanongsak Duangphu, an investigator from Sai Mai Police Station, coordinated with forensic doctors…
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Phuket’s election results are in: 10 new mayors announced
Phuket officially confirmed its new batch of mayors after last month’s municipal elections, with 10 leaders set to take office across the island. Following the announcement by the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT Phuket) yesterday, June 10, the island’s political landscape is about to undergo a major transformation. Despite a slight delay in releasing the results, the ECT Phuket branch…
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Blaze of rage! Fire guts bedroom after bitter family feud in Pattaya
A bitter family feud may have sparked a suspected arson attack in Pattaya, leaving a pensioner and her foreign husband fleeing for their lives as flames tore through their home. A late-afternoon blaze ripped through a bedroom in a Bang Lamung home yesterday, June 10, with suspicions swirling around a disgruntled son-in-law who’d allegedly made threats shortly before the fire…
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Thailand, Cambodia to resolve border dispute through dialogue
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra revealed she held direct talks with Cambodian leaders, Prime Minister Hun Manet and Senate President Hun Sen, agreeing to resolve the ongoing border dispute through dialogue. The Thai premier stated that recent talks with Cambodia have been progressing smoothly, emphasising the government’s commitment to diplomatic solutions. Following a Cabinet meeting yesterday, June 10, she said that…
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Smashed! Drunken row ends in bottle attack on disabled soldier
A boozy barney turned bloody in Pattaya when a tipsy pensioner smashed a bottle over a disabled ex-soldier’s head, all because dinner didn’t go down well. The drunken dispute exploded into violence yesterday, June 10, after a group of drinkers clashed near the entrance to Soi Nong Samo 14 in Pattaya. Rescue workers from Sawang Boriboon Pattaya rushed to the…
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Urgent search for missing 72 year old woman in Phuket canal
Rescue teams in Phuket were alerted to a missing person incident, prompting an urgent search effort for a 72 year old woman. Relatives believe the woman, Yenjit Pae-Ui, might have fallen into Khlong Bang Yai. Her shoes were discovered near the canal, but the strong currents led to the suspension of the search. Plans are being made to resume the…
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Income discrepancies arise over NBCT lawyer’s 12m baht claim
Police confirmed that a sum of 12 million baht found in a plastic box near a condominium’s rubbish area in Nonthaburi belongs to a lawyer and adviser to the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC). Despite this, investigators have raised concerns about discrepancies between his income records and the possession of such a large amount of cash. Taweewat Sengkaew claimed…
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High stakes: Pattaya drug dealers busted in party sting
A pair of suspected drug dealers got more than they bargained for when undercover police pounced on them outside a Pattaya condo and found a stash of narcotics fit for a cartel. Two men suspected of flooding Pattaya’s party zones with class-A drugs aimed at teens have been nicked in a major sting by Chon Buri Provincial and Pattaya City…
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Pattaya police bottle kratom cocktail racket in midnight raids
Pattaya police smashed a dodgy kratom cocktail flogging souped-up brews to youngsters, and they’ve got the bottles to prove it. Police in the Bang Lamung district swooped on shops flogging illegal kratom 4×100 concoctions late on yesterday, June 10, seizing over 2,000 bottles of the controversial brew and cough syrup used to spike it. District Chief Patcharapat Sritanyanon ordered the raid,…
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Frenchman arrested in Pattaya for allegedly abusing 13 year old girl
A 44 year old French national has been arrested in Pattaya for allegedly paying for sex with a 13 year old girl in the northeastern province of Nong Khai. Autret, who was apprehended on Sunday afternoon, June 8, was taken into custody from his room at the Pattaya Plaza Condotel on Soi Sukhumvit Pattaya 59. His arrest follows an arrest…
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