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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Thailand rattled by tremors as 10 mini quakes rock region
Residents in northern and northeastern Thailand woke up to a shaky surprise this morning after a swarm of small earthquakes hit the region, sending tremors through three provinces and sparking concern online. Ten mild earthquakes were recorded today, May 6, in parts of Myanmar and across northern and northeastern Thailand, according to the Thai Meteorological Department’s Earthquake Observation Division. The…
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Transgender fortune teller denies defrauding, sexually assaulting boy
A transgender fortune teller in Bangkok denied scamming a 16 year old boy out of 500,000 baht and also rejected claims of sexually assaulting him. She insisted the teen voluntarily gave her around 200,000 baht and nothing more. A Thai mother accompanied her teenage son to meet the well-known lawyer, Ronnarong Kaewphet, to spread a warning to the public. The…
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Paws and effect: New Bangkok law to shake up pet ownership rules
A new law set to take effect in Bangkok early next year will significantly alter pet ownership regulations. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Ordinance on Animal Keeping and Release Control 2024, coming into force on January 10 next year, seeks to manage stray populations and promote responsible pet ownership, particularly affecting dog and cat owners. The ordinance classifies Bangkok as…
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Tragic accident in Kanchanaburi claims lives after tyre blowout
A family returning from a birthday celebration met with a tragic accident when their pickup truck suffered a tyre blowout and crashed into an electricity pole. Police Lieutenant Aumnaj Chanbutr, Deputy Inspector at Nong Khao Police Station in Kanchanaburi province, yesterday, May 5, at 9.34pm, received a report of a serious accident on U Thong-Kanchanaburi Road, opposite the entrance to…
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Tragic accident: Woman falls into septic tank in Phitsanulok
A 65 year old woman tragically died after falling into a septic tank at her home in Phitsanulok province. Her granddaughter discovered her body, leading to a police investigation into the accident. Police Colonel Chanasak Phueanghuengkaew from Wang Thong Police Station received a report at 6.25pm, Yesterday, May 5, about a dead woman in a septic tank at a house…
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UK roadshow rocks South Thailand with fair, farms and flair
The British Embassy in Bangkok wrapped up a whirlwind three-day roadshow across southern Thailand, marking a major milestone in the 170th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and Thailand. Running from April 28 to 30, the outreach tour made stops in Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi, and Surat Thani, showcasing a blend of serious diplomacy and lively community engagement.…
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Teen caught with meth worth 19 million baht at Mekong River
A 17 year old was caught transporting methamphetamine worth 19 million baht on behalf of a Lao drug gang. The teenager was apprehended while waiting to receive the narcotics, which were being transported by boat across the Mekong River to the Thai side yesterday, May 5. Rear Admiral Narong Emdee, commander of the Mekong Riverine Unit, along with his team,…
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Israeli tourist kicks up a stink over shoe rule, plays victim (video)
A rude foreigner caught on camera insulting Thais over a simple “shoes off” rule has backpedalled furiously, claiming she was misunderstood, mistreated, and maligned simply for being Israeli, as fury mounts over a string of bad behaviour by her fellow countrymen in the Kingdom of Thailand. The drama unfolded yesterday, May 5, when the Koh Pha Ngan Conscious Community Facebook…
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Lightning strike kills four cows in Nakhon Ratchasima storm
During a storm, four cows from a herd seeking shelter under a tree were killed by a lightning strike, while two others were knocked unconscious but later recovered. The owner was in shock as she was herding them back to avoid the rain around 2pm yesterday, May 5. The incident occurred at Pranee Songsawat’s cattle pen in Baan Takud Rang,…
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Missing catamaran found off Phuket, Canadian sailor safe
A solo sailor vanished, a luxury catamaran went silent, and fears of a maritime disaster gripped Phuket, until a dramatic twist yesterday saw the missing boat found bobbing near Koh Racha Noi, with the Canadian sailor alive and well. The search for the catamaran Liliput, which sparked a marine alert across southern Thailand, ended on a high note yesterday, May 5,…
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Bar humbug! Foreign tourist brawls bruise Pattaya’s party scene
Punches flew, tempers flared and yet another black eye was dealt to Pattaya’s party scene today after a boozy bar bust-up between foreign tourists left three injured and police scrambling to track down the culprits behind the chaos. A full-blown street scrap erupted outside a bar on Soi Chalermprakiat 25 in Nongprue, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri, today, May 6,…
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Kok River contamination sparks fears in northern Thailand
The Kok River, winding through the northern provinces of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai before joining the Mekong River, has become a source of concern for residents who once depended on it for agriculture, fisheries, and tourism. High concentrations of arsenic, a hazardous heavy metal, have been discovered, generating fear and uncertainty among those who rely on the river for…
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Thai gunman arrested after opening fire at Tak petrol station
Police launched a swift response and arrested a Thai man who fired random shots outside a petrol station in Mae Sot district, in the northern province of Tak, this morning. The official Facebook page of Mae Sot Police Station issued a warning to the public at 7.29am, today, May 6. In the post, officers stated: “Maniac man with a gun.…
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License to grill: Corrupt cop shakes down 79-baht diner for bribes
A fed-up restaurant manager has blown the whistle on a corrupt cop who allegedly demanded a monthly bribe to stop police raids, turning a humble 79-baht-a-dish diner into the target of relentless inspections that have scared off customers and slashed sales. Reporters were called to the Chop Charoen restaurant in Soi Mu Ban Chang Ayothaya, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, after…
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People’s Party urges peace talks after deadly southern attacks
A wave of violence in Thailand’s Deep South has sparked a fierce call to action from the People’s Party, which is demanding the government restart peace talks and urging insurgents to stop slaughtering innocent civilians. The opposition People’s Party has issued an open letter calling on the Thai government to urgently resume stalled peace talks with insurgent groups, while also…
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Young woman in Soi Ratchada 13 assaulted, suspects charged
Police are actively assisting a victim assaulted in Soi Ratchada 13, who, after being discovered with drugs, has developed mental health issues. The person is currently receiving treatment, while police have charged four suspects and are searching for another. At 6pm yesterday, May 5 at Sutthisan Police Station, Doctor Thanakrit Jittareerat, assistant to the minister of public health, and Kanthas…
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Ice and menace: Pattaya methamphetamine bust causes mayhem
A tip-off from fed-up locals led to a major methamphetamine bust in Pattaya this week but things turned truly wild when a raving suspect attacked civilians, claimed to be a cop’s son, and sparked a full-blown panic in the streets. Pattaya City police yesterday May 5, swooped on a known drug hotspot in Jomtien Soi 3 after residents provided photos…
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7 Russian nationals hospitalised after eating unidentified wild fruit
Rescuers rushed seven Russian nationals to hospitals after they consumed wild fruit while visiting Khao Na Nai Luang National Park in the southern province of Surat Thani. Ta Khun Prom Foundation rescuers were called to assist the group, who suffered from dizziness and vomiting in the park area in Phanom district at 1.33pm yesterday, May 5. Five of the victims…
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Confused foreign tourist sparks shoplifting scare in Pattaya
A department store in South Pattaya was thrown into chaos after an outburst by a foreign tourist sparked a theft scare. Pattaya City Police rushed to the scene yesterday, May 5, after alarmed staff and shoppers reported a suspected shoplifter behaving erratically. But when officers arrived, they found the man, a foreign tourist, wasn’t stealing, just struggling with a mental health…
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Northeast Thailand’s billion-baht cable car gets green light
A long-proposed cable car project at Phu Kradueng National Park in northeast Thailand is officially shifting into gear after a 25.7 million baht budget was approved for its design. Atthapol Charoenchansa, Director General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), confirmed the scheme would see a 3-kilometre route constructed, potentially beginning at the Pha Mak Dook…
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Thai police apologise after ignoring influencer’s stalking complaint
Thai police issued an apology to a female social media influencer for acting inappropriately and initially ignoring her complaints of being stalked and threatened by a Burmese man. The influencer, 28 year old Linrada “Lin” Warakornsittichai, posted on her Facebook account, Sanella Linvar, to seek help after officers from Bang Khun Thian Police Station failed to provide any updates on…
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Search at collapsed audit office site nears completion, 14 still missing
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt provided an update today, May 5, on the ongoing search for missing persons at the collapsed State Audit Office building under construction in Chatuchak district. The building collapsed following the March 28 earthquake. Chadchart said rescue operations have made steady progress, with teams now reaching the basement level of Zone SC2, where no further victims are…
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Lightning strikes rocket festival in Prachinburi, injuring two women
Lightning struck during a rocket festival at Wat Rattanettaram today, May 5, in Nadi district, Prachinburi, injuring two women who collapsed unconscious. Strong winds and rain accompanied the incident, prompting quick action from emergency services to assist the injured. The public relations department of the Sajja Buddha Dharma Foundation of Thailand in Kabin Buri district reported receiving a notification about…
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Thai man on the run after raping disabled neighbour in Lop Buri
A Thai man evaded arrest after allegedly raping a disabled female neighbour in the central province of Lop Buri. The victim reportedly appeared visibly distressed whenever she passed the rapist’s house. Residents of the Ban Bang Li community in Tha Wung district expressed sympathy for the victim and sought help from social media influencer Guntouch “Gun” Pongpaiboonwet. Gun, along with…
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Belgian to be deported after drunken rampages in Pattaya
A Belgian man is set to be deported after repeated drunken outbursts in convenience stores in Pattaya, forcing Thai immigration to step in and revoke his visa. Mustafa Hakan Aslan, a Belgian passport holder, was detained by Chon Buri immigration officers yesterday, May 4, following two separate incidents at convenience stores in the space of a week. He will now…
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Condo owner denies keeping deposit after Ukrainian woman trashes room
A condominium owner in Phuket denied accusations of cheating a Ukrainian woman who damaged her property. She clarified that the woman was not her tenant, but the girlfriend of her actual tenant, a Russian man. The Thai woman, Praphaphan Meesomboon, took to her Facebook page last week to share images of her damaged condo unit. The photos showed walls defaced…
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PM defends casino complex plan amid public outcry
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has criticised opponents of the planned casino entertainment complex, accusing political adversaries of creating confusion and fuelling opposition. During the NBT programme, Empowering Thais with PM Paetongtarn, she defended the project, asserting it could attract significant foreign investment and economic benefits without relying on taxpayer funds. Paetongtarn clarified that the investment would come from private and…
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Unlicensed healer under scrutiny after brain tumour patient’s death
A Thai woman blamed an unlicensed healer in the central province of Prachin Buri for the death of her mother, who suffered from brain tumours. The woman died two weeks after consuming a herbal drink and receiving an injection of an unidentified drug. The woman shared the story of her late mother, 61 year old Nit, on social media platforms. She…
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Raw pork fever claims two lives in Thailand outbreak
Two fatalities were recorded due to a recent raw pork fever outbreak, prompting public health officials to caution against consuming raw meat. Symptoms include high fever and muscle aches, especially in those with a history of eating raw pork. Immediate medical consultation is advised. Today, May 5, Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin reported that there are three confirmed cases of…
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Thai tomboy hospitalised after sedan driver rams and assaults her
A Thai tomboy is seeking justice after a man crashed his sedan into her motorcycle and physically assaulted her on a road in the central province of Pathum Thani on Saturday, April 3. The 25 year old victim, Thipchanok, was hospitalised at Bangpakok Hospital 2 in Thanyaburi, Pathum Thani, following the incident. She turned to her university Facebook group for…
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