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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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    Is private health insurance in Thailand worth it? Real costs vs risks explained

    Thailand has a strong healthcare system with both public and private options. Public hospitals offer affordable care, but many people, including expats, choose private health insurance for faster service, modern facilities, and more treatment choices. To decide if private health...

  • Australian caught with loaded gun on Patong’s Bangla Road

    Australian caught with loaded gun on Patong’s Bangla Road

    An Australian man has been arrested in Patong after being caught with an illegal, loaded firearm in the early hours of yesterday morning. Lachlan James McGahey, 31, was detained by police during a routine patrol on Bangla Road at around 3.40am, yesterday, April 21. Officers discovered that McGahey was carrying a Thai-made .38-calibre handgun, which was loaded with eight rounds…

  • Robbery attempt at Yasothon gold shop thwarted by brave owner

    Robbery attempt at Yasothon gold shop thwarted by brave owner

    A gold shop in Yasothon province was the target of a robbery attempt yesterday, April 21. The suspect, armed with an unloaded gun, demanded gold but was thwarted by the alert shop owner and her nephew. The suspect fled the scene, and police are currently pursuing him. Police Lieutenant Colonel Worawut Thanmook, Deputy Superintendent of Mueang Yasothon Police Station, received…

  • 17 year old Thai girl fatally shot after glance exchange at restaurant

    17 year old Thai girl fatally shot after glance exchange at restaurant

    Police are searching for a gunman who fatally shot a 17 year old girl on Sunday, April 20, while she was riding a motorcycle. The incident allegedly stemmed from an exchange of glances at a barbecue restaurant in the central province of Pathum Thani. Medical staff at Rangsit Hospital alerted officers from Khu Khot Police Station after the victim, known…

  • Rolling the dice: Pheu Thai MPs bet on casino and amnesty bills

    Rolling the dice: Pheu Thai MPs bet on casino and amnesty bills

    Pheu Thai lawmakers have been directed to advocate for the casino-entertainment complex and political amnesty bills within their constituencies during the Parliamentary recess. This effort aims to facilitate the smooth passage of these bills. Pheu Thai spokesperson and Member of Parliament Danuporn Punnakanta stated that Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra advised party MPs to assess public opinion on several issues, including…

  • Thai royals to enhance ties with Bhutan in April state visit

    Thai royals to enhance ties with Bhutan in April state visit

    King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua and Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana will embark on a state visit to Bhutan from April 25 to 28, as announced by the Royal Household Bureau. The journey follows an invitation from King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan and aims to enhance the friendship and cooperation between Thailand and Bhutan, which are rooted in shared cultural…

  • Taiwanese man attacked by Pattaya homeless with no prior conflict

    Taiwanese man attacked by Pattaya homeless with no prior conflict

    A Taiwanese man issued a warning to others after he was attacked with a wooden stick by a homeless man outside a restaurant in southern Pattaya last weekend. A reward is being offered for anyone with useful information leading to the arrest of the attacker. The Taiwanese victim and his Thai girlfriend reported the incident to the public yesterday, April 21.…

  • Thailand introduces new cybercrime law to tackle data misuse

    Thailand introduces new cybercrime law to tackle data misuse

    A new cybercrime law aims to tackle cybercrime at its roots by preventing the misuse of personal data, as stated by the Personal Data Protection Committee (PDPC). PDPC Secretary General, Police Colonel Surapong Plengkham, announced yesterday, April 21, that the Royal Decree on Measures for the Prevention and Suppression of Cybercrime 2025 has been officially published in the Royal Gazette.…

  • Bang Khen police arrest brothers for motorcycle theft

    Bang Khen police arrest brothers for motorcycle theft

    Bang Khen police successfully apprehended two brothers who had been involved in motorcycle theft and dismantling parts for sale. The operation yesterday, April 21, was led by Police Colonel Anan Warasart, with assistance from Deputy Investigation Chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Kosolpiya Sima, Investigation Chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Pornchai Wongprasertkan, and Investigation Inspector Police Captain Yuranan Phetmanee. The suspects, 37 year…

  • Thailand’s sarus cranes arrive in Vietnam for conservation

    Thailand’s sarus cranes arrive in Vietnam for conservation

    In a monumental step for wildlife conservation, six sarus cranes have arrived in Vietnam as part of an ambitious project to save the endangered species. The cranes, flown in from Thailand, were welcomed at Tram Chim National Park in Dong Thap province, Vietnam, on Sunday, April 20, marking the beginning of a significant reintroduction programme aimed at restoring the species…

  • 9 month old baby boy survives accident that kills family in Thailand

    9 month old baby boy survives accident that kills family in Thailand

    A nine month old baby boy was the sole survivor of a deadly car accident on Phetchakasem Road in the southern province of Prachuap Khiri Khan, which claimed the lives of his parents and grandmother. A Thai doctor shared the tragic story of the infant on his clinic’s Facebook page, Yingyos Orthopaedic Clinic, yesterday, April 21. He explained that he…

  • Phuket beach bonk shock! Randy tourists caught in sandy scandal

    Phuket beach bonk shock! Randy tourists caught in sandy scandal

    A frisky foreign couple sparked outrage in Phuket after being caught having sex on Patong Beach in broad daylight. Social media in Thailand erupted after explicit footage emerged of a tourist couple engaging in a public sex act on Phuket’s famous Patong Beach, leaving locals and fellow holidaymakers stunned and disgusted. The couple, described as a man and woman of…

  • Mum’s pep talk stops runaway gunman after he shot his wife

    Mum’s pep talk stops runaway gunman after he shot his wife

    An armed and dangerous 27 year old man who shot his wife was caught within hours, thanks to rapid coordination between Pattaya and Kanchanaburi police and a well-timed pep talk from his mum. The chaos began around 8.40.m, yesterday, April 21, in Pattaya’s Nongprue area, where police rushed to a rented room after reports of gunfire. There, they found that…

  • Single mother and children flee harassment by tenant in Nonthaburi

    Single mother and children flee harassment by tenant in Nonthaburi

    A single mother and her three children faced threats, harassment, and assault from a tenant in their Nonthaburi home, prompting them to flee and relocate for their safety. The incident, shared on social media, occurred on April 18 at 10.24pm near the dormitory in Soi Liang Mueang Nonthaburi 10, Bang Kraso, Mueang Nonthaburi district. The victim, 34 year old Khwanchanok,…

  • Red Bull heir at centre of corruption case as verdict nears

    Red Bull heir at centre of corruption case as verdict nears

    A major corruption case involving Red Bull heir Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya reaches its climax today, April 22. The court will deliver a verdict on allegations of evidence tampering in the 2012 hit-and-run that killed a police officer. The case, number 131/2024, sees former Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, Police General Somyot Pumpanmuang, and Net Naksuk, the former Deputy Public…

  • Pattaya cop scales new heights to daring rescue helpless child

    Pattaya cop scales new heights to daring rescue helpless child

    A courageous Pattaya cop yesterday pulled off a daring rescue mission straight out of an action film, scaling a fourth-floor balcony to save a terrified seven year old girl trapped alone in a locked flat. The brave police officer has been showered with praise after risking life and limb to rescue the young girl stranded in a condo unit in…

  • Fire destroys wooden house in Phayao, damage over 500,000 baht

    Fire destroys wooden house in Phayao, damage over 500,000 baht

    In the early hours of this morning a fire engulfed a wooden house located in the Rong Jua area near Wat Sawang Arom in Mueang district, Phayao province, causing extensive damage exceeding 500,000 baht. It took over two hours for firefighters to bring the blaze under control. Police Lieutenant Chatchasiri Jikamwan, deputy inspector at Dok Kham Tai Police Station, received…

  • Thailand braces for extreme heat and thunderstorms

    Thailand braces for extreme heat and thunderstorms

    The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) predicts exceptionally hot weather throughout Thailand, with thunderstorms anticipated in 34 provinces today, April 22. Northern regions may see temperatures reaching up to 40°C. Residents across the country are advised to take precautions against the intense heat and potential storms. The TMD highlights that low pressure due to heat is affecting the upper part of…

  • Van-dalism! Biker goes berserk in Pattaya road rage rampage

    Van-dalism! Biker goes berserk in Pattaya road rage rampage

    A crazed biker turned a peaceful temple road into a warzone after smashing up a passenger van in broad daylight. The shocking moment was caught on camera. The terrifying road rage attack unfolded yesterday, April 21, outside Nong Yai Temple in Pattaya, leaving a white Chon Buri-to-Rayong passenger van with its windows shattered and its shaken driver vowing legal action.…

  • Russian teacher urges Thais to drop ‘Farang’ if ‘Ni Hao’ is deemed racist

    Russian teacher urges Thais to drop ‘Farang’ if ‘Ni Hao’ is deemed racist

    A Russian language teacher urged Thai people to stop using the word “farang” to refer to foreigners if they view the term “Ni Hao” as racist. The controversy surrounding the phrase “Ni Hao” erupted on Thai social media after a former Thai-Scottish park ranger, Siranudh “Sai” Scott, shared a video about the issue last week. In the video, Sai explained that…

  • Thailand rejects US loan terms for F-16 jets

    Thailand rejects US loan terms for F-16 jets

    Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai confirmed today that Thailand will not move forward with the purchase of F-16 fighter jets from the United States, citing the unfeasibility of meeting the stringent loan conditions attached to the deal. Phumtham explained that the US required Thailand to take out a loan from a US-based bank to cover the entire cost of the fleet…

  • Executives sought in Thailand building collapse probe

    Executives sought in Thailand building collapse probe

    Three executives from China Railway No.10 (Thailand) Co. are being sought by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) in connection with the collapse of the State Audit Office building in Bangkok during an earthquake on Friday, March 28, which resulted in the deaths of numerous workers. The DSI revealed the search following the arrest of Zhang Chuanling, a Chinese executive…

  • Police hunt suspect in fatal Phuket stabbing

    Police hunt suspect in fatal Phuket stabbing

    Police are in pursuit of a suspect involved in a stabbing in Phuket, where a 59 year old man was fatally wounded. The incident occurred yesterday, April 20 at 1.30pm in Soi Hon Sai Thong, Mueang Phuket district, Phuket province. The victim had been stabbed under the right rib cage and was discovered seriously injured in the middle of a…

  • Thai military intercepts drug traffickers on Thai-Myanmar border

    Thai military intercepts drug traffickers on Thai-Myanmar border

    In Chiang Mai, Thai military forces engaged in two operations against drug traffickers along the Thai-Myanmar border, resulting in the deaths of two suspects and the seizure of narcotics. The operations took place yesterday, April 20, as part of a government and army directive aimed at intensifying anti-drug efforts in the region. The military received intelligence about an international drug…

  • Thai PM’s visit to Cambodia sparks criticism

    Thai PM’s visit to Cambodia sparks criticism

    Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is scheduled for an official visit to Cambodia on April 23 and 24. The visit will include bilateral discussions and a ceremony to unveil the logo commemorating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Cambodia, as announced by government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub. During the visit, significant agreements will be signed and courtesy visits will…

  • NARIT invites public to witness Venus at its brightest

    NARIT invites public to witness Venus at its brightest

    NARIT is inviting the public to observe Venus, the brightest celestial body visible to the naked eye in the morning sky in the east. The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT), under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation, encourages stargazing enthusiasts to witness the phenomenon from early morning until sunrise on Thursday, April 24. Supharerk Krihanon,…

  • Paetongtarn urges stronger regional ties to tackle shared troubles

    Paetongtarn urges stronger regional ties to tackle shared troubles

    Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra called for urgent cross-border cooperation to tackle the world’s shared challenges, from climate change to geopolitical tensions, during the 81st session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). Speaking in the capital today, April 21, the Bangkok-born PM addressed ministers from across Asia and the Pacific, stressing that regional unity…

  • Phuket sting operation: man arrested with meth in rubber plantation

    Phuket sting operation: man arrested with meth in rubber plantation

    A coordinated sting operation led by the Thalang District Administrative Special Operations Unit resulted in the arrest of a man in Thalang, Phuket. Thousands of methamphetamine pills and a significant amount of crystal meth were discovered hidden in a rubber plantation. The arrest was announced during a press conference on April 18. Among those present were Phuket Vice Governor Adul…

  • Excessive force: Thai man shot dead after running police checkpoint

    Excessive force: Thai man shot dead after running police checkpoint

    A family accused Thai police officers of misusing their power after they shot and killed a Thai man who allegedly ran a checkpoint in the central province of Nakhon Nayok. The 29 year old Thai man, Arnon “Beer” Ngamroop, was shot and transported to a hospital by officers from Pak Pli Police Station. When Beer’s family arrived at the hospital, they…

  • Pope Francis dies at 88 after divine decade at the top

    Pope Francis dies at 88 after divine decade at the top

    Pope Francis, the first Latin American and Jesuit pontiff in history, has passed away at the age of 88, the Vatican has confirmed. The beloved leader died at 7.35am, today, April 21, sending shockwaves through the Catholic world and triggering the official process to choose his successor. “Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of…

  • Two nighttime attacks in Narathiwat injures 17

    Two nighttime attacks in Narathiwat injures 17

    Seventeen people were injured in two separate attacks in Thailand’s southern province of Narathiwat last night, April 20. One involved a motorcycle bomb, the other a gun and grenade assault on a dinner gathering. The first attack took place as Police Colonel Weerayut Taseepan, from the Koke Kian Police Station, reported a loud explosion beside the wall of the police…