Thailand News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, and lifestyle—get breaking updates from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. Stay informed on Thai society, economy, tourism, and expat life with The Thaiger.
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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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Thief steals cash, alcohol and speaker from Chachoengsao shop
A cunning customer pretended to sit and drink at a shop while the owner went upstairs to rest. Taking advantage of the situation, he stole money amounting to over 10,000 baht, along with a bottle of alcohol and a Bluetooth speaker. By the time the theft was discovered, the culprit had already fled on a motorcycle. Today, May 15, footage…
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Similan Islands shut for sea-son: Timeout to let paradise breathe
Thailand’s tropical jewel is taking a breather, the world-famous Similan Islands are going off-limits for five months in a bid to revive coral reefs, boost management and give misbehaving tour operators the boot. The idyllic marine park in the Andaman Sea, off Phang Nga’s coast, will be shut to tourists from tomorrow, Friday, May 16 until October 14, officials announced,…
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Female delivery rider harassed by fake air force officer in Bangkok
A female delivery rider has shared her alarming experience of harassment by a customer claiming to be an air force officer in Bangkok. The incident, shared on a popular Facebook page, serves as a cautionary tale after she was assaulted and threatened by a male customer. The post described how the rider took on extra work in the Don Mueang…
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Thai woman allegedly electrocuted at Samut Prakan Police Station
A Thai woman is now in stable condition after she was allegedly electrocuted at Phra Samut Chedi Police Station in Samut Prakan province near Bangkok. Two Thai men visited the police station yesterday, May 14, to file a complaint after being chased and attacked by a group of unidentified men. The gang attempted to shoot and stab them on a…
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Shroom with a view: Israeli busted in Samui magic mushroom sting
Another Israeli tourist has landed in hot water after being busted in a late-night sting on Koh Samui, this time for allegedly flogging hallucinogenic mushrooms out of a beachside cannabis shop. Thailand’s patience with unruly foreign visitors is wearing thin and a fresh scandal on Koh Samui has only added fuel to the fire. Police in Surat Thani arrested a…
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Police arrest key figure in Bangkok drug network
Investigators from Metropolitan Police Division 8 arrested a 28 year old man identified as a key figure in a drug network in the Wang Thonglang area of Bangkok. They seized a large quantity of drugs, including 7 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine and 42 kilogrammes of ketamine. The arrest took place around 6am on May 13 on Soi Ramkhamhaeng 21, Intersection…
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Thai soldier forced to drive Grab and share profits to commander
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) is investigating a high-ranking officer in the northeastern province of Udon Thani, who was accused of forcing a soldier to work as a Grab driver and collecting the earnings for himself. A journalist from Channel 8 accidentally uncovered the alleged corruption within the RTAF while using the Grab ride-hailing app. The journalist noticed that…
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Tragic elephant trampling in Chachoengsao’s Ta Takiab district
A male villager in the Ta Takiab district of Chachoengsao province was found deceased after being trampled by a wild elephant while collecting chillies. The district chief led a challenging search through a forest known for its elephant population. Yesterday, May 14, at around 12pm, district chief Amnuay Kaset Sinsanukoon received a report from the village head of Ban Khao…
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Fake licence plate leads to car crash in Ayutthaya chase
A police pursuit led to a dramatic incident on Ayutthaya-Sena road as a car with a fake licence plate crashed, injuring several people. The vehicle, driven by a 61 year old man and a 31 year old woman, both of Karen descent, was found with numerous forged documents. The incident began at 5.30pm, yesterday, May 14, when Police Lieutenant Samart Raksasak,…
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Thai delivery worker stabbed in payment dispute with clients
A Thai delivery worker is seeking justice after a couple refused to pay for their order before stabbing him when he asked for payment at their home in the central province of Samut Songkhram. The 20 year old delivery worker, Thanatat, filed a complaint with Amphawa Police Station yesterday, May 14, following the violent incident which occurred at his clients’…
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Motorcyclist dies in collision with durian truck in Trat
A tragic accident occurred in the village of Ban Hin Ploeng, Mueang Trat district, Trat province, where a motorcycle collided with a durian-laden pickup truck, resulting in a fatality. Police Major Boonma Thatong from Mueang Trat Police Station received the report yesterday, May 14, at 6.10pm and, along with the Sawang Boon Rescue Foundation, dashed to the scene. Upon arrival,…
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Trang Airport finally taxiing toward take-off after years of turbulence
After years of delays, walkouts and government faffing about, Trang Airport’s long-stalled revamp is finally back on the runway, with part of a shiny new terminal expected to open next month and billions more being poured into the project. The opposition People’s Party has vowed to keep a close eye on Trang Airport’s 4.4-billion-baht overhaul, which has been riddled with contractor…
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Thailand video news | Phuket soaked and stranded as downpours drench tourist zones, Alcohol law shake-up sparks tension before Buddhist festivals
Thailand’s tourism hotspots are making headlines for all the wrong reasons this week, with chaos caused by flash floods, odd antics from unruly tourists, and troubling reports of child exploitation. From a soaked and stranded Phuket to changes in alcohol laws during sacred Buddhist festivals, here’s your roundup of the top stories shaking the Kingdom. Phuket Soaked and Stranded as…
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Bangkok siege as gunman goes on rampage over lost lover
A boozed-up gunman brought terror to a Bangkok neighbourhood this morning, firing wildly into the sky and taking six terrified hostages, all in a crazed bid to find his missing girlfriend. Panic gripped Soi Wat Lakhon Tham in the Ban Chang Lo subdistrict around 9.45am today, May 15, when the gunman, a 31 year old Thai man, Tae, went on…
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Thai conscript wanted for stabbing ex-girlfriend over sexual rejection
Police are searching for a military conscript who stabbed his ex-girlfriend in the neck at her workplace in the northern province of Phitsanulok yesterday, after she refused to have sex with him. A Thai man, Nakarin, yesterday, May 14, rushed his 19 year old colleague, Sasipim, to a hospital and reported the attack to Mueang Phitsanulok Police Station. The owner…
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Cone, not forgotten! Pattaya clamps down on parking space hogs
It’s the end of the road for selfish parking space hogs in Pattaya, as city officials crack down on cheeky locals and businesses reserving public roads with cones, chains and bins like it’s their private driveway. Pattaya’s war on illegal space-grabbing has kicked into high gear, with municipal officers hitting the streets to clear cones, barriers and random clutter dumped…
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No water in lungs: Thai party entertainer dies before entering river
An autopsy confirmed that a Thai party entertainer, whose body was found in a river in the central province of Kanchanaburi, died of a drug overdose, not by drowning. The family of the 28 year old party entertainer, Mark, sought justice after police delayed the investigation into his death. Mark’s mother and two sisters, along with another party entertainer, appeared…
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Splash and dash! Pattaya swamped as storm lashes city (video)
A torrential morning downpour left Pattaya swamped as a storm left roads underwater, traffic crawling, and snakes slithering into the chaos. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) revealed that there’s more to come. A heavy rainstorm hammered Bang Lamung district in Chon Buri for over an hour starting at 9.36am, yesterday, May 14, flooding large swathes of Pattaya and grinding morning…
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Pregnant woman and friend killed by lightning in Sisaket tragedy
A tragic incident occurred when a seven-month pregnant woman and her husband’s friend were fatally struck by lightning while seeking shelter under a tree in Sisaket province. The woman’s husband discovered the scene upon returning from delivering a load of eucalyptus wood. Police from Khukhan Station in Sisaket were informed by Khukhan Hospital staff about the critical condition of 35…
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Spice bar sizzler: Ex-flame blamed for fiery bust-up in Pattaya
A blazing row turned literal when a late-night fire tore through a Pattaya bar, with suspicions pointing squarely at the owner’s ex, who’d allegedly threatened to torch the place. Flames ripped through Anne’s Island Spice Bar in Soi Phratamnak 5 during the early hours of yesterday, May 14, sparking panic and a rapid emergency response. The blaze broke out around…
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Brace for a Thai’dal wave: Storms set to rain supreme across Thailand
Heavy rainfall and storms are anticipated across 50 provinces in Thailand, prompting warnings of flash floods and mountain runoffs. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasts thunderstorms in Bangkok, with an 80% chance of precipitation on May 15. Over the next 24 hours, heavy rain is expected in parts of northern Thailand, the lower northeastern region, the central region including Bangkok…
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Brake-ing bad: Good Samaritan’s house guest nicks a ride
A Good Samaritan kindness nearly landed him in hot water, after the homeless man he took in turned out to be a sneaky thief with a stolen motorbike. The kindly man narrowly dodged legal drama after unknowingly harbouring a motorcycle thief under his own roof in Bang Lamung, Chon Buri. The drama unfolded yesterday, May 14, when 39 year old Suthep…
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Phuket woman at large after stabbing victim over alleged affair
A Thai woman stabbed another woman outside a grocery store in the Wichit sub-district of Phuket on Monday, May 12, after alleging that the victim had an affair with her boyfriend. Officers from Wichit Police Station received a report of the stabbing outside the store and rushed to the scene to assist the victim, Samittra, who sustained a stab wound…
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Mother searched after monitor lizard found eating infant’s body
Locals in Samut Prakan province were left in panic after witnessing a monitor lizard consuming the lifeless body of an infant. Police officers are now searching for the mother of the dead child. At approximately 2pm today, May 14, the Facebook page NAKON 45 อัญวุฒิ โพธิ์อำไพ reported that rescuers from the Ruam Katanyu Foundation rushed to Soi King Kaew 28…
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Chiang Mai lottery sales dip despite cultural event interest
In Chiang Mai, lottery ticket sales are seeing mixed results as the significance of key dates such as Visakha Bucha, the Royal Ploughing Ceremony, and Coronation Day fuels interest. Despite this, vendors report a dip in sales due to the school term’s start. Today, May 14, it was observed that people are gradually purchasing lucky numbers at major markets around…
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True grit: New boss vows comeback cash in 100-day dash
True Corporation chief Sigve Brekke has hit the ground running, setting out a bold 100-day plan packed with promises of profit, digital dominance, and even a long-overdue payout to shareholders. Brekke, who took the reins as group chief executive in March, is banking on data, discipline and dividends to spark a revival at the telecom titan, following its blockbuster merger…
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New law expands venues selling alcohol despite Buddhist fest bans
The government is set to widen the scope of venues permitted to sell alcoholic beverages daily, following the enactment of a new law last week. This legislation allows five categories of venues to sell alcohol. Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong stated that the new law, announced in the Royal Gazette on May 9 and effective from May 10, continues…
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Thai woman’s search finds missing mother ‘gone with the wind’
A Thai woman who was searching for her missing mother was shocked to find that her mum sold their shared home and was living happily alone. The mother accused her daughter of physically abusing her, prompting her to run away. The woman named Ree sought help from news agencies after her mother, Peng, disappeared from their shared home in the…
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Baht out of luck: Thai currency slips as greenback flexes muscle
The Thai baht is wobbling once again, with currency watchers bracing for a further slide this week as the mighty US dollar gathers steam following a temporary pause in the US-China tariff war. Analysts say the baht could weaken to as low as 33.80 per dollar in the coming days, as uncertainty lingers despite a fleeting boost in global market…
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Man arrested for father’s murder, body found in septic tank
A man was arrested for allegedly killing his father and hiding the dismembered body in a septic tank, in Mueang Suea subdistrict, Phayakkhaphum Phisai district, Maha Sarakham province. On Monday, May 12, police were notified by Thongsai of the discovery of the body of his 84 year old father, Boonram, in the tank. Thongsai suspected his half-brother as the perpetrator,…
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