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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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...
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People’s Party slams pricey Thai Parliament car park project
The People’s Party (PP) disclosed details about another expensive parliamentary project involving the construction of a car park building. Parit Wacharasindhu, an MP from the opposition who leads a House committee focused on political development, mass communications, and public involvement, stated yesterday that the House of Representatives’ secretariat announced a successful bidder for a 104.5 million baht project to design…
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Pattaya babe steals disabled Aussie man’s cash while he showers
A disabled Aussie man hoping for a bit of holiday romance in Pattaya was left red-faced and out of pocket, after a beachside beauty vanished with his cash while he was in the shower. Adding insult to injury, the victim’s wheelchair had “Quickie” emblazoned on the back, a name that turned out to be more prophecy than brand, as the…
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Rescue vehicle runs red light and kills woman on Lamphun road
A rescue vehicle ran a red light in the northern province of Lamphun and crashed into two motorcycles, resulting in the death of a Thai woman. Officers from Mueang Chi Police Station were alerted to the accident at Doi Ti Intersection on the Lampang–Chiang Mai Road at around 8.30pm on Tuesday, May 6. Witnesses reported that a rescue vehicle belonging…
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Midnight copper thief plunges Phuket villas into darkness
A cunning cable thief struck under the cover of darkness in Phuket’s Chalong area, cutting off power to six luxury homes, and leaving residents fuming and fearful of more attacks. At around midnight on Saturday, May 3, a thief dug into the ground at the Siwalee Village section of Land & Houses Park and made off with a bundle of…
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Thai provinces braced for storms and heavy rain
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a weather forecast, predicting thunderstorms and strong winds across 40 provinces, including Bangkok, with heavy rainfall expected in the southern region covering 60% of the area. Residents are advised to exercise caution due to severe weather conditions today, May 8. In the next 24 hours, the upper part of Thailand will experience thunderstorms…
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BoT tipped to slice interest rates as inflation and exports wobble
Thailand’s top money men are sharpening their scissors, with experts betting the Bank of Thailand (BoT) will slash interest rates at least twice more this year to prop up the faltering economy, rocked by a US trade war and dwindling tourist numbers. In a shock twist, April saw the consumer price index (CPI) shrink by 0.22%, the first drop in…
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Aussie tourist drowns near Phuket’s Koh Racha Yai
An Australian tourist tragically drowned on May 6, just off the coast of Phuket’s Racha Island, as he reportedly went for a swim while intoxicated. The 22 year old tourist was initially revived with CPR, but was pronounced dead upon his arrival at a nearby hospital. On May 6, at 2.28pm, the Phuket Tourist Assistance Centre (Pearl Centre) received a…
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Irishman arrested after late-night Pattaya bar brawl
It was a booze-fuelled brawl in the heart of Pattaya’s nightlife strip that left blood on the floor, staff in hospital, and an injured Irishman claiming he’s the real victim. At 3.19am today, May 7, the Sawang Boriboon Rescue Centre in Pattaya received a call about a violent altercation at a beer bar in Soi 6, off Pattaya Second Road.…
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Bangkok’s SAO collapse sparks charges and corruption probe
The fallout from the deadly collapse of a State Audit Office (SAO) building in March is spiralling into a legal and political firestorm, with engineers, local officials, and shady foreign firms all under the microscope. The Metropolitan Police Bureau is preparing to file multiple charges against engineers and SAO officials responsible for the construction of the building, which came crashing…
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Bangkok–Moscow flight diverts to Delhi after mid-air fume scare
A Bangkok-to-Moscow Aeroflot flight carrying over 400 passengers made an unexpected emergency landing in Delhi yesterday after the crew detected a suspicious odour — sparking fears of smoke in the cabin and prompting a rapid response from Indian airport emergency services. Aeroflot flight SU273, operated by a Boeing 777-300ER registered RA-73142, departed Bangkok yesterday, May 6, at 1.40pm local time,…
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Thai tourists tricked by scam travel agency, losing 5 million baht
A Thai man issued a warning to travel enthusiasts after he and his friends were tricked by a travel agency into purchasing a package tour to Pakistan, resulting in a loss of 240,000 baht. Numerous other victims have since come forward, with total losses estimated at around 5 million baht. The man shared details of the scam on his Facebook…
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Fish from hell: Thai trucker KO’d by flying tuna in Samut Prakan
In a freak accident that sounds more like a scene from a slapstick comedy than real life, a Thai truck driver was left bloodied and bruised after a massive frozen 40-kilogramme tuna fell from the sky, straight onto his head. The bizarre incident happened around 12pm today, May 7, at Suphanawa Pier, Lock 6, in Songkhonong subdistrict, Phra Pradaeng district,…
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Thai F-16s scramble as Myanmar fighter sparks panic
A Myanmar fighter jet triggered a tense military response this week after flying close to Thai airspace in Kanchanaburi province, prompting the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) to deploy two F-16 fighter jets to intercept what was initially classified as an unidentified aircraft. But according to Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, the drama never truly crossed the line, literally. “The aircraft…
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Bangkok building collapse: 13 still missing, search continues
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) continues its search and recovery operations for the 13 people still missing after the collapse of the newly constructed State Audit Office building. Suriyachai Rawiwan, the Director of the BMA’s Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, announced on Monday that rescue teams can now access the entire basement area, measuring 40×40 metres. As of that day,…
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Burmese worker busted in Phuket for 1.1 million baht cash heist
A 23 year old Burmese worker has been arrested for stealing over 1.1 million baht from his employer’s home in Phuket. The Myanmar national, Nye Bo Thet, was arrested as part of a Cherng Talay Police crime suppression campaign running from May 1 to May 7. Police tracked the suspect down and nabbed him outside Building 92 of the Baan…
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Police bust motorcycle theft ring, arrest three suspects
In the early hours of this morning, police apprehended a group involved in motorcycle theft and illegal sales across borders. The operation, led by Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, resulted in the arrest of three suspects with existing warrants. Wuichai, also known as Kee, today, May 7, was captured on charges of night-time theft committed with an accomplice. The investigation…
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Teen arrested after shooting incident over personal dispute
A teen suspect was arrested following a shooting incident involving 15 rounds, reportedly due to a personal dispute. The 19 year old suspect claimed self-defence, stating, “If we didn’t act, they would have,” following several previous altercations. The incident occurred when two people on a red PCX motorcycle, with an unidentified license plate, stopped and fired approximately 15 shots at the…
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Lèse majesté: US academic fights Thai university sacking
A US academic is challenging his dismissal from a Thai university after being sacked following a dropped lèse majesté charge. The American national claims the termination was unlawful, lacked due process, and violated university regulations. The case has sparked debate over academic freedom and the treatment of foreign scholars in Thailand. Chambers, a former lecturer in the Faculty of Social…
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3.0 earthquake hits Nakhon Si Thammarat, prompts evacuations
An earthquake measuring 3.0 on the Richter scale struck Nakhon Si Thammarat at 5.31am today, May 7. Residents in several subdistricts reported feeling tremors, and some areas heard loud noises. Hospitals swiftly evacuated buildings while assessing potential damage. The Earthquake Observation Division of the Thai Meteorological Department detailed that the quake occurred at a depth of 1 kilometre in Sai…
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Thai man cites niece’s alleged abuse in murder of her husband
Police arrested a Thai man for the murder of his niece’s husband at a durian plantation in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat. He confessed to taking revenge on behalf of his niece, who was repeatedly abused by her husband. Officers from Thasala Police Station responded to the death of 47 year old Thai man, Somchai, at the durian…
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Illegal cigarette network dismantled, 42 million baht fines issued
The Economic Crime Suppression Division, in collaboration with the Excise Department, dismantled a major international illegal cigarette trafficking network. Two Cambodian nationals, 35 year old Chiva Chuoy and 35 year old Nak Khoeun, were apprehended with 50,000 packs of illegal cigarettes, facing fines of up to 42 million baht (US$1.28 million). Yesterday, May 6, at 1.30pm, Police Major General Thasaphum…
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Hotpot horror: Beer glass brawl erupts in Pattaya restaurant
What started as a sizzling night out at a popular Pattaya hotpot spot boiled over into a glass-shattering fight that sent three people to the hospital and left diners in shock. Earlier this week, a heated row at a well-known hot pot restaurant in Central Pattaya exploded into violence between a transgender woman, a woman, and the woman’s brother, turning…
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Motorway crash in Chon Buri leaves three trapped in wreckage
A collision on a motorway resulted in a pickup truck crashing into the rear of a trailer truck, leaving three people trapped in the wreckage. Rescue teams were called to the scene, using hydraulic equipment to extricate the victims and transport them to the hospital. The incident occurred at 10.30pm yesterday, May 6, along the inbound lane of the motorway…
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Fuel shock: Thailand hikes petrol and diesel tax as oil prices drop
Motorists across Thailand are bracing for higher fuel prices after the government officially announced a fresh hike in excise taxes on petrol and diesel, just as global oil prices are falling. The move was confirmed by a new ministerial regulation published in the Royal Gazette and will take effect from today, May 7. Issued by the Ministry of Finance, the regulation updates…
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Pet cat shot with airsoft gun by neighbour amid noise dispute
A Thai woman is seeking justice for her pet cat after a neighbour nearly killed the animal by shooting it with an airsoft gun, allegedly in anger over her loud motorcycle engine. Officers from Mueang Udon Thani Police Station visited a house in the Sam Phrao sub-district, Mueang district, Udon Thani province, in the Isaan region, following a report of…
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Thai cops injured chasing rogue bike in Pattaya
A routine patrol turned into a street-side disaster in Pattaya after two police officers were injured during a high-speed chase of a suspicious motorcycle. The drama unfolded around sunset on Monday, May 5, in Soi Nern Plub Wan, when officers from Nong Prue Police Station attempted to stop a modified motorbike drawing attention with its blaring exhaust and missing licence…
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Troops foil vehicle smuggling at Tak province border
Troops from the Ratchamanu Task Force detained a vehicle smuggling operation at Tak province, as the suspects attempted to drive a stolen vehicle across the Moei River yesterday, May 6. Soldiers from the 433rd Company, part of the Ratchamanu Task Force, were conducting patrols and monitoring natural routes in Baan Muen Rue Chai, Phop Phra district, Tak province, when they…
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Brazilian duo caught with 22 million baht cocaine at Bangkok airport
Thai Customs officials apprehended a Brazilian couple for attempting to smuggle cocaine valued at over 22 million baht. Between October 1 last year and yesterday, May 6, customs has handled 140 cases, seizing drugs worth a total of approximately 800 million baht. Yesterday, Pantong Loykulnanta, advisor on development and tax collection and Government spokesperson for the Customs Department, highlighted the…
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Thai man fatally stabs wife after discovering she was a prostitute
A Thai man fatally stabbed his wife on a road in the central province of Chai Nat, after discovering that she was offering sex services. Rescuers from the Ruam Katanyu Foundation rushed to assist the 39 year old Thai woman, Phatcharin, after receiving a report of the stabbing at around 8.30am today, May 7. She was found lying on the…
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Man shoots nephew over debt dispute in Thailand tragedy
A 65 year old man shot and killed his nephew following a long-standing dispute over a debt of several hundred thousand baht. The conflict escalated when the nephew allegedly insulted him over loud motorcycle noise outside his home. Yesterday, May 6, Police Colonel Teerapat Piyataworat from Sikao Police Station received a report from Police Major Sataphon Chongko, an investigator at…
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