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’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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SRT investigates train accident after barrier error injures young woman
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has expressed regret over a severe accident involving a train and a young woman, which occurred after a railway crossing barrier was prematurely opened. The incident prompted the SRT to launch an investigation and dispatch officials to visit the injured party. The accident took place at a railway crossing in Soi Keerinakorn, Moo 7,…
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Manhunt in Bangkok for suspect in fatal shooting of gym owner
A 23 year old man from Myanmar is being pursued by police following the fatal shooting of a 70 year old fitness centre owner in Bangkok. The incident occurred after the suspect allegedly seized the victim’s firearm. The suspect then fled in the victim’s car towards Rangsit, prompting an intensive manhunt by law enforcement. The incident came to light on…
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Bangkok police pursue suspects in Soi Pattanakarn shootings
Police officials in Bangkok are investigating two shooting incidents that occurred in Soi Pattanakarn 32, with efforts underway to secure arrest warrants for suspects believed to number between 10 and 15. Yesterday, May 11, the Metropolitan Police Bureau’s chief, Siam Boonsom, alongside deputy chief Nopasil Poolasawat and other senior police officers, held a meeting to discuss the progress of these…
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Teen’s test drive ends in tragedy at Suvarnabhumi Airport
An 18 year old man’s attempt at testing a vehicle resulted in a tragic accident on Suvarnabhumi Airport’s runway road in Samut Prakan, leading to two fatalities and injuring his girlfriend. Despite warnings, the driver proceeded, leading to the accident today, May 12. Police from Suvarnabhumi Airport Police Station in Samut Prakan received a report about the late-night accident on…
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Lao woman caught smuggling 137,000 ecstasy pills across Thai border
A 23 year old Lao woman was apprehended for attempting to smuggle 137,000 ecstasy pills, valued at over 55 million baht, across the First Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge. She was allegedly promised 10,000 baht for the delivery. Yesterday, May 11, Lieutenant General Boonsin Phadklang, Commander of the 2nd Army Region and Head of the Drug Suppression and Prevention Command, reported that…
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Thai police uncover 256 tonnes of electronic waste in Bang Pahan
A covert facility in Bang Pahan, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, has been discovered to house over 256 tonnes of electronic waste and automotive parts. Thai police and industrial officials are currently investigating the site, where a Chinese national serves as the managing director. On May 11, Police Major General Watcharin Pusit, head of the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Division,…
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Mother of nine accused of explicit video scandal in Thailand
A social media page has exposed a shocking case involving a 34 year old mother with nine children allegedly making explicit videos involving the entire family, including her youngest, a 10 year old. Attempts to warn the family have reportedly been met with insults and threats of legal action, prompting calls for police to investigate further. The page, named ท่านเปา…
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Bangkok drug network dismantled in major police bust
On May 11, police arrested four people at a condominium in Bangkok for drug-related offences, seizing various illicit substances including methamphetamine and ecstasy. This operation led to the dismantling of a major distribution network selling drugs in nightclubs. Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom and other senior officers supervised the arrest of 37 year old Wongsakorn, 32 year old Atcharaphat, 21…
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Teen brawl at Bun Bang Fai festival prompts legal action calls (video)
A video capturing an altercation at a Bun Bang Fai festival in Khamcha-i district, Mukdahan province, has sparked online calls for legal action. The footage, posted by the I Am Mukdahan page, shows a fierce brawl involving a group of teenagers and a lottery vendor, who ends up with facial injuries. The video, lasting 2 minutes and 43 seconds, depicts…
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Myanmar man shoots 70 year old in Bangkok entry dispute
A 23 year old man from Myanmar fatally shot a 70 year old man after being denied entry to visit his pregnant wife at the latter’s workplace. The incident occurred on May 10 at 7pm in the Rom Sai 12 alley, Lak Song subdistrict, Bang Khae district, Bangkok. Police Lieutenant Ekachai Yimnimitt, an investigator from Phetkasem Police Station, along with…
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Nonthaburi police arrest campaign leader for vote-buying in election
Police in Nonthaburi apprehended a 25 year old campaign leader accused of vote-buying during the municipal mayoral election. Found with voter lists, he admitted to distributing cash to voters, keeping a portion for personal expenses. Yesterday, May 11, police, alongside the Nonthaburi Election Commission, arrested Chakrit. He was caught driving a red Toyota Yaris and was found in possession of…
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Family of three perish in tragic Phuket motorcycle crash
Three family members, including a father, daughter, and mother-in-law, tragically died in a motorcycle accident in Phuket. The incident occurred yesterday, May 10, at 5pm when a motorcycle lost control and crashed into a streetlight on Sakdidet Road in the district of Mueang, Phuket province. Police Major Chonlathit Kheaw-on from the Wichit Police Station received the report, leading officers and…
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Severe storm in Bangkok claims life as tree crushes shelter
A severe storm with strong winds and heavy rain resulted in a tree falling and crushing a shelter in Bangkok, leading to the death of 51 year old Buala. The incident was reported yesterday, May 11 and investigated by Police Lieutenant Colonel Pipatchai Panphim, deputy inspector at Thammasala Police Station. The tragedy occurred in the early hours within Soi Phutthamonthon…
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Thailand and Australia boost trade ties amid new vehicle standards
Thailand and Australia are working to enhance sustainable and stable regional trade, aiming to boost the value of automotive exports and maintain Thailand’s status as Australia’s leading exporter of pickup trucks. Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan discussed these objectives after meeting with Australian Ambassador Angela Macdonald at her Bangkok residence on May 7. A significant topic addressed was Australia’s New Vehicle…
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Government forms task force to tackle illegal tour operators nationwide
A nationwide joint task force has been established by the government to address the issue of illegal tour operators and unlicensed tour guides, according to deputy government spokesperson Sasikarn Watthanachan. The task force comprises officials from five agencies: the Tourism Ministry, the Business Development Department, the Department of Special Investigation, the Tourism Police Bureau, and the Immigration Bureau. Their efforts…
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Bangkok building collapse rescue ends; probe into malpractice begins
Efforts to retrieve bodies following the collapse of the 2.1 billion baht State Audit Office building in Bangkok, instigated by the 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar on March 28, have been concluded, according to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s announcement yesterday, May 10. Suriyachai Rawiwon, director of the BMA’s Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, reported that the final areas, including a lift…
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Severe weather alert: Summer storms hit 69 Thai provinces
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued warnings for severe weather, including summer storms, across 69 provinces. Expect heavy rainfall, strong winds, hail, and possible thunderstorms. Southern Thailand will see increased rainfall, while Bangkok faces an 80% chance of precipitation. According to the TMD’s 24-hour forecast from today, May 11, upper Thailand is set to experience summer storms characterised by…
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Thai cops buy bus ticket for broke Pattaya man
In an unexpected display of empathy, Pattaya’s municipal officers have drawn both praise and scepticism after assisting a man who caused a scene at a convenience store—by buying him a bus ticket home with their own cash. The incident unfolded earlier this week when the unidentified man became visibly distressed and agitated inside a convenience store. Onlookers called the police,…
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Thai stock market rebounds despite US tariffs and global volatility
Last month, the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) experienced volatility during the long holiday period. Before the Songkran festival, the SET was significantly impacted by US President Donald Trump’s tariff announcements, reaching a low of 1,056.41 points early in the month. The tariff news affected global stock markets; however, the gold price rose to over US$3,300 (approximately 113,190 baht) per…
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Phuket cops nab meth dealers after traffic stop tip-off
Phuket police arrested four men for drug dealing in the Wichit area in an operation on Wednesday. On May 7, police set up a traffic discipline checkpoint at the Darasamutr Intersection underpass in Wichit, as part of an ongoing crime crackdown spearheaded by Phuket Provincial Police Commander Police Major General Sinlert Sukhum. It was here that officers pulled over 39…
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Thai green curry pizza takes Finland by storm
In an unexpected culinary twist, Finnish pizza lovers are diving into a flavour fusion that’s leaving taste buds tingling: the Thai Green Curry Pizza. Launched by Kotipizza, the largest pizza chain in the Nordic region, this exotic offering blends the creamy, spicy kick of Thai green curry with the beloved Italian classic, and it’s already creating quite a buzz. This…
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Phuket braces for polls as political heavyweights clash
Phuket is heading to the polls tomorrow in a high-stakes round of municipal elections set to reshape local leadership across the island — and voters are being urged to turn out in force. In a rally dubbed the “Big Day”, Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat led an event at Saphan Hin’s 4,000-seat gymnasium on Thursday, May 8, to stir civic spirit…
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Pattaya zoo rolls out ice treats to beat the heat
With Thailand baking in brutal summer heat, Khao Kheow Open Zoo has found a deliciously clever way to keep its furry and feathered residents chill — frozen treats, bamboo bowls, and a whole lot of enrichment. The zoo, located in Chon Buri, has launched a refreshing initiative as part of its Animal Enrichment programme, serving up icy snacks to beat…
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Dental assistant arrested for stealing gold in central Thailand
A 42 year old dental assistant has been arrested for allegedly stealing 16 baht weight in gold, valued at 800,000 baht, from a residence in Mueang district, Nonthaburi province. The theft led the victim, a 72 year old woman named Nuchwadi, to suffer from severe depression. The incident was first reported on April 9 when Nuchwadi informed the police at…
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Phuket nominee crackdown: 23 guilty, 60 firms busted
A massive web of illegal nominee businesses in Phuket has finally unravelled, with 23 people and more than 60 companies found guilty of using fake Thai ownership to skirt the country’s business laws. The Department of Business Development (DBD) dropped the bombshell yesterday, May 9, confirming that the Criminal Court ruled against the offenders in a major case under Red…
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Pattaya’s ‘Spider-Man’ burglar busted scaling estate wall
A wall-scaling thief dubbed the “Spider-Man” has finally been caught after terrorising a luxury Thai housing estate in Pattaya in a series of daring break-ins that left residents shaken and over a million baht out of pocket. Yesterday, May 9 at 5.30pm, security guards at Bristol Park, a gated community in Soi Thung Rahar, Huay Yai subdistrict, apprehended the slippery…
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Thailand’s Koh Kut and Koh Mak overwhelmed by tourist surge
Sunseekers are swarming to two of Thailand’s lesser-known island paradises, sending ferry services into overdrive and fully booking out thousands of rooms — and it’s all thanks to a surge in online buzz and back-to-back public holidays. Koh Kut and Koh Mak, tucked away in Trat province’s eastern waters, have rapidly climbed the travel charts, becoming some of the country’s…
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Malaysian tourist dies after hotel balcony plunge in Patong
Holidaymakers in Phuket were left stunned when a Malaysian tourist reportedly “acting crazy” leapt from a hotel balcony in the early hours of yesterday, later dying from his injuries in hospital. The incident happened around 1.30am yesterday, May 9, when Patong Police were alerted by Patong Hospital that a foreign man had fallen from a hotel building and had tragically succumbed…
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Lightning alert: Severe storms to hit 55 provinces in Thailand
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a warning for today, predicting severe storms to impact 55 provinces across Thailand. Approximately 60% of the affected areas will experience heavy rainfall, strong winds, and some hail. The northeastern region is anticipated to be hit by summer storms, characterised by thunderstorms, gusty winds, and occasional hail. Other regions will begin to experience…
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Thailand’s solar rooftop market to see growth amid falling prices
The solar rooftop market in Thailand is poised for increased competition, driven by decreasing prices, a rise in supply from manufacturers, and government initiatives to promote renewable energy. EnergyLIB, a solar energy solutions provider, has introduced a solar system for townhouses, while a consortium including German cable manufacturer Lapp Holding Asia, Hong Kong-based industrial conglomerate Jebsen and Jessen Group, and…
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