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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Pattaya man left homeless by mosquito coil fire (video)
A fire erupted at a makeshift residence in Pattaya due to a resident inadvertently leaving a mosquito coil burning. The same resident had previously caused a fire at the same location last year while smoking and handling gasoline. Pattaya police were alerted to a blaze at an unnumbered dwelling opposite the Pattaya Provincial Court on Thapphraya Road yesterday, January 13…
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Tourist theft in Patong escalates to stabbing incident
A foreign tourist caused a disturbance in Patong early yesterday morning, January 13, following an alleged theft of headphones from a local shop and injuring a passerby who tried to assist. The incident took place around 1.30am at a shop on Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road, known for selling bags, headphones, and various items. Police Lieutenant Colonel Chanan Mekchai from the…
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Belgian man scammed out of 8 million baht by female Thai soldier
A Belgian man lost 2 million baht and his condominium room in Pattaya, worth 6 million baht, to a female Thai soldier who posed as a real estate agent. The suspect’s relative claimed the Belgian man and the soldier were previously in a relationship. The 55 year old Belgian policeman, Ronald, and his Thai wife sought assistance from the non-profit organisation…
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Motorcyclist dies in crash on Rojana Road in Ayutthaya
A 23 year old man tragically lost his life in a motorcycle accident today, January 14, at 5am. The incident occurred on Rojana Road in the outbound direction, near kilometre marker 10 in Sam Ruean subdistrict, Bang Pa-in district, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province. Police Lieutenant Colonel Thaworn Saengsai from Bang Pa-in Police Station was notified and arrived at the…
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Irish diver’s mysterious demise on Death Island
Fresh details have emerged about the untimely death of Irish diver Robert “Robby” Kinlan, who was discovered lifeless in his room at the Baan Tao Bungalo Resort on Thailand’s infamous Koh Tao Island, also known for its chilling moniker, Death Island. Local Thai police revealed that the young diver, found around 11am on Thursday, January 9, is believed to have…
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Monk on knife and axe rampage wreaks havoc in Surin temple
Police in Buachet district, Surin province, responded to a report yesterday, January 13, of a monk wielding a knife and an axe, threatening locals at a temple in Ban Srae, Aphon subdistrict. The monk, 42 year old Kanatsak, was reportedly experiencing a mental health crisis. Upon arriving at the scene, police, along with the Aphon subdistrict emergency services and Buachet…
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Cold snap in Thailand: Bangkok dips to 16 degrees Celsius
The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) forecast that Thailand, particularly the northern and northeastern regions, will experience cold to very cold weather, with Bangkok and its surrounding areas seeing temperatures drop to as low as 16 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, the south is facing rough sea conditions with waves exceeding 3 metres. As of today, January 14, the strong high-pressure system…
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Former Thai inmate jailed for rape arrested for repeated assault
Police arrested a 64 year old former Thai inmate for the rape of a 70 year old woman in the southern province of Trang on Monday, January 6. The victim, 70 year old lady called Iad, filed a complaint with the Bang Khlong Teng Police Station following the assault, which occurred at 2pm on January 6 while she was on…
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Tragedy on Death Island: Irish diver found dead in hotel room (video)
Royal Thai Police revealed more news on the death of Irishman Robert “Robby” Kinlan who was on a scuba diving holiday on Thailand’s infamous Death Island. An RTP spokesperson announced the 21 year old from Clare, Ireland, was found dead in a hotel room. Kinlan was discovered on January 9, lying lifeless on his bed in nothing but his boxer…
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Thailand greenlights legal casinos to boost tourism and economy
In a game-changing move, the Thai Cabinet has given the nod to a draft bill that would legalise gambling and casinos, aiming to turbocharge tourism, job creation, and investment. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra announced the bold move today, January 13, heralding a new era for the country’s economy. Under the government’s ambitious plan, the legislation, soon to be debated in…
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Foreign man pickpocketed at Bangkok shopping mall entrance (video)
Three thieves, reportedly foreign nationals, pickpocketed a foreign man at the entrance of a shopping mall in the Sukhumvit area of Bangkok this afternoon. Several news pages on Facebook shared a video showing the foreign victim searching for his stolen valuables in a black backpack outside the shopping mall, today, January 13. The mall is believed to be EmQuartier, located near…
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Noodle no more: Ramen shops fold under rising costs (video)
In an unprecedented wave of financial distress, a record number of ramen noodle eateries in Japan went belly up in 2024, unable to stomach the soaring ingredient and utility costs without raising their own prices. Research firm Teikoku Databank Ltd has revealed that insolvencies with liabilities of at least 10 million yen (approximately 2.2 million baht) surged by more than…
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Polish man vanishes with valuables after sex with Phuket woman
A Thai woman issued a warning to others after losing cash and valuables following a sexual encounter with a Polish man in Phuket. The victim shared her story with the Phuket Times yesterday, December 12. She expressed her interest in foreign men and cautioned other Thai women with similar preferences to be wary of deceitful foreigners. She did not disclose when…
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Golden opportunity: NHSO extends care to new Thai citizens
The National Health Security Office (NHSO) is set to expand its groundbreaking universal healthcare initiative through its gold card scheme to at least 480,000 ethnic individuals poised to receive Thai citizenship from the government. NHSO Deputy Secretary Yuphadee Sirisinsuk revealed that the ambitious plan is designed to extend healthcare benefits to all Thai citizens, including those in the process of…
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Alcohol misuse linked to death of Buriram man
A 54 year old man was found dead in his home in the Chaloem Phra Kiat district of Buriram yesterday, January 12. The man, known as Vinai, had been drinking alcohol regularly from morning until night, according to his sister. Local police and emergency services responded to the scene. The deceased was discovered in a single-room concrete house, lying on…
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South Korea to upgrade airport structures after Jeju Air crash
South Korea is set to enhance the structures housing the antennas that facilitate landings at its airports, following the December incident where a Jeju Air aeroplane crashed after skidding off the runway. The Boeing 737-800 hit one such structure at Muan Airport, leading to a fire. The Transport Ministry has been assessing safety at airlines and airports since the crash…
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Chiang Rai hospital error leads to death of woman in dental surgery
A family in the northern province of Chiang Rai is seeking compensation from a private hospital for the death of a Thai woman who suffocated during dental surgery. The deceased, 33 year old Katesuda Buanark, passed away at a private hospital in Chiang Rai on December 19 last year. Katesuda primarily resided in Singapore with her husband and nine year…
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Thailand’s new housing project targets lower income families
Lower-income Thai citizens will soon have access to an affordable housing project through the Homes for Thais initiative, which offers accommodation on state-owned land without requiring down payments. The programme instead implements a monthly rental system. The Transport Ministry will present the project details to Cabinet today, January 13. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will launch the initiative on Friday, January…
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DoE warns against illegal job agencies after 10 million baht scam
The Department of Employment (DoE) has advised those seeking overseas employment to verify agencies with the DoE to prevent falling prey to illegal operators. This caution comes after 50 individuals from Nakhon Ratchasima reported to the Anti-Human Trafficking Division (ATPD) that they were swindled out of 10 million baht by agents promising jobs in South Korea. Yesterday, January 12, DoE…
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Rice to the occasion: Commerce Ministry fast-tracks SME trade talks
The Commerce Ministry is moving to accelerate the liberalisation of rice trade, with a meeting planned for January 17. This session aims to finalise strategies to assist small enterprises in becoming rice exporters, targeting concrete outcomes in the first quarter of the year. During a meeting on January 10 to discuss pressing policies, Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan instructed all departments…
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Built-in loan apps raise data security fears for Oppo and Realme users
The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society urged representatives of the electronics company Oppo and its subsidiary Realme to clarify allegations of illegal data collection from built-in loan apps found on their smartphones. A technology-focused social media influencer, known as คุณลุงไà¸à¸—ี (Khun Lung IT, meaning IT uncle), took to his official Facebook page to warn Oppo and Realme smartphone users…
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Bomb blast near TK Park Pattani injures six officers
A bomb explosion occurred in a side alley near TK Park, central Pattani, injuring six volunteer officers. The incident happened at 8am today, January 13, just 20 metres from the Mueang Pattani Police Station. The assailants had hidden the explosive device in a vehicle parked in front of a row of shophouses, causing damage to nearby buildings. Residents expressed alarm…
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Protesters accuse Thai govt of favouring Thaksin in hospital stay
A group of protesters plans to submit a letter to the government, criticising it for allegedly granting former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra special treatment at Police General Hospital last year. Thaksin, who was meant to be serving a prison sentence for abuse of power, was reportedly allowed to remain in hospital instead, according to former red shirt leader, 58 year…
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Honda CR-V crash causes power outage in eastern Thailand
A Honda CR-V collided with electricity poles, causing three to fall and damage a car, resulting in a widespread power outage. The driver is missing. The incident occurred at 9pm yesterday, January 12, when Police Lieutenant Colonel Nopadon Thaweecharat from Bang Pakong district, Chachoengsao province, was informed of the accident in front of Grand Village on Sukhumvit Road, heading towards…
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Thai police intercept pickup with illegal Burmese migrants
Thai police intercepted a pickup truck carrying six illegal Burmese migrants in Kanchanaburi province. Yesterday, January 12, a joint operation involving multiple law enforcement agencies led to the arrest of two Myanmar nationals. They were allegedly paid 3,000 baht per person to transport the undocumented migrants. Police Major General Nakarin Sukonthawit, commander of Kanchanaburi provincial police, received a tip-off about…
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Bangkok taxi driver slashes passenger on face in fare dispute (video)
A Thai taxi driver claimed self-defence after slashing a male passenger’s face on the roadside in the Silom neighbourhood of Bangkok on Friday, January 10. A witness shared a video of the incident near Silom Soi 6 in Bangkok at about 1am on Friday on his Up Dol Facebook account. The video showed the witness intervening in the argument between…
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Phuket hit-and-run foreign driver caught after citizen’s pursuit (video)
A foreign national involved in a hit-and-run incident in Phuket was apprehended by the police after a pursuit by a concerned citizen. The incident occurred when the foreigner, driving a white Hyundai, collided with a motorcycle on the Thep Krasattri Road heading out of Mueang district, Thalang. The collision took place as the car attempted to cut in front of…
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Swimming, tourist boats banned at Phi Phi Island due to rough seas
Officials have temporarily banned swimming and tourist boats at Phi Phi Island due to strong winds and rough seas. Officials have placed red flags along the beaches in Koh Phai, Ao Nang subdistrict, Mueang Krabi district, and other marine tourist areas to ensure safety. This decision was made yesterday, January 12, following continuous strong winds in the afternoon. Emergency personnel,…
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Bangkok man arrested for motorcycle theft after licence plate swap
A patrol unit from Phetkasem apprehended a 37 year old man for motorcycle theft, catching him in the act as he attempted to swap out the licence plate of the stolen motorcycle. The arrest occurred yesterday, January 12 at 3pm, in the Lak Song subdistrict, Bang Khae district, Bangkok. The suspect, 37 year old Chaiyot “Boy” Boonyawong, confessed to stealing…
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17 arrested: Phuket police roll the dice on illegal gambling
Phuket City police swooped down on an illegal gambling den in Phuket Town on 12 January, bagging 17 people in the process of a dramatic after-dark sting. The raid, executed with precision by officers in tandem with provincial police, caught the crooks red-handed at a residence on Soi Wichit Songkhram 4, just after 9pm. Upon arrival, officers immediately sensed something…
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