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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Starting a new life abroad is exciting—new culture, new lifestyle, and new chances to grow. But living far from home also means taking steps to protect your health in unfamiliar surroundings. Without the right coverage, even small health issues can...
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Engineering student stabbed to death in central Thailand
A 26 year old engineering student from Rajamangala University was fatally stabbed by a group of approximately 10 people. The incident occurred while he was on his way home after his internship. Although his personal belongings remained intact, his student jacket was missing. The incident involved Thanat, a fourth-year engineering student, who was attacked with a sharp object, sustaining injuries…
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Tourist police raid Pattaya salon, arrest foreigners without permits
A beauty salon in central Pattaya was the scene of a shocking bust yesterday, April 11, when Tourist Police apprehended a group of foreigners working illegally without the proper permits. The raid, conducted by an investigation team from the Tourist Police Bureau, revealed several individuals, believed to be Chinese nationals, providing beauty services to customers without the necessary work authorisations.…
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Songkran safety warning: Drowning risks surge during festival
Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin has issued a warning for increased caution during the Songkran holidays due to the annual surge in drowning incidents associated with the water festival. Statistics reveal a significant increase in drowning fatalities in April, particularly during Songkran. Data from the ministry’s permanent secretary’s office indicates that an average of 327 drownings occur each April, with…
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Tourist boat fire injures two near Koh Kut, southeast Thailand
A tourist boat carrying a family of four caught fire near Koh Kut in Trat province, injuring at least two people yesterday, April 11. Provincial officials were notified to assist at approximately 11.40am, as the Aor Subpiti was engulfed in flames, with initial reports mentioning one injured person on board. The boat held a family of four tourists and a…
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Water spouts create spectacle in Chalong Bay, not a tornado
Water spouts moving through Chalong Bay’s anchorage sparked online discussions yesterday, April 11, with many referring to the event as a “tornado.” However, Brent McInnes from the Phuket Cruising Yacht Club, who witnessed the event, clarified that this was not the case. Several videos of the water spouts were shared online by onlookers, including staff at the Phuket Tourist Assistance…
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Lost in the woods: Italian tourists rescued on Koh Pha Ngan
Police on Koh Pha Ngan in Surat Thani province successfully located two Italian tourists lost in the forest for over three hours yesterday, April 11. The incident was reported by Police Lieutenant Vinij Bunchit after coordination with the Italian embassy, leading to the activation of local search and rescue teams. The two tourists, Maria Florencia Abaca and Linda Rattero, found…
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British woman lives rent-free on Koh Samui with dogs (video)
Dreaming of a tropical escape without breaking the bank? A British traveller has revealed how she’s living the dream on Thailand’s Koh Samui — and it won’t cost you a penny in rent. The young woman, known only as Iona, who often shares travel hacks online, shared her secrets in a viral TikTok clip that’s racked up over 100,000 views.…
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Thailand issues summer storm alert amid severe weather
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued its sixth warning about an impending summer storm affecting 45 provinces today, April 12, with severe weather expected in the North and Northeast regions. The public should be cautious of strong winds, hail, and potential lightning strikes from April 12 to 14. The summer storm warning highlights that the upper areas of Thailand…
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Pattaya mayor vows transparency in stadium project
During a recent site inspection, Pattaya Mayor Poramet Ngampichet assured residents that the city is working closely with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to ensure transparency and accountability in government-led projects. At the centre of this renewed focus is the long-delayed Eastern Sports Stadium, which has faced criticism for missed deadlines and management hiccups. Mayor Poramet explained that delays in…
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Chinese steel factory raided over Bangkok building collapse
The factory at the centre of Thailand’s latest construction scandal was raided today as investigators ramped up scrutiny into the supplier linked to the catastrophic collapse of the State Audit Office (SAO) building in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district. The Department of Industrial Works’ “Sud Soi” team, under the Industry Ministry, stormed the Xin Ke Yuan (SKY) Steel Ltd facility in Rayong’s…
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Chiang Mai rattled by quake as Myanmar tremors hit
A mild earthquake measuring 1.4 on the Richter scale struck Chiang Mai’s Phrao district at 4.33am today, April 11, according to the Thai Meteorological Department’s Earthquake Observation Division. The tremor’s epicentre was pinpointed in San Sai subdistrict, located at coordinates 19.529°N and 99.222°E, with a shallow depth of just 1 kilometre. While the quake was minor and caused no immediate…
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Thai man sits on moving car bonnet after argument with wife
A furious Thai man sparked chaos on the roads near Bangkok after a blazing row with his Burmese wife — by leaping onto the bonnet of her moving car in a desperate bid to stop her leaving their home in Nonthaburi. The domestic bust-up reportedly erupted over her son from a previous marriage, leaving stunned drivers watching the drama unfold…
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American in Thailand admits threatening US senator
A 53 year old American living in Thailand is facing up to 10 years in prison after reportedly admitting to threatening to murder a US senator and his staff, all because of too many political emails. Eric Charles Welton, an American expat residing in Thailand, allegedly pleaded guilty on Wednesday, April 9, to making death threats against US Senator Thom…
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Trash for cash: Bangkok offers bin discount for food waste sorting
Throwing out your leftovers could now save you money! Bangkok’s new sort and save scheme is giving households a reason to separate their scraps, with discounts on the horizon and rubbish fees on the rise. Bangkok residents in six districts are being offered a financial incentive to sort their waste as part of a new food scrap recycling initiative launching…
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Digging for hope: 4 more bodies found at Bangkok audit office ruins
Rescue workers uncovered four more bodies buried beneath the rubble of the collapsed State Audit Office building in Bangkok, as desperate efforts to reach possible survivors ramped up. At noon today, April 11, the scene on Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road, Chatuchak, in the capital was a flurry of action, with officials deploying more than half a dozen backhoes to dig…
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Thai girl left blind and disabled after overdose at Bangkok hospital
A nine year old Thai girl visited a hospital in Bangkok for treatment of diarrhoea but disaster struck when the medical team allegedly administered an overdose of medication, resulting in blindness and cerebral palsy (CP). Renowned lawyer Ananchai Chaiyadej shared details of the case on his Facebook account on April 9. He began his post by stating, “#WrongMedicineChangeLife. A doctor…
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Foreign travellers told to log on 3 days before Thailand arrival
Foreign travellers planning a trip to Thailand are being told to get online and fill in Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) three days before they arrive or risk being turned away at the border, as the country ditches its old-school paper arrival cards in favour of a slick new digital system. From May 1, all international visitors, whether arriving by air,…
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Wanted Russian arrested at Phuket Airport over unpaid wages
Immigration officers at Phuket International Airport swooped to arrest a 29 year old Russian national wanted on a Phuket Provincial Court warrant for allegedly failing to pay employee wages and defying directives issued by labour inspectors. The dramatic takedown took place at approximately 3.30pm on Wednesday, April 9, inside the airport’s international arrivals hall. The arrest was the result of…
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Thai drivers race and crash into old woman, tearing her body apart
A sedan driver raced a pickup driver along a public road in the central province of Nakhon Sawan with devastating, fatal consequences after crashing into an old woman, tearing her body apart. News Facebook page เจ๊มอย v+ (Jamoi v+) shared pictures and videos of the incident yesterday, April 10. According to the page, the accident occurred on Takian Luean Road…
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British fighter’s life cut short by drug cocktail in Pattaya, inquest
A British fighter’s dreams ended in heartbreak after he was found dead from a drug overdose in a Pattaya hotel room, an inquest has heard. Joshua Goldstone, from Etchingham, East Sussex, was discovered lifeless in Room 2412 of the Vogue Hotel in Pattaya on October 30. The 21 year old, who had been living and training in Thailand, was reportedly…
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Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang fly high in global airport rankings
Thailand’s major airports are flying high on the global stage, with Suvarnabhumi International Airport breaking into the top 40 of the world’s best airports for 2025 and Don Mueang International Airport landing in the top 10 for low-cost travel hubs. Yesterday, April 10, Airports of Thailand (AOT) Chief Executive Officer Keerati Kitimanawat announced the impressive leap in global rankings, attributing…
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Booze cruise: Patong police nab 6 foreigners in drink-drive blitz
Patong police launched their Songkran road safety crackdown in dramatic style last night, collaring six foreign revellers for drink-driving in the early hours, some more than three times over the legal limit. Officers set up a checkpoint near Loma Circle on Thaweewong Road between 12.30am and 2.30am today, April 11, as part of the nationwide Seven Days road safety campaign,…
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Injured foreign man vanishes after bloody bar brawl in Krabi
A foreign man, whose body was covered in blood, disappeared on his motorcycle following a brawl with his friends at a bar on Koh Lanta, an island in the southern province of Krabi, raising concerns among residents. A video showing a foreign man with bloodstains across his body was shared on social media by a Thai bar owner. The footage was…
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Lottery seekers flock to Ang Thong for tarantula fortune
Excitement is sweeping through Ang Thong province after a mystical encounter with a tarantula at Wat Bot Ratchasattha temple. Locals and tourists flocked to the temple in the Bang Rakam subdistrict, Pho Thong district, hoping to cash in on the unlikely fortune teller. As Songkran celebrations kicked off, visitors gathered at the temple yesterday, April 10, to witness a local…
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Bangkok ramps up Songkran safety with AI and ‘Five-No’ rule
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt has extended an invitation to the public for Songkran celebrations on Silom and Khao San roads from tomorrow, April 12, to Monday, April 14, with assurances of safety measures implemented throughout the city. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has established thorough safety protocols for all Songkran venues, including entrance checkpoints and CCTV installations, to ensure public…
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Thai man strangled and robbed while urinating by roadside
A Thai man survived being strangled and robbed while urinating by the roadside in the northern province of Chiang Rai this week. The 26 year old victim, Apisit, filed a complaint at Mae Lao Police Station yesterday, April 10, after he managed to survive the shocking attack. The robbery took place at Nong Chang Khot Park along Den Ha–Dong Mada…
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Thai military police probed for escorting alleged fraudster
Two military police officers have been detained and are set to face disciplinary action for leading the motorcade of an alleged fraudster who purportedly claimed close connections with several political figures, stated Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai. The officers, in uniform, were observed escorting Thanyatep Sirithapsadechakul, a 32 year old, who has recently been criticised for asserting ties with numerous political…
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Glimmer of hope as phone light found in Bangkok quake rubble
Phetkasem Foundation rescue team is hoping for a miracle after spotting what could be a survivor’s mobile phone light blinking deep beneath the rubble of the collapsed State Audit Office building, two weeks after the deadly earthquake hit Thailand’s capital Bangkok. Rescuers from the Phetkasem Foundation reported a potential breakthrough in the search for survivors after detecting what they believe…
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Ayutthaya buffalo trader’s home attacked with grenades, no injuries
A buffalo trader in Ayutthaya was left in shock after unidentified persons threw grenades at his home, causing significant damage. The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, April 9, in Phra Ya Ban Lue subdistrict, Lat Bua Luang district, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province. The attack resulted in three damaged vehicles and frightened livestock, though fortunately, no one…
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New Zealand man caught smuggling cocaine to Phuket in passport
Police arrested a New Zealand man at Phuket International Airport for smuggling cocaine into the country by concealing it inside a passport. Officers at the international arrivals terminal of Phuket Airport yesterday, April 10, discovered a packet of cocaine in the possession of the 24 year old New Zealander, whose identity was not disclosed in the report. According to a…
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