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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Pattaya beach brawl: Drunk guard assaults transwoman
A night out on Pattaya Beach turned violent when an off-duty, drunken security guard, still wearing his uniform, allegedly smashed a beer bottle over a transgender woman’s head, leaving her bloodied and hospitalised. The shocking incident unfolded at 10.36pm yesterday, March 31, prompting an immediate response from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Unit and Pattaya police. Tourists watched in horror…
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Thai government reassures safety after Bangkok building collapse
The Thai government is ramping up efforts to bolster international confidence in the country following March 28 earthquake, according to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. During her remarks at the Thailand Investment and Expat Services Centre opening ceremony in One Bangkok, the Thai premier addressed concerns about the collapse of the newly constructed State Audit Office building. The 38 year old…
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No boots for blisters: Thai military service exemptions updated
In a move that’s shaking up the conscription rules, Thailand’s Defence Ministry added three more medical conditions to the list of diseases that exempt young men from compulsory military service — and they’re anything but ordinary. A directive signed by Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul was published in the Royal Gazette on March 25 and took…
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Thai woman dies after swallowing denture at Lampang market
A Thai woman accidentally swallowed her dentures yesterday, which blocked her windpipe and led to her death at a fresh market in the northern province of Lampang. Vendors and shoppers at the market sought assistance from a rescue team for the 67 year old woman, Moi, yesterday, March 31. She was seen suddenly losing consciousness after using a bathroom within…
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Blood and sweat: Phuket red cross urges life-saving donations this Songkran
The Phuket Red Cross and the Blood Bank at Vachira Phuket Hospital are urging locals to consider blood donation as a life-saving gesture this April, coinciding with the Songkran holiday. Special blood donation events are being held to meet the demand for Rh-negative blood, predominantly donated by foreigners due to its rarity among Thai donors. The increase in tourism and…
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TV blackout fears rise over NBTC frequency plan
A storm is brewing in Thailand’s media industry as leading digital TV broadcasters warn that the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission’s (NBTC) latest move could trigger mass TV blackouts and potentially collapse the nation’s digital television industry. The controversy erupted after the NBTC held a public hearing on its proposal to auction off the 3500 MHz frequency band, a spectrum…
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OBEC reschedules exams after earthquake, safety checks underway
The Office of Basic Education Commission (OBEC) is working to establish new dates for the entrance exams for Matthayom 1 and 4 (equivalent to Years 7 and 10) admissions, following a postponement due to an earthquake. Originally planned for April 5 at schools affiliated with the OBEC for the 2025 academic year, the nationwide exams have been delayed. OBEC’s Secretary…
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Bangkok and Airbnb team up for free quake accommodation
Bangkok is collaborating with Airbnb.org to provide free accommodation for those affected by an earthquake in the city, including rescue workers and volunteers. According to a Facebook post by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) yesterday, March 31, the initiative aims to assist those unable to return to their homes due to the earthquake. The partnership offers temporary housing at no…
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King Charles sends condolences after deadly quake in Myanmar
King Charles III of England has sent a message of condolence to the people of Thailand following the devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on Friday, March 28 and was felt across the region, particularly Bangkok. In a royal message released by the British Embassy in Thailand, the monarch expressed his “heartfelt sympathy” to His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn and…
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Thai cyber cops bust illegal gun man in Bangkok condo raid
Cyber police apprehended a man involved in illegal gun trading on Facebook, found assembling firearms in a condominium. Upon their arrival, the suspect attempted to dispose of evidence but was unsuccessful. Police seized three firearms and various components. Yesterday, March 31, Police Lieutenant General Trirong Phiwpan, head of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau, instructed Police Major General Suphakorn Phiwon, commander…
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Hero dogs sniff for life after Bangkok skyscraper collapse (videos)
Amid the twisted wreckage of a collapsed 33-storey skyscraper in quake-struck Bangkok, a brave dogged team of four-legged heroes is stealing hearts and saving lives. As rescue workers race against time to find survivors, Thailand’s K9 USAR rescue dogs are tirelessly sniffing through the rubble, bringing hope to a city gripped by tragedy. At least 13 people have been confirmed…
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Man attacked with gun handle in Pattaya, police hunt suspect
A 39 year old man was reportedly attacked by an armed man between 35 and 40 years old who pistol whipped him in Chon Buri. The incident occurred yesterday, March 31 at about 11am, resulting in the victim, Sunthorn Klonklang, requiring eight stitches for injuries to his left cheek and behind his ear. The incident took place outside a restaurant…
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Crafty draft: Stunning transgender woman joins Thai military draft
The first day of Thailand’s 2025 military draft saw two eager young men fulfil their childhood dream of becoming soldiers, while a beautifully dressed transgender woman turned heads as she stepped forward to take part in the conscription process. The annual draft today, April 1, held at the Nong Kha Yang District Office Hall in Uthai Thani Province, was overseen…
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Briefs encounter: Thief knicks knickers driven by ‘brief’ madness
A kinky underwear thief reportedly driven by a psychological disorder stole an entire collection of a restaurant PR worker’s underwear. The incident occurred in Mueang district, Samut Songkhram province, and was captured on CCTV. The footage shows a man circling the victim’s house on a motorcycle before committing the theft. On Sunday, 30 year old Jariya, a PR worker at a…
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Phuket mayoral election sees fierce competition
Registration for mayoral and municipal council candidates in Phuket opened yesterday with an energetic and competitive atmosphere as multiple teams vied for leadership positions. The registration period will continue until April 4, with many candidates eager to secure their place on the ballot. Two prominent teams arrived at the Phuket City Municipality before the official opening at 8.30am, yesterday, March…
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Tragic hotel incident in Uthai Thani leaves two dead
A tragic incident occurred yesterday resulting in the deaths of two people at a hotel in Uthai Thani province. The altercation, involving a stabbing, ended with a man ingesting pills to end his life. Upon receiving the report, yesterday, March 31, at 4.10pm, Police Lieutenant Phuwanate Suphawut, deputy inspector of Sawang Arom Police Station, along with other police personnel, a…
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Thai police suspect foul play in death of missing Austrian man
An Austrian man died in a canal in the northern province of Phitsanulok under mysterious circumstances after disappearing from his home for 11 days. Police suspect murder. Officers from Wang Thong Police Station were called to investigate a foreign man’s body in a canal in the middle of a rice field in the Wang Thong district of Phitsanulok at 2pm…
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Khon Kaen man accused of fatal assault at village event
A 53 year old man from Khon Kaen province has been accused of assaulting a fellow villager, resulting in the latter’s death. The incident occurred at Wat Pho Ngam on March 30, where Thanin Saenbut allegedly attacked 50 year old Thewa, his neighbour, causing serious injuries that led to his death in hospital. Thida, the daughter of Thewa, recounted that…
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Holiday horror: Speedboat explosion off Phuket injures tourists
Holidaymakers were left terrified and injured when a speedboat burst into flames and exploded near Koh Mai Thon off the coast of Phuket this morning, April 1, turning a tropical escape into a scene of chaos and panic. The explosion injured six people, including three foreign tourists, a tour guide, and two crew members, one of them the boat’s captain.…
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22-wheel truck crash in Buriram leaves six injured
A 22-wheel truck carrying a load of stones experienced brake failure and collided with seven stationary vehicles at a red light, resulting in numerous injuries. The driver suggested the incident could have been more severe if he hadn’t swerved. Yesterday, March 31, at approximately 8.20am, Police Lieutenant Porachat Raksawong, a deputy inspector at Mueang Buriram Police Station, was informed of…
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4 Chinese nationals suspiciously remove documents from Bangkok collapsed building
Police summoned four Chinese nationals to acknowledge legal offences after they suspiciously removed documents from the collapsed building in the Chatuchak area of Bangkok without permission on March 29. The impact of the earthquake in Myanmar on Friday, March 28, shook multiple buildings and residences in Thailand and continues to spread panic among people in the country. The most affected…
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Street vendor loses bag with 100,000 baht near Mo Chit, Bangkok
A street vendor reported a theft after forgetting a bag containing over 100,000 baht at her shop. Upon realising and returning, the bag was gone. The incident occurred yesterday, March 31, at 3pm, according to 29 year old Jeeranan (surname withheld), who sells fried pork rice. She reported the theft to Police Lieutenant Suphat Hemachinda, an investigator at Bang Sue…
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Rented and dented: Thai cops put brakes on cross-border car scam
A devious car-rental scam has been brought to a screeching halt after police arrested two suspects accused of stealing a vehicle and smuggling it across the border for sale. In a dramatic takedown, officers from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and Crime Suppression Division (CSD) nabbed Sakthanan in front of a house in Soi Khlong Thanon, Nonthaburi, and Khemanan at…
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Thai police inspector arrested for trafficking two million meth pills
Officers in northeast Thailand arrested a police inspector involved in a drug trafficking operation transporting two million methamphetamine pills. The inspector claimed it was his first offence. He attempted to negotiate his release upon arrest, but his efforts were unsuccessful. Yesterday, March 31, police investigators from Region 3 pursued a drug trafficking gang along Route 24 in Nong Bunnak district, Nakhon…
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Pee-hole panic: Thai theme park’s two-way mirror toilet flushed
A bizarre two-way mirror in the men’s toilets at a theme park in Thailand has sparked outrage online, with social media users branding it “gross,” misogynistic,” and “a lawsuit waiting to happen.” The controversial installation at Dream World theme park in Pathum Thani, central Thailand, allows men using the urinals to see out while unsuspecting women and children on the…
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Bangkok governor lifts disaster status after quake chaos eases
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt has officially called off the city’s disaster zone status following last Friday’s quake scare, declaring the situation “back to normal” just days after panic swept through the capital. Yesterday, March 31, the 58 year old city chief signed an order cancelling the March 28 declaration by the Bangkok Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Command Centre, which had…
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Pavement pirates spark outrage in Pattaya as officials fail to act
Fed-up locals are fuming as Pattaya’s pavements vanish beneath a sea of parked cars and motorbikes, with lawbreakers treating footpaths like private driveways and officials doing little to stop it. Residents across the city are slamming the lack of enforcement over illegal parking, which has turned once-walkable pavements into motorbike showrooms and car parks. From zebra crossings to pedestrian walkways, no…
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Udon Thani residents seek lucky numbers at Kham Chanod
Residents of Udon Thani are eagerly eyeing the last-minute lucky numbers from Kham Chanod, with numbers appearing prominently on the golden Bodhi tree trunk, the Naga statue, and the holy water bowl. Locals are hoping for a lucky draw today, potentially bringing prosperity. Yesterday, March 31, reporters noted that at Wat Pa Nong Chao Khao in Kon Sai subdistrict, Ku…
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British boxer dies after first Muay Thai fight on Koh Samui
A British boxer died last week after his first Muay Thai fight on Koh Samui, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani. Bor Phut Police Station officers were alerted to the death of the British man, 30 year old Joseph Itai Rinomhota, at 12.03pm on March 29. Rinomhota died at Thai International Hospital on Koh Samui after being…
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Four Thai government buildings closed after earthquake damage
The use of four governmental buildings has been suspended due to dangerous cracks found, following the earthquake that sent tremors through Thailand last week, awaiting expert engineering inspection and repair before reopening. Yesterday, March 31, Pongnara Yenying, Director General of the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning, provided updates on the inspection of buildings impacted by the…
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