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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Do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?
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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3 Colombians arrested in Nong Khai for luxury home thefts
Immigration officers in Nong Khai province arrested three Colombians suspected of theft from luxury homes in Pathum Thani. The arrests occurred yesterday, April 7, at 10.30am as the suspects were preparing to flee the country. The suspects were identified as 46 year old Nelson Andres Malo Rojas, 64 year old Raul Ferney, and 65 year old Luis Guillermo. They were…
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Thai man kills wife on Buriram roadside before suicide attempt
A Thai man consumed by jealousy abandoned his daughter mid-journey and later killed his wife at the roadside in the Isaan province of Buriram before attempting to commit suicide. Officers from Pakham Police Station were alerted to the discovery of a woman’s body yesterday, April 7, on the roadside in Ban Maidaeng, Hua Krasang, in the Pakham district of Buriram,…
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Man found dead in hammock in Phayao, murder suspected
A man was found dead in a hammock at a garden home, with police investigating the death as a murder. The incident occurred on Sunday, April 6, at a cottage in Don Kham Tai subdistrict, Phayao province. The police are pursuing two potential motives: a personal dispute or drug-related issues. Yesterday, police officers, including Police Lieutenant Colonel Chaiyasit Khadphab, Deputy…
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Tragic death of Burmese boy in Bangkok after choking on food
A five year old boy from Myanmar, weighing over 50 kilogrammes, tragically died after choking on food at his home in the Rat Burana district of Bangkok. The incident occurred around 12.10am, today, April 8, with police and medical personnel from Siriraj Hospital responding to the scene. The boy was discovered on the ground floor of a three-storey commercial building,…
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Fat-shaming Thai restaurant grilled over skinny discount (video)
A Thai restaurant is under fire for discriminating against fat people by offering skinny folk a discount for being thin. One disgruntled US tourist fumed “the restaurant would be sued if it was in America!” Chiang Mai Breakfast World is offering customers a controversial skinny discount to diners, provided they can squeeze through a set of narrowing metal bars before…
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Thai fugitive extradited from China for Dr Boon network fraud
Thai police have arrested a broker linked to the Doctor Boon Vanasin network at Suvarnabhumi International Airport. She was extradited from China yesterday to face charges of fraud and deception totalling over 14 billion baht. Thitiporn Chalermrattanaprateep was apprehended in China while fleeing these charges. She was returned to Thailand via China Southern Airlines flight CZ361, which landed at Suvarnabhumi…
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Thundering news: Wet ‘n’ wild weather to storm Thailand towns
Weather woes are set to strike as the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issues a dramatic alert for thunderstorms set to drench 48 provinces, including bustling Bangkok. With heavy downpours predicted to soak 40% of the area, residents are warned of wild winds and the possibility of hail in some spots. The culprit? A pesky moderate high-pressure system hanging over the…
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Holiday heartbreak: American dies in Phuket after night of drinking
A 22 year old American tourist from Washington State tragically died in Phuket Town after a night of heavy drinking, leaving behind stunned friends and a heartbroken girlfriend. The young man, whose identity is being withheld pending notification of his family, had been staying at the Rabbit Hotel on Phang Nga Road near Phuket Bus Terminal 1. He was travelling…
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Heavy rainfall floods Samut Prakan roads, causing traffic chaos
Heavy rainfall led to significant flooding on several roads, resulting in traffic congestion spanning several kilometres and numerous damaged vehicles in Samut Prakan. Municipal officers are actively working to drain water from the road surfaces. This morning, April 7, in Samut Prakan province, a downpour lasting nearly an hour caused flooding on various roads in Mueang district. In some areas,…
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Man drowned in Chiang Mai river in suspected suicide
Police in Mueang Chiang Mai district were alerted to a man who had fallen into a river and drowned near Mengrai Bridge. Emergency services, including local rescue teams and divers, yesterday morning, April 6, supported the search efforts. Personal belongings were found at the scene, including clothing, a bag with an ID card, a phone, and a tablet. Divers searched…
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Factory shuttle bus crashes into ditch in Ayutthaya injuring many
A factory employee shuttle bus veered off the road, crashing into a roadside ditch in Ayutthaya, leaving a number of passengers seriously injured. Police Lieutenant Thanapat Phongsatit from Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Police Station received a report of the accident at 8.20am, today, April 7, on the outbound Asia Highway at kilometre 21, Hantra subdistrict. Several people sustained injuries, prompting…
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Betting on a bust! Former charter crew slam casino complex bill
An open letter from 30 ex-charter drafters has sent shockwaves through Bangkok’s corridors of power, as they warn that backing the casino-entertainment complex bill could breach ethical guidelines and jeopardise Thailand’s national strategy. The bill, which is set for a parliamentary vote on Wednesday’s first reading, has drawn fierce criticism from the group, including prominent experts who helped draft the…
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Minor tremors hit Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son districts
Sixteen minor tremors, ranging from 1.9 to 3.8 on the Richter scale, were documented in Wiang Haeng district, Chiang Mai, and Pai district, Mae Hong Son, this morning, April 7. Only a limited number of these were perceptible to residents. According to the Earthquake Observation Division, these seismic activities were recorded between 4.22am and 10.57am. In Chiang Mai’s Wiang Haeng…
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Drama: TikTok star denies responsibility for injuring stray dog in car crash
Netizens’ opinions are divided after a transgender TikTok star and her friend denied responsibility for injuring a stray dog in a car crash in the northern province of Chiang Mai. The accident witness, later identified as Supithan Hitanon, also shared a video of his confrontation with the TikTok star, better known as Nungty, on Facebook. In the video, Supithan can…
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Man admits to injuring police in Ubon Ratchathani brawl
A man confessed to injuring police officers during an altercation in Ubon Ratchathani, claiming it was unintentional. The provincial governor has cancelled remaining festivities after 12 teenagers were arrested for assaulting officers at a local event. Today, April 7, Police Major General Patiyot Singhsomroj, Ubon Ratchathani Provincial Police Commander, along with Police Colonel Pornsak Lueanakh of Phibun Mangsahan Police Station,…
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Asia-Pacific nations scramble to dodge Trump’s trade tariff tantrum
A tariff tsunami unleashed by US President Donald Trump is sending shockwaves across the Asia-Pacific, as countries scramble to dodge his trade tariff tantrum. While the 10% baseline tariffs kicked in on Saturday, April 5, even steeper charges are set to hit some nations from Wednesday and reactions range from furious to fretful. But rather than hitting back, many Asia-Pacific…
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Fatal Phuket car crash claims woman’s life, injures couple
A tragic car crash in Phuket resulted in the death of a 30 year old woman after her car veered across the median and collided with an oncoming pickup truck. The collision also severely injured a married couple in the truck. Earlier today, April 7, Police Lieutenant Somchai Nuboon from Kathu Police Station in Phuket was informed of a car…
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Tragic accident claims life of motorcyclist in Pathum Thani
A 25 year old man tragically died in a road accident involving a six-wheel truck and a pickup truck near the Ban Hun intersection on the Thanyaburi-Wang Noi road in Pathum Thani province. The incident occurred at noon yesterday, April 6, when the vehicles collided, causing the truck to lose control and crash into Em Sukprasert’s stationary motorcycle. Police Major…
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Bangkok high-rise residents shaken by cracks and fear after quake
The recent powerful earthquake in Myanmar has rattled more than just the ground, it’s shaken the confidence of Bangkok’s high-rise residents, who are now questioning whether their sky-high pads are safe havens or ticking time bombs. The 7.7-magnitude quake on Friday, March 28, left buildings swaying and walls cracking in Bangkok, a city unaccustomed to major seismic shocks. Among those…
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Booze cruise: Drunk foreign man rescued from drowning in Pattaya
Locals safely rescued an drunk foreign man from drowning yesterday after he swam out into the sea at Jomtien Beach in Pattaya. According to a report by Channel 7, the rescue took place last night, April 6, near the Dong Tarn booth of the Mueang Pattaya Police Station. Locals observed the foreign man walking into the dark waters and appearing…
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Thai contractor demands payment for collapsed building project
A construction contractor, owed over 3 million baht in unpaid wages, has criticised a subcontracting company involved in the earthquake-hit collapsed building project in Bangkok The contractor revealed structural flaws in the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) building, which collapsed on Friday, March 28, following an earthquake in Myanmar. Yesterday, April 6, a meeting was held between representatives of…
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Hua Hin set to soar: Runway makeover aims to lift tourism fortunes
After years stuck on the tarmac, Hua Hin could finally be cleared for international take-off, with a long-overdue runway revamp set to bring in global jet-setters and breathe new life into the coastal city’s flagging tourism trade. The sun-soaked resort town may soon welcome international flights for the first time in years, as Thai officials look to upgrade the sleepy…
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Thai tomboy rescued from suicide attempt after call centre scam loss
A Thai tomboy attempted suicide in Pattaya after losing nearly 1 million baht to a call centre scam. Her mother claimed the police ignored the case for nearly a year. The mother contacted officers from Mueang Pattaya Police Station and rescuers from the Sawang Borriboon Thammasathan Foundation to assist her 36 year old tomboy daughter, identified only as A, at…
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Locals question Pattaya’s silence on Songkran traffic preparations
Pattaya is bracing for heavy traffic and travel delays as the city gears up for the annual Songkran holiday next week. As visitors flood into the seaside hotspot, both foot and vehicle traffic are expected to surge. But like in previous years, locals remained concerned about the expected gridlock. Last year, one local recalled how officials tried to control traffic…
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Swept into chaos! Bangkok road sweepers battered in bin bust-up
Two Bangkok road sweepers sustained injuries while on duty following a physical assault by a male vendor in the Samphan Thawong district at the weekend in a rubbish collection dispute. The Facebook page Red Skull XXX shared a video of the altercation, which occurred on Saturday, April 5, in the middle of an alley in the Samphan Thawong area. The post…
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K9 team wraps up collapsed Bangkok building search after 11 days
The K9 urban search and rescue (USAR) Thailand team has called off the search for missing persons in the aftermath of the tragic State Audit Office building collapse, confirming the end of their heroic operation. After a grueling 11 days of searching since the disaster on Friday, March 28, Suthikiat Sophonik, Director of the National Rescue Dog Organisation, announced that…
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Finance Ministry to blacklist rule-breaking contractors
The Finance Ministry is preparing to introduce measures to blacklist contractors that violate government procurement laws. Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat stated that in addition to blacklisting, contractors who breach procurement rules but whose offences are not severe enough for blacklisting may face downgrading. Julapun mentioned that discussions will be held with the Interior Ministry to ensure strict and comprehensive…
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Thai motorcyclist dies after crash into cement post and pond
A 25 year old man died when his motorcycle skidded off a curve and crashed into a cement post, propelling him into a pond. Yesterday, April 6, at 11am, officers from Ban Pho Police Station and emergency services in Chachoengsao were alerted to the discovery of a man’s body in a fish pond near a motorcycle at the entrance of…
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Butt of the bust! Cops stub out 3 million baht cig smuggling racket
Police yesterday intercepted a shipment of illegal cigarettes worth approximately 3 million baht, hidden among parcels on a truck. The driver claimed ignorance of the cargo’s contents, saying warehouse staff loaded the vehicle. Police Lieutenant Colonel Waris Machcha from Highway Police Station 3, Division 7, led the operation yesterday, April 6, that seized 5,480 packs of foreign cigarettes that had…
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Brief encounter! Lawyer cuffed over ‘land grab’ threats in Phuket
A Phuket lawyer found himself on the wrong side of the law after allegedly trying to muscle in on someone else’s land, using threats and intimidation to stake his claim. Anantrak Phethin was nicked in broad daylight on Thursday morning, April 3, in the car park of the Phuket Provincial Land Office, after cops swooped in with a court-issued arrest…
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