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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Sponsored Thinking of retiring in Thailand long-term? Here’s your health checklist before the move
Thinking of retiring in Thailand long-term? Thailand is a popular choice for retirees because of its beautiful landscapes, warm climate, and affordable living. Cities like Chiang Mai and coastal areas offer a relaxed lifestyle with friendly communities. The country also...
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UK roadshow rocks South Thailand with fair, farms and flair
The British Embassy in Bangkok wrapped up a whirlwind three-day roadshow across southern Thailand, marking a major milestone in the 170th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and Thailand. Running from April 28 to 30, the outreach tour made stops in Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi, and Surat Thani, showcasing a blend of serious diplomacy and lively community engagement.…
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Teen caught with meth worth 19 million baht at Mekong River
A 17 year old was caught transporting methamphetamine worth 19 million baht on behalf of a Lao drug gang. The teenager was apprehended while waiting to receive the narcotics, which were being transported by boat across the Mekong River to the Thai side yesterday, May 5. Rear Admiral Narong Emdee, commander of the Mekong Riverine Unit, along with his team,…
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Israeli tourist kicks up a stink over shoe rule, plays victim (video)
A rude foreigner caught on camera insulting Thais over a simple “shoes off” rule has backpedalled furiously, claiming she was misunderstood, mistreated, and maligned simply for being Israeli, as fury mounts over a string of bad behaviour by her fellow countrymen in the Kingdom of Thailand. The drama unfolded yesterday, May 5, when the Koh Pha Ngan Conscious Community Facebook…
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Thai man commits suicide after alleged betrayal by ex-boyfriend
A gay man committed suicide in a car parked outside a farm and café he had reportedly invested in with his former boyfriend, following alleged betrayal by the ex, his family, and his new partner. The owner of Subprayun Farm and Cafe in the central province of Lop Buri, Yo, contacted officers from Phattana Nikhom Police Station to investigate the…
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Missing catamaran found off Phuket, Canadian sailor safe
A solo sailor vanished, a luxury catamaran went silent, and fears of a maritime disaster gripped Phuket, until a dramatic twist yesterday saw the missing boat found bobbing near Koh Racha Noi, with the Canadian sailor alive and well. The search for the catamaran Liliput, which sparked a marine alert across southern Thailand, ended on a high note yesterday, May 5,…
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Bar humbug! Foreign tourist brawls bruise Pattaya’s party scene
Punches flew, tempers flared and yet another black eye was dealt to Pattaya’s party scene today after a boozy bar bust-up between foreign tourists left three injured and police scrambling to track down the culprits behind the chaos. A full-blown street scrap erupted outside a bar on Soi Chalermprakiat 25 in Nongprue, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri, today, May 6,…
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Kok River contamination sparks fears in northern Thailand
The Kok River, winding through the northern provinces of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai before joining the Mekong River, has become a source of concern for residents who once depended on it for agriculture, fisheries, and tourism. High concentrations of arsenic, a hazardous heavy metal, have been discovered, generating fear and uncertainty among those who rely on the river for…
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Car crashes into Suphan Buri supermarket, injuring two
An unexpected incident occurred when a car suddenly accelerated into a well-known supermarket in the Pho Phra Ya market, Mueang district, Suphan Buri province, yesterday, May 5, causing significant damage and injuring two people. Police and emergency services arrived at the scene to assess the situation. Upon arrival, approximately ten supermarket employees were visibly shaken. The store’s left-front window was…
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License to grill: Corrupt cop shakes down 79-baht diner for bribes
A fed-up restaurant manager has blown the whistle on a corrupt cop who allegedly demanded a monthly bribe to stop police raids, turning a humble 79-baht-a-dish diner into the target of relentless inspections that have scared off customers and slashed sales. Reporters were called to the Chop Charoen restaurant in Soi Mu Ban Chang Ayothaya, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, after…
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People’s Party urges peace talks after deadly southern attacks
A wave of violence in Thailand’s Deep South has sparked a fierce call to action from the People’s Party, which is demanding the government restart peace talks and urging insurgents to stop slaughtering innocent civilians. The opposition People’s Party has issued an open letter calling on the Thai government to urgently resume stalled peace talks with insurgent groups, while also…
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Young woman in Soi Ratchada 13 assaulted, suspects charged
Police are actively assisting a victim assaulted in Soi Ratchada 13, who, after being discovered with drugs, has developed mental health issues. The person is currently receiving treatment, while police have charged four suspects and are searching for another. At 6pm yesterday, May 5 at Sutthisan Police Station, Doctor Thanakrit Jittareerat, assistant to the minister of public health, and Kanthas…
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No new anthrax infections found in Thailand’s Mukdahan province
The anthrax situation in Mukdahan province is showing signs of improvement, with the Public Health Ministry reporting no new cases as of yesterday, May 5. The province has recorded three anthrax cases, according to Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin. Of these cases, one person has died, while two remain hospitalised. Some 636 people in the province have come into contact…
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7 Russian nationals hospitalised after eating unidentified wild fruit
Rescuers rushed seven Russian nationals to hospitals after they consumed wild fruit while visiting Khao Na Nai Luang National Park in the southern province of Surat Thani. Ta Khun Prom Foundation rescuers were called to assist the group, who suffered from dizziness and vomiting in the park area in Phanom district at 1.33pm yesterday, May 5. Five of the victims…
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Confused foreign tourist sparks shoplifting scare in Pattaya
A department store in South Pattaya was thrown into chaos after an outburst by a foreign tourist sparked a theft scare. Pattaya City Police rushed to the scene yesterday, May 5, after alarmed staff and shoppers reported a suspected shoplifter behaving erratically. But when officers arrived, they found the man, a foreign tourist, wasn’t stealing, just struggling with a mental health…
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Northeast Thailand’s billion-baht cable car gets green light
A long-proposed cable car project at Phu Kradueng National Park in northeast Thailand is officially shifting into gear after a 25.7 million baht budget was approved for its design. Atthapol Charoenchansa, Director General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), confirmed the scheme would see a 3-kilometre route constructed, potentially beginning at the Pha Mak Dook…
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Heavy rain alert for 43 Thai provinces including Bangkok
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a weather warning for May 6, forecasting heavy rain in 43 provinces, including Bangkok. The southern region is expected to experience significant rainfall covering 70% of the area, with risks of flash floods and landslides. In the next 24 hours, heavy rain is anticipated in the southern part of Thailand. Residents are urged to…
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Search at collapsed audit office site nears completion, 14 still missing
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt provided an update today, May 5, on the ongoing search for missing persons at the collapsed State Audit Office building under construction in Chatuchak district. The building collapsed following the March 28 earthquake. Chadchart said rescue operations have made steady progress, with teams now reaching the basement level of Zone SC2, where no further victims are…
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Lightning strikes rocket festival in Prachinburi, injuring two women
Lightning struck during a rocket festival at Wat Rattanettaram today, May 5, in Nadi district, Prachinburi, injuring two women who collapsed unconscious. Strong winds and rain accompanied the incident, prompting quick action from emergency services to assist the injured. The public relations department of the Sajja Buddha Dharma Foundation of Thailand in Kabin Buri district reported receiving a notification about…
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Thai man on the run after raping disabled neighbour in Lop Buri
A Thai man evaded arrest after allegedly raping a disabled female neighbour in the central province of Lop Buri. The victim reportedly appeared visibly distressed whenever she passed the rapist’s house. Residents of the Ban Bang Li community in Tha Wung district expressed sympathy for the victim and sought help from social media influencer Guntouch “Gun” Pongpaiboonwet. Gun, along with…
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Gunfire near Thai border kills 2 Lao soldiers, bullet hits Thai home
At least two Lao soldiers were killed in a clash with an armed group near the Thai border in Chiang Rai, with a stray bullet piercing the roof of a Thai home, officials confirmed. The gunfire erupted in Laos’ Paktha district, Bokeo province, opposite Wiang Kaen district in Chiang Rai. The incident, believed to be connected to a recent drug…
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Condo owner denies keeping deposit after Ukrainian woman trashes room
A condominium owner in Phuket denied accusations of cheating a Ukrainian woman who damaged her property. She clarified that the woman was not her tenant, but the girlfriend of her actual tenant, a Russian man. The Thai woman, Praphaphan Meesomboon, took to her Facebook page last week to share images of her damaged condo unit. The photos showed walls defaced…
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PM defends casino complex plan amid public outcry
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has criticised opponents of the planned casino entertainment complex, accusing political adversaries of creating confusion and fuelling opposition. During the NBT programme, Empowering Thais with PM Paetongtarn, she defended the project, asserting it could attract significant foreign investment and economic benefits without relying on taxpayer funds. Paetongtarn clarified that the investment would come from private and…
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Unlicensed healer under scrutiny after brain tumour patient’s death
A Thai woman blamed an unlicensed healer in the central province of Prachin Buri for the death of her mother, who suffered from brain tumours. The woman died two weeks after consuming a herbal drink and receiving an injection of an unidentified drug. The woman shared the story of her late mother, 61 year old Nit, on social media platforms. She…
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Bangkok woman assaulted by gang, mother seek justice (video)
A large group of friends gathered at a police station after their friend, a 27 year old woman, was assaulted by a gang in Bangkok. The incident, which was captured on video, set her mother on a path to seek justice. Today, May 5, a video of a violent incident outside an apartment in Ratchada Soi 13, Din Daeng district,…
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Thai tomboy hospitalised after sedan driver rams and assaults her
A Thai tomboy is seeking justice after a man crashed his sedan into her motorcycle and physically assaulted her on a road in the central province of Pathum Thani on Saturday, April 3. The 25 year old victim, Thipchanok, was hospitalised at Bangpakok Hospital 2 in Thanyaburi, Pathum Thani, following the incident. She turned to her university Facebook group for…
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German homeless after kicked out by Thai wife in Pattaya
A German man was found stranded and distressed in Pattaya’s Jomtien Beach area after being kicked out of his home by his Thai wife, local officials confirmed. The incident came to light during a routine patrol by the Jomtien enforcement unit under Pattaya City Hall, operating on a directive from Mayor Poramet Ngampichet to ensure visitor safety. Officers responded to…
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Thailand video news | Ladyboy brawl sparks image concerns in Phuket, Serial concrete attacker caught in Bangkok
From viral brawls in Phuket to tourism surges in Ho Chi Minh City, today’s top stories highlight a region balancing growth, image, and safety. Thailand grapples with public disturbances, cultural soft power strategies, and transport incidents, while neighbouring countries address trade tensions, infrastructure upgrades, and tragic accidents. These diverse headlines capture the pulse of Southeast Asia’s shifting social and political…
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Police crackdown on major gambling network in Isaan
A significant crackdown on an online gambling network in southern Isaan resulted in the arrest of 13 individuals, including the website’s owner and his wife, today, May 5. The operation involved over 80 officers from Police Division 3, targeting 14 locations across Ubon Ratchathani, Si Sa Ket, Buri Ram, Nakhon Nayok, and Chon Buri provinces. The operation led to the…
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Thailand to ease foreign business rules, boosting investment appeal
The Commerce Ministry intends to streamline business registration by excluding 10 service businesses from List 3 of the Foreign Business Act. This move aims to boost investment within the nation. Auramon Supthaweethum, the Director-General of the Department of Business Development (DBD), indicated that the ministry evaluated the service businesses on List 3 to adapt to evolving economic conditions. List 3…
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Foreign man slaps Phuket taxi driver and rams van in separate incidents
Local news agencies and residents in Phuket are demanding police action against a foreign man who was caught on a viral video slapping a Thai taxi driver in the face in the middle of the road. A Thai motorist shared dashcam footage of the incident with the Facebook news page Phuket Times, yesterday, May 4. The assault reportedly occurred on…
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