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 Thailand vs. the West: What expats save on healthcare each year
Healthcare in Thailand is much cheaper than in Western countries, making it a great choice for expatriates looking for affordable medical care. Both public and private healthcare options offer high-quality services, with savings of up to 80% on procedures like...
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Thai woman loses hand after shirt caught in motorcycle wheel
A Thai woman lost her left hand at the weekend after her shirt was caught by the wheel of a motorcycle while travelling on a road in the southern province of Songkhla. CCTV footage of the motorcycle accident circulated on Thai social media platforms after it occurred on Saturday, March 15. The video showed the victim, 55 year old Sudarat…
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Race against crime: Phuket police crack down on illegal street racers
Police in Wichit stepped up their campaign against illegal motorcycle racing, confiscating 22 motorcycles and arresting 10 young people in a focused operation addressing reckless riding. The action occurred on Saturday, March 15, as Wichit officers concentrated on key areas within Mueang district. Starting at 9pm, a team led by Wichit Police Chief Police Colonel Somsak Thongkliang, together with other…
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Arrested Thai woman laughs after brutal murder of transwoman
Police arrested a Thai woman at the weekend, suspected of having a mental illness, for the brutal murder of a transwoman in the eastern province of Rayong. A 29 year old Thai man, Prasit Yeesunhom, filed a complaint at Pluak Daeng Police Station on Friday, March 14, stating that his friend had stumbled upon the dead body of a woman…
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Nakhon Pathom police seize 50 million baht meth pills haul
Thai police announced the arrest of two men involved in the trafficking of over two million methamphetamine pills in Nakhon Pathom, Region 7. The drugs, hidden in a pickup truck, were being transported to Samut Sakhon, with the suspects reportedly paid 70,000 baht (US$2,080) each. The operation, valued at over 50 million baht (US$1.48 million), is under continued investigation to…
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Thai woman alleges black magic after ex-colleague’s strange rituals
A woman turned to a social media page for help after accusing a former colleague of using black magic against her. The black magic dabbling colleague alleged Bow stole her boyfriend, despite never meeting him. The incident occurred yesterday, March 16, at the office of the Sai Mai Must Survive page. Bow, a 28 year old woman from the Sukhapiban…
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Man shoots temple disciple in Pathum Thani, claims self-defence
An altercation in Pathum Thani led to gunshots when a man opened fire and injured a temple disciple, claiming self-defence. Eyewitnesses shared that the pair had an ongoing dispute for quite some time leading up to the near-deadly confrontation. Yesterday, March 16, officers from Pak Khlong Rangsit Police Station in Pathum Thani responded to reports of a shooting in front…
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Police nab drug dealer with 43 kilos of meth in Nakhon Pathom
Thai police apprehended a drug dealer in Nakhon Pathom province, recovering 43 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine, 2,000 methamphetamine pills, and over 800 e-cigarettes. Officials suspect connections to a car pawn gang and plan to coordinate with the Office of the Narcotics Control Board for asset seizure. Investigations by Metropolitan Investigation Team 8 led to the arrest of 38 year old…
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Bite club: German man sinks teeth into Korat dentist, sparks panic
A chilling wave of panic has swept through dental clinics in Korat after a German man sunk his teeth into a female dentist in a frenzied attack. The Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Dental Association is desperately urging the police to collar this foreign menace. Dentist Wivat Chatwongwan, representing the worried local dental community, today, March 17, escorted victims to Mueang Nakhon…
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Shoddy washing machine sparks fire in Pattaya
A fire broke out in a large housing estate in Pattaya last night when a clothes dryer caught fire in a home within the Ek Mongkol 4 community in Nong Prue, Bang Lamung district. Emergency services and Pattaya’s Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan rescue team quickly responded to the scene at at 9pm, yesterday, March 16, to contain the situation. The fire…
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Thai tourism ministry cracks down on foreign-led tour businesses
The Ministry of Tourism affirmed its commitment to investigating foreign businesses and nominee operations in key tourist areas. In 2024, 40 licences were revoked. The ministry insists that tour companies and guides must be Thai. Natreeya Thaweewong, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, yesterday, March 16, addressed concerns raised by a former Phuket MP regarding foreign…
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Bolt from the blue: Transport Ministry speeds up rider crackdown
The Ministry of Transport (MoT) has put the pedal to the metal with Bolt, urging a rapid revamp of rider registrations to meet the Department of Land Transport (DLT) standards. The move aims to deliver safe and cost-effective services across Bolt’s platforms, as revealed by MoT Deputy Permanent Secretary Sorapong Paitoonphong. Following a high-profile meeting, Sorapong highlighted key resolutions, including…
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Foreigner assaults Thai man after alleged hit-and-run in Pattaya
A viral video surfaced showing a foreigner physically assaulting a Thai man in the middle of a road, following an alleged hit-and-run incident in Pattaya. The Thai motorist who witnessed the incident shared the video on his Facebook account yesterday, March 16, with a caption that read, “The assault was caused by a motorcycle crash. They ended up at a…
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Dope busted: British nationals caught in Kho Samui cannabis caper
Four British nationals were collared in Thailand for their alleged role in a colossal cannabis smuggling scheme. The suspects were apprehended at Koh Samui Airport with a staggering 131 kilogrammes of marijuana as they prepared to jet back to the United Kingdom. The bust, yesterday, March 16, was a coordinated effort by the Surat Thani Immigration Investigation Unit, Koh Samui…
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Thai couple bring 24kg of cannabis to Japan in luggage mix-up
A Thai couple and their tour guide narrowly avoided charges after the couple mistakenly took the wrong luggage, belonging to a foreigner, and entered Japan with 24 kilogrammes of cannabis, which is illegal in the country. A Thai tour guide posted in a Facebook group called กลุ่มคนชอบตะลอนเที่ยวญี่ปุ่น (meaning a group for anyone who loves travelling around Japan) on Friday, March…
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Motorcycle crash on Highway 331 kills couple in Chachoengsao
A tragic accident occurred yesterday involving a motorcycle carrying three people that collided with a Toyota Fortuner on Highway 331 in Phanom Sarakham district, Chachoengsao province. The crash resulted in the death of a married couple, while another person sustained serious injuries. Police Lieutenant Pattana Pinich from the Nong Nae Police Station received a report about the accident and proceeded…
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Bridge over troubled water: BMA’s Bangkok river crossing race
Bangkok’s city planners are racing against the clock to complete the much-anticipated Kiakkai Bridge over the Chao Phraya River by 2026. This ambitious project is set to transform commuting across the bustling city, offering a smoother journey over the river. BMA Public Works Department chief Tawatchai Napasaksri dished out details on the various bridge projects currently weaving through the cityscape.…
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Thailand video news | Chiang Mai tops global air pollution rankings amid regional fires, Java’s sinking coast displaces residents
In today’s Thailand news update, Alex and Jay bring the latest headlines from across the region. Thai authorities arrested four foreign nationals at Samui Airport for smuggling 110 kg of cannabis, just a day after another major bust. Meanwhile, Chiang Mai has topped the global air pollution rankings due to cross-border fires, sparking health concerns. In entertainment, Kim Soo-hyun’s past…
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Czech man falls to death from 30-metre cell tower on Koh Larn
A Czech man yesterday fell to his death from a 30-metre cell tower on Koh Larn, an island in Chon Buri province. Officers from Mueang Pattaya Police Station were alerted to the death of a foreign man at about 11.30am yesterday, March 16. They rushed to the scene with a medical team from Ban Koh Larn Hospital and rescuers from…
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Pipe dream: Teenagers caught escaping Thai detention centre
Fifteen juveniles who escaped from a detention centre in Nakhon Ratchasima have been apprehended. Armed with metal pipes, they stole a motorcycle from a local, citing unbearable heat and homesickness as reasons for their escape. Police have informed the parents of the incident. Yesterday, March 16, a disturbance occurred at the Juvenile Observation and Protection Centre in Nakhon Ratchasima province,…
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Expressway chaos: Bangkok traffic mayhem as flyover tumbles
Transport chiefs in Thailand have urged motorists to seek alternative routes after a key section of the Bangkok–Thon Buri expressway collapsed on Saturday, causing traffic bedlam and blocking crucial ramps. Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) chief Surachet Laophulsuk warned of severe congestion around the Chalerm Maha Nakhon expressway ramp, particularly near the Dao Khanong toll plaza, starting today, Monday, March…
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Pounds meltdown: Phuket hospital weighs in on medical tourism
Vachira Phuket Hospital is stepping up its game in the booming medical tourism sector by inviting international patients to experience its top-notch weight-loss surgery. With demand for such procedures on the rise, the hospital is keen to establish itself as a major player. Dr Thakoon Poonthananiwatkul, a senior surgeon at Vachira, proudly announced the plans. “We have over a decade…
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Body found in Phuket sea believed to be missing American woman
Thai fishermen yesterday discovered the body of a foreigner floating between Koh Racha Yai and Koh He in Phuket province. The foreigner is suspected to be the missing American woman. Officers from the Phuket Tourist Assistance Centre (Khai Mook Centre) investigated the floating body at around 8.20am, yesterday, March 16, after being notified by a local fishing boat. The body…
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Last call: Drunk man’s tragic death in a Khlong Tan police cell
A 55 year old man died in a detention cell at Khlong Tan Police Station after being arrested for disorderly conduct while drunk. His family revealed he had a heart condition and a history of drug use. The incident involved a man, Pairoh, whose surname is withheld, causing a disturbance in Soi Phatthanakan 10 Intersection 1. Police from Khlong Tan…
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Grey matters! Labour Ministry’s age-raising proposal stirs debate
The Labour Ministry of Thailand is controversially considering raising the retirement age from 55 to 65, while also encouraging voluntary retirement, in a bid to bolster the financial stability of the Social Security Fund (SSF) as the nation braces for an ageing population boom. Government spokesperson Phumphat Muanchan revealed that Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn is keen on ensuring the SSF…
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British woman missing after fire on diving boat off Koh Tao (video)
A British woman went missing yesterday after a fire broke out on a boat during her diving trip off Koh Tao, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani. The fire on the diving boat, named David Jones’ Locker, was reported to Koh Tao Police Station at about 9am yesterday, March 16. The boat was carrying 22 people, including…
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Thailand offers free HPV vaccines for girls and young women
The Government of Thailand is offering free cervical cancer vaccinations to girls and young women aged 11 to 20 until the end of April, part of an initiative supported by the Ministry of Public Health. Cervical cancer, described by Deputy Government Spokesperson Sasikarn Watthanachan as a silent disease, results in numerous fatalities annually in Thailand. The vaccine protects against the…
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Bugged out! Mosquito bite leaves British dad in Tourette’s grip
A British father’s dream holiday in Thailand took a nightmarish twist after a vicious mosquito bite not only gave him Tourette’s syndrome, but set off a series of bizarre, life-altering health issues. Ross Constable returned from a family holiday to Phuket, never expecting a simple insect bite to transform his life in the most shocking way. The 48 year old…
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Storm set to rain on 25 provinces, Bangkok in the splash zone
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a warning for a summer storm affecting 25 provinces, including Bangkok, predicting heavy rain in 40% of the area. Strong winds and hail are also expected, with a subsequent drop in temperatures today, March 17. A high-pressure system from China is currently affecting the upper northeastern region, anticipated to expand to cover the…
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Boat fire near Koh Tao triggers evacuation by Royal Thai Navy
A fire broke out on a boat carrying 28 tourists for a diving trip near Koh Tao, prompting an evacuation effort by the Royal Thai Navy‘s (RTN) Marine Department in Surat Thani province. The incident occurred at 9.25am, today, March 16, when RTN Captain Natthaphon Sinphunphon, deputy director of the department, received an alert from Koh Tao’s rescue centre about…
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Thailand seeks private investment for Phuket expressway project
The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) is seeking private sector involvement in the Phuket Expressway Project to enhance road infrastructure, alleviate traffic congestion, and improve connectivity for both locals and tourists. On March 7, a public hearing took place at the Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit, where private investors were invited to share their views on the project’s feasibility and investment…
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