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 How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?
Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....
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Tiger selfie turns savage: Indian tourist mauled in Phuket (video)
A dream holiday snap turned into a nightmare for one tourist in Phuket after a tiger lashed out during a selfie stunt—leaving social media stunned and raising serious questions about animal welfare at popular tourist attractions. An Indian tourist suffered minor injuries after being attacked by a tiger at Tiger Kingdom in Phuket. The man, whose identity has not been…
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Krungsri forecast for Thailand economic growth cut to 2.1%
Research by Krungsri has revised Thailand’s economic growth forecast for 2025 to 2.1%, down from an earlier estimate of 2.7%. This adjustment comes amid layered risks, including US trade policy uncertainties and domestic pressures. The government is advised to exercise caution in policy-making while responding effectively to rapidly evolving situations. Pimnara Hirankasi, head of economic research and executive researcher at…
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Pita Limjaroenrat’s political return sparks hope for ‘Orange Camp’
Pita Limjaroenrat’s brief reappearance in the political arena has reignited optimism among supporters of the “Orange Camp,” following his reaffirmed ambition to become Thailand’s prime minister in nine years. His involvement in politics was curtailed due to the dissolution of the Move Forward Party (MFP). In August 2024, the Constitutional Court found the party and its executives, including Pita, guilty…
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Pattaya firm hits back at ‘grey Chinese’ money claims
Baidi International (Pattaya) Real Estate Asset Management Co., Ltd. has firmly denied any links to illegal Chinese capital, following swirling allegations and a government inspection that cast a shadow over the firm’s operations. At a press conference held at its office on Soi Department of Lands, Village 10, company director Kham Sae Yang, flanked by company lawyer Theerathorn Morakotjinda and…
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TCC flags legal red flags in 13 Bangkok high-rises
Thirteen flashy high-rises across Bangkok are under fire after watchdogs revealed they may be breaking the law—by blocking fire trucks and fudging approved plans. The Thailand Consumers Council (TCC) has blown the whistle on 13 high-rise building projects across Bangkok, raising alarm over alleged legal violations and dangerous design shortcuts that could put residents at risk. Led by secretary-general Saree…
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Chon Buri hospital declares war on big tobacco and e-cigs
A Chon Buri hospital has gone full throttle in the fight against smoking, blasting Big Tobacco and vaping in a fiery World No Tobacco Day event. Somdet Phra Boromma Ratchathewi Hospital in Sriracha joined the global war on smoking yesterday, May 30, hosting a dynamic event for World No Tobacco Day at the Sri Sawarinthira Nusorn 150 Years Building. Leading…
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Wanted Swiss expat dodges jail in shocking legal blunder
A Swiss man sentenced to jail for assaulting a Thai doctor has vanished without a trace – and officials are refusing to say what went wrong. Phuket authorities are facing mounting criticism after Swiss national Urs Fehr, dubbed “Swiss David” by local media, fled Thailand following a court-ordered jail sentence – and no one seems to know where he is.…
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People’s Party MP slams 26.5 billion baht budget for inequality
People’s Party MP Pukkamon Nunarnan criticised the government’s 26.5 billion baht provincial budget yesterday, arguing that it perpetuates inequality and fails to meet local communities’ needs. During the third day of the debate on the 2026 fiscal budget bill, Pukkamon, also known as “Lisa,” targeted the Interior Ministry’s budget. She asserted that the allocation model demonstrates a lack of power…
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Thailand faces heavy deluge as rain batters 39 provinces
Thailand’s Meteorological Department (TMD) predicts widespread heavy rainfall across Thailand, with 39 provinces, including Bangkok, expecting severe weather conditions. Residents are advised to be cautious of potential flash floods and landslides due to accumulated rainfall yesterday. The forecast indicates that the southwest monsoon, combined with a low-pressure area over Hainan Island, will result in significant rainfall in upper Thailand. This…
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Air Cambodia relaunches Bangkok-Sihanoukville flights
Air Cambodia has restarted its connection between Sihanoukville and Bangkok, resuming twice-weekly flights on May 22. The airline now operates this route every Thursday and Sunday using an Airbus A320 with 180 seats, providing much-needed convenience for travellers heading to Cambodia’s southern coast and its idyllic islands. While Air Cambodia already offers daily services between Phnom Penh and Bangkok, it…
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Charity turns violent: homeless man punches food donor in Nakhon Sawan
A Thai man’s act of kindness took an unexpected turn when he was punched in the face by a homeless man while handing out food in the northern province of Nakhon Sawan. The incident came to light after the Facebook news page Jmoi V+ (เจ๊มอย v+) shared a video of the incident yesterday, May 29. In the caption, the page…
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Phuket youths arrested for reckless beach gunfire (video)
Phuket’s pristine beaches were rocked by outrage after a video showing youths recklessly firing guns at Surin Beach went viral, stirring fears over tourist safety and law enforcement lapses on the island. The explosive 21-second clip, shared by the Facebook page Phuket Exposed (แฉยับ ภูเก็ต) yesterday, May 29 just after midnight under the hashtag #ThisIsPhuket, showed several young men discharging…
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Bangkok’s Grand Palace shuts down for royal birthday
Bangkok’s iconic Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (or Temple of the Emerald Buddha) will close their gates completely on Tuesday, June 3, as the nation honours the royal birthday of Her Majesty Queen Suthida. The Bureau of the Royal Household announced the closure yesterday, May 29, urging visitors and tourists to plan accordingly. Ahead of the full closure, a…
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Thaksin holds firm as Pheu Thai plans Cabinet shake-up
June is shaping up to be a stormy month in Thai politics, with tensions boiling over amid protests and courtroom drama targeting Pheu Thai’s spiritual leader, Thaksin Shinawatra. Despite rumoured flight and political chaos, Thaksin made a rare public appearance on Tuesday, May 27, dismissing speculation that he had fled the country. His keynote speech at a narcotics control event…
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Thailand’s telecom giants clash amid spectrum auction concerns
Thailand’s multibillion-baht telecom war is heating up as the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) officially opens bidding for high-demand mobile spectrum licences. The auction, scheduled for June 29, could reshape the country’s digital future—but not without controversy. Today, May 30, telecom giants True Move H and Advanced Info Service (AIS) submitted their applications to compete for spectrum licences in…
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Police’s son accused of brutally assaulting Thai actress surrenders
The son of a retired high-ranking police officer surrendered himself at Phra Khanong Police Station on Wednesday, May 28, after being accused of assaulting his ex-girlfriend, a Thai actress. The actress, Bell, came forward last week to seek justice after suffering repeated physical abuse at the hands of her ex-boyfriend, Kongla. He reportedly threatened her not to report the assaults…
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Waterspout hits near Phuket and Phang Nga, officials warn tourists
A rare waterspout was spotted this morning near Koh Khai Nok and Koh Khai Nai, right on the border between Phuket and Phang Nga provinces. The swirling vortex, whipped up by a severe thunderstorm, lasted 10 to 15 minutes and was visible from the shore, leaving many stunned by nature’s raw power. Fishermen and holidaymakers in the area reported the…
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Missing Pattaya woman’s Dutch boyfriend says red-hair skull likely unrelated
The skull with red hair, which was found in the central province of Chachoengsao, may not be linked to the missing woman in Pattaya, according to statements from her friend and her Dutch boyfriend. A 15 year old Thai teenager named Krittapas discovered the skull of an unidentified woman on May 27 while jogging around a pond in the Saen…
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Pattaya’s PR blitz falls flat as expats warn of scams
Despite a glossy City Hall campaign to “reinvent safety one step at a time,” long-term foreign residents in Pattaya say the city’s image makeover is little more than smoke and mirrors. While officials boast about new CCTV cameras, more tourist police, and road repaints, expats claim these gestures barely scratch the surface of deep-rooted problems that continue to plague the…
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Thai business closures rise 8.3% amid economic concerns
Thailand’s business landscape is facing stormy skies as nearly 4,000 companies shut their doors in just the first four months of 2025 — an 8.3% increase from the previous year, according to the Department of Business Development (DBD). This surge in closures, with a combined registered capital of almost 16 billion baht, has alarmed lawmakers during this week’s heated budget…
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Chiang Mai locals rush to buy lottery tickets before draw
In Chiang Mai, as the lottery draw approaches, locals are eagerly purchasing lottery tickets, especially in the bustling morning markets and areas like Mahidol Road and Mueang district. Prices remain steady with single tickets at 100 baht, two-ticket sets at 200 baht, and five-ticket bundles priced between 650 and 700 baht. Pannee Lu Poo Ngern, a lottery vendor from Chiang…
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Thailand braces as new Covid variant NB.1.8.1 rises fast
Thailand’s health experts are keeping a sharp eye on a new Covid-19 variant, NB.1.8.1, which is rapidly gaining ground and is expected to become the dominant strain in the country soon. Dr Yongyot Thummavudhi, director-general of the Department of Medical Sciences (DMSC), revealed yesterday, May 29, that the World Health Organisation (WHO) is actively monitoring multiple Omicron variants. Among these,…
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Bus driver found dead inside vehicle in Ayutthaya
Employees were left waiting as their bus failed to arrive, later discovering the driver deceased inside the vehicle. It is suspected he may have suffered a shock the previous night. Two lottery tickets were found in his bag. Police are expediting the autopsy to determine the cause of death. Today, May 30, Police Lieutenant Colonel Pleng Phankaew, deputy investigator at…
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Thailand video news | Bangkok Bank shuts door on short-term foreign accounts, Amad Diallo’s middle finger was a response to personal abuse, not fans
In Thailand video news, Alex and Jay cover news stories from across Thailand and Southeast Asia. News stories include Bangkok Bank tightening rules for foreign account holders amid a fraud crackdown, and a Bulgarian hacker arrested for installing malware in Thai ATMs. The program also covers a British family’s holiday nightmare in Phuket, a tragic police helicopter crash raising…
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Food poisoning outbreak in Udon Thani school affects 200 students
An incident involving nearly 200 kindergarten students from a school in Udon Thani province being rushed to Somdet Phra Yupparat Ban Dung Hospital has caused the emergency room to overflow. The children exhibited symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting, suggesting food poisoning. Medical professionals are working diligently to uncover the exact cause. The students began experiencing symptoms during the evening of…
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Bangkok man arrested for possessing child pornography on LINE app
Yesterday, May 29, the Metropolitan Police apprehended a 32 year old man for possessing explicit images and videos of minors under 18. The investigation revealed he accessed and stored such content on the LINE app at his residence in the Thawi Watthana district of Bangkok. The arrest followed a tip-off from the National Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)…
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Mentally ill inmate brutally attacks 2 guards at Bangkok prison
A mentally ill inmate attacked two prison guards with a baton at Klong Prem Central Prison in Bangkok on Wednesday, May 28, leaving one of the victims with serious injuries. The director of Klong Prem Central Prison filed a complaint with Prachachuen Police Station on the same day following the physical assault on two prison guards, identified as Sombat Phantamas…
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Udon Thani temple funeral turns violent as monk and man fight (video)
A confrontation occurred at a renowned temple in Udon Thani’s Mueang district, where a monk and a local man engaged in a physical altercation. The incident was captured on video and shared on social media, prompting public concern. The video shows a man in a black shirt restraining another man, while a monk uses his feet and fists against him.…
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Thai police arrest Chinese suspect linked to billion-baht scam
On the evening of May 28, Thai police successfully apprehended 41 year old Chinese national, Wu Feng Ma, also known as Amah or Afei, in Din Daeng district, Bangkok. Ma is a major suspect in a call centre gang operation, allegedly defrauding fellow Chinese citizens of over 10 billion baht (US$306 million) and suspected of facilitating illegal Chinese migration into neighbouring…
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Chinese tourist rescued after rooftop water tank swim in Pattaya
A surreal rescue unfolded yesterday afternoon when Pattaya authorities scrambled to save a 26 year old Chinese tourist who jumped into a water tank atop an eight-storey condominium. The unusual incident took place at 5pm yesterday, May 29, at a condo on Soi 17 off Thepprasit Road, leaving rescuers grappling with the challenge of extracting the man from the cramped…
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