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 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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Maha Sarakham man nets 12 million baht lottery windfall (video)
A man from Mueang Phayakkhaphum Phisai district in Maha Sarakham province recently became a multi-millionaire after winning 12 million baht in the Thai lottery. The winning numbers were announced yesterday, May 16, with the first prize number being 251309. The news quickly spread on social media, with the village head of Khok Lam, Asda Nuek Kaewbutsa, expressing his joy on…
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Thai women’s early morning fight rocks Pattaya’s Walking Street
A brutal street fight between rival groups of Thai women erupted on Pattaya’s famous Walking Street, stunning foreign tourists and sparking social media frenzy. Today, May 17, at around 5am, six women were caught on camera violently clashing amid light rain in South Pattaya’s bustling nightlife district. The 42-second viral video shows the women punching, kicking, and grappling fiercely in the…
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Phu Kradueng cable car sparks sustainability fears
The proposed cable car project in Phu Kradueng National Park, Loei province, has once again been thrust into the spotlight, with questions being raised about its compliance with sustainable development objectives. Opponents argue that the project exemplifies a trend of government-supported large-scale initiatives that could exploit natural resources under the guise of tourism growth. The issue re-emerged late last month…
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Viral coffin crash spurs lottery frenzy as number brings big wins (video)
A coffin falls onto the road, but it’s the vehicle’s registration number that’s causing a stir — and a lucky TikTok user says it made her a winner! A TikTok video capturing a shocking moment went viral after a coffin unexpectedly fell from a moving vehicle and landed in the middle of a road. The clip was shared by user…
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SRT to test refurbished Japanese diesel trains for suburban routes
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) will start testing on KiHa 40 and 48 diesel trains before next month ends, with plans to deploy these second-hand trains from Japan on suburban feeder routes by the end of the year. SRT Governor Veeris Ammarapala stated that the donated trains have been adapted to suit Thailand’s narrow-gauge tracks. Out of 20 units…
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Lotto Plus hits big: 4 winners share 60 million baht jackpot
Lotto Plus revealed four new lottery winners across four provinces, with a total of 10 first-prize tickets, amounting to 60 million baht. A particularly fortunate woman from the northern province of Phichit secured 30 million baht by purchasing five tickets, all of which were winning numbers. The Government Lottery Office (GLO) announced the results for yesterday, May 16, with the…
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Thailand and Vietnam target US$25bn trade boost
Thailand and Vietnam have committed to strengthening economic ties and aim to increase bilateral trade to US$25 billion (833 billion baht) annually in the near future, according to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. During a media briefing following the 4th Thailand–Vietnam Joint Cabinet Retreat (JCR), co-chaired with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh during her official two-day visit which ended yesterday,…
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Phuket reclaims Surin Beach from illegal occupiers
Phuket’s popular Surin Beach is finally being reclaimed after days of tense confrontations as officials crack down on illegal occupants blocking public access. On Thursday, May 15, Phuket officials worked tirelessly from 9am to 2pm to remove buildings, belongings, and items from intruders who had illegally occupied public areas at Surin Beach, Village No. 3, Cherng Talay subdistrict. The clearance operation…
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Miracle escape: Amulet saves driver in Chon Buri SUV crash
In a heart-stopping moment on a shadowy Chon Buri highway, a man’s SUV flipped onto its side — but against all odds, he walked away unscathed, crediting a sacred amulet for saving his life. At 10.36pm yesterday, May 16, Police Lieutenant Colonel Prakasit Phondech of Huai Yai Police Station was alerted to an accident on Highway 36, the Chon Buri-Rayong Bypass…
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Phuket gears up with sandbags ahead of rainy season
Phuket is bracing for the rainy season with a full-scale flood battle plan ready to roll out, as officials warn locals to stay alert and keep canals clear of rubbish. Yesterday, May 16, Chalermporn Piyanarongroj, Permanent Secretary of Phuket City Municipality, acting as Mayor, announced preparations following the Meteorological Department (TMD)’s declaration that Thailand’s rainy season officially began on May…
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Lottery luck: Rayong restaurateur wins 12 million baht jackpot
Luck struck in the most unexpected way for a Rayong restaurateur who scooped 12 million baht in the lottery — all thanks to a broken durian delivery wheel that flew onto a neighbour’s roof. Yesterday, May 16, the usually quiet village of Ban Yang En in Mueang Thap Mon, Khao Chamao district, erupted with joy after the announcement of the…
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British man knifed and dumped near courthouse in Pattaya
A British man was left fighting for his life in a pool of blood outside a Pattaya courthouse after a brutal knife attack involving three foreigners, sparking a police manhunt and a flurry of questions over what led to the violent ambush. At around 5pm yesterday, May 16, Lieutenant Pakan Pobnan, Deputy Investigation Officer at Pattaya City Police Station, received a…
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Drug addict arrested for sex attempts with cow and dog
Police in the Isaan province of Buriram arrested a drug addict after he attempted to engage in sexual intercourse with a cow and a dog. The 70 year old homeowner, Chaiyasak, called a community leader and officers from Mueang Buriram Police Station to facilitate the arrest of a 37 year old man, Ittiporn, for his disturbing actions yesterday, May 15.…
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Trapped in Thailand: US professor caught in royal law limbo
An American academic is stranded in Thailand despite prosecutors dropping serious royal defamation charges, sparking diplomatic concerns and fears of legal limbo. Paul Chambers, a 58 year old political science lecturer, was arrested last month under Thailand’s strict lese majeste law—a rarely enforced statute against foreigners that carries up to 15 years in prison. Though the state prosecutor recently dropped…
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Man chooses to defecate on public road despite nearby bathroom
A diamond store owner in the central province of Saraburi is searching for a man who defecated outside his premises and humiliated him by sharing a video of the incident on social media. The owner, 50 year old Thanongsak, posted the footage and images in the Facebook group Saraburi on Tuesday, May 13. His store is located on Sud Banthat…
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Thai government’s G-token gamble sparks legal, public backlash
The government’s plan to introduce the digital Government Token (G-Token) as a new fundraising strategy has been met with criticism from economic experts. They caution that this move could breach existing legislation and mislead the public. The Cabinet approved the digital token initiative on Tuesday, May 13, aiming to provide an alternative to traditional bonds for retail investors. G-Tokens are…
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Phuket driver forces wife into boot to make room for tourists
Netizens and taxi drivers in Phuket criticised a hatchback driver for illegally offering transport services to foreign tourists and for carrying his wife while on duty, resulting in the vehicle being overloaded. The Facebook page โหดจัง จังหวัดภูเก็ต (meaning Phuket is so brutal) shared a video of the overloaded grey hatchback on May 15, with a caption reading “I appreciated the…
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Tycoon, engineers face arrest in Bangkok building collapse scandal
A high-stakes manhunt is underway after Thai police issued arrest warrants for 17 people linked to the fatal collapse of the State Audit Office (SAO) building in Bangkok—a disaster that has rocked the nation’s construction industry and could land several top executives behind bars. At the centre of the storm is prominent businessman Premchai Karnasuta, chairman of Italian-Thai Development, who…
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Steel carnage: Factory collapse crushes cars in Chon Buri horror
Panic erupted in Chon Buri today as part of a factory building came crashing down without warning, flattening vehicles and sending workers fleeing in terror. The collapse shook Amata City Industrial Estate Phase 10 in Phan Thong district, leaving behind a mangled mess of metal, dust, and debris. The incident occurred today, May 16, in the heart of one of…
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31 Thai and Chinese suspects arrested in Rayong for money laundering
Police arrested 18 Thai and 13 Chinese suspects at an accommodation in the eastern province of Rayong for operating a money laundering scheme linked to a scam gang. Officers raided properties in the Ban Chang district of Rayong on two occasions, April 8 and May 7, and arrested 31 suspects involved in the money laundering operation. They also discovered several…
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North Pattaya bridge blaze sparks safety crackdown
Smoke, fire and a stench of burning wires sent shockwaves through a Pattaya neighbourhood this week, as a bizarre blaze under the Naklua Bridge sparked panic and shone a spotlight on an area long plagued by shady activity. Yesterday afternoon, May 15, thick clouds of smoke began pouring from beneath the bridge along Sukhumvit Road in Naklua, prompting alarmed residents…
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Flight club: Thailand plots new routes to Vietnam to boost tourism
Thailand is gearing up to launch new direct flights linking its northeastern provinces to Vietnam to supercharge tourism and deepen regional ties. The plan, revealed during Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s official visit to Vietnam, aims to make travel easier between the neighbouring countries while tapping into their growing tourism markets. Speaking during her two-day visit, which concludes today, May 16, the…
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Thai woman saves daughter from rape attempt by drug addict
A Thai mother bravely fought off a man who attempted to rape her five year old daughter at their home in the Isaan province of Udon Thani, hitting the suspect with a clothes iron until he fled the scene. A 33 year old Thai man, Watchara, shared a video on his Facebook account yesterday, May 15, showing residents in the…
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Shots and shocks: Drunk man’s gun rampage terrifies Chalong
Residents in a quiet Chalong neighbourhood were left rattled yesterday after a drunk man unleashed a barrage of gunfire into the sky, sparking panic and drawing a heavy police response. At around 3.55pm yesterday, May 15, police were called to Village 3 in Soi Palai after terrified locals reported hearing more than 10 gunshots echoing through the residential area. Fearing…
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Public fury after Thai man rapes his mother in Lampang forest
A Thai man raped his 73 year old mother in a roadside forest in the northern province of Lampang, despite the victim repeatedly begging her son to let her go. The suspect had been in and out of prison in recent years. The elderly victim visited officers at Koh Ka Police Station yesterday, May 15, to file a complaint against…
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Thai state banks urged to bolster export businesses amid US tariffs
State-owned financial institutions are encouraged to implement measures to aid export businesses and the supply chain. During a policy briefing yesterday, May 15, Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira highlighted the impact of US reciprocal tariffs, predicting a two-year challenge for domestic businesses, particularly those involved in exports. Pichai urged these financial institutions to expedite the introduction of support measures, especially for…
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Monk’s millions: Pattaya woman busted in gambling scandal
A scandal mixing faith, fortune, and online gambling has rocked Thailand, as police swooped in on a Pattaya condo to arrest a young woman linked to the disgraced abbot of Rai Khing Temple. The monk is accused of blowing more than 300 million baht of temple funds on online baccarat—and now the money trail has led straight to the resort…
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Conscript denies sexual rejection as motive in stabbing of ex-girlfriend
A conscript in Phitsanulok is facing accusations after allegedly stabbing his ex-girlfriend at her place of employment. In the aftermath of the incident, he denied that sexual rejection was the motive for the attack. The 19 year old Thai woman, Sasipim, was stabbed in the neck while working at a noodle factory in Phitsanulok on Wednesday, May 14. A colleague…
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Bangkok on shaky ground despite low quake risk, expert warns
In Thailand, although the probability of another earthquake occurring soon is low, several regions, including Bangkok, remain at high risk of experiencing tremors from nearby fault lines, according to a seismologist. At the Bangkok Post Knowledge Forum, held under the title After the Quake, Professor Pennung Warnitchai from the Asian Institute of Technology highlighted Bangkok’s vulnerability to distant earthquakes due…
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Thailand tightens regulations on short courses for foreign students
The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) has implemented new regulations to curb the misuse of short courses by foreign students as a means to engage in illegal work in Thailand. Effective immediately, all educational institutions are required to submit their short course curricula for evaluation. Minister Supamas Isarabhakdi announced yesterday, May 15, that the guidelines are…
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