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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‘You park, we arrest’: Pattaya cracks down for order
Pattaya is on a mission to clean up its act—literally and figuratively. With public spaces overrun by private businesses and traffic jams choking its streets, the city is launching bold new initiatives to restore order and improve quality of life for both residents and tourists. Leading the charge is Pattaya City Mayor Poramet Ngampichet, who has rolled out two key…
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Thieves steal Honda Wave 125i motorcycles in Saraburi heist
Three young thieves stole two Honda Wave 125i motorcycles from a dormitory in Nong Khae district, Saraburi province. The theft occurred within three minutes, leaving the owner with only the registration documents. One of the motorcycles was newly purchased just a month ago. Yesterday, March 26, Boonsanong Kamphumi, the 37 year old owner of a white-red Honda Wave 125i, licence…
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Thailand approves mega entertainment complex bill with casino cap
Thailand is going all-in on entertainment—but not just for gamblers. In a landmark move, the Cabinet has approved the draft Integrated Entertainment Business Act and sent it to the House of Representatives for further consideration. While the inclusion of casinos may raise eyebrows, the government insists they’ll be strictly regulated and capped at just 10% of any entertainment complex. “The…
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Pattaya lifeguards and foreigner rescue man from suicide (video)
Two Thai lifeguards and a foreigner yesterday successfully rescued a man who attempted to commit suicide in the sea off Pattaya. Two Thai lifeguards and a foreign man who witnessed the incident yesterday, March 26, pulled the Thai man, later identified as Pisit, out of the sea. Pisit reportedly choked on seawater and was exhausted, as the sea had very…
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Behind bars and under fire: Thailand’s prisons slammed for slow reform
Thailand’s prison system is under fresh international scrutiny, with human rights organisations condemning the country’s slow progress in reforming its outdated and overcrowded facilities. According to last year’s annual report by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Union for Civil Liberty (UCL), Thailand’s efforts to adopt alternative measures to incarceration have been insufficient, and critical changes remain…
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Thai transwoman and boyfriend arrested for killing brother
Police in Pathum Thani arrested a Thai transwoman and her boyfriend after uncovering evidence that they had murdered her younger brother and managed to keep the crime hidden for three months. The victim, a 28 year old Thai man, Jakkarin Charoenpha, went missing in mid-December last year. Jakkarin left his rented room in the Isaan province of Nakhon Ratchasima on…
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Police slam brakes on teen biker gang in Chalong crackdown
A gang of 11 teenagers were arrested early yesterday morning for causing a disturbance and loitering in Chalong, with six motorcycles seized during the operation. The arrests were made yesterday, March 26, under the supervision of Police Colonel Rungrit Rattanaphakdi, Superintendent of Chalong Police Station, after officers were alerted to a gathering of youths causing a nuisance near Soi Chao…
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Thai man found dead in car after unusual online order
A 29 year old man was discovered dead in his vehicle after ordering items online, raising suspicions among family members who had noticed his unusual behaviour three to four days before his death. Yesterday, March 26, at 7.30pm, Police Lieutenant Colonel Jaresak Suwannasont, Deputy Inspector of Bang Nam Priao Police Station, was informed about a death inside a car parked in…
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Toddler drowns in Wang River, northern Thailand
A two year old boy tragically drowned in the Wang River in Lampang province after wandering away from his grandmother’s house. The incident occurred yesterday, March 26, at 5pm, and police, along with rescue teams, responded to the scene. The Lampang Rescue Association, in collaboration with local hospital emergency staff and police, searched and found the boy’s body in the…
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Thai food fight: Restaurant industry left starving as spending drops 40%
Thailand’s restaurant industry is in turmoil, with purchasing power dropping by over 40% in the first quarter of 2025, according to Thanivarn Kulmongkol, President of the Thai Restaurant Association. The sluggish economic recovery and stagnant incomes have left consumers tightening their belts, opting for savings rather than spending, especially ahead of major festivals like Songkran. This downturn is affecting all…
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Russian man’s Phuket cannabis empire goes up in smoke
Police in Phuket yesterday arrested a Russian man for illegally distributing dried cannabis flowers and vapes, seizing illegal items worth nearly 1 million baht from his accommodation. Local police officers, in collaboration with administrative officials, launched a crackdown on the illegal sale and use of cannabis and e-cigarettes in Phuket between 21 and 30 March. The arrest of the 24…
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Lottery tips and stories fuel excitement for April 1 draw
Lottery enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating the draw on April 1. Various sources have shared their predictions for this upcoming event. Here are some notable lottery tips and stories circulating. Renowned lottery predictor Mae Nam Nueng revealed her picks for April 1. She highlights the number 4 and suggests combinations such as 4176. For a three-digit finish, she proposes 417 and…
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Thai police arrest Chinese duo for counterfeit cosmetics trade
Thai police arrested a 40 year old Chinese national who had obtained Thai citizenship and a 36 year old Chinese woman for allegedly selling counterfeit cosmetics and medicines. They rented two houses in Bangkok, where over 8,200 illegal items were seized. Yesterday, March 26, Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, alongside other senior officers, directed a team, including officials from the Food…
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Illegal condo rentals exposed in Pattaya crackdown
The Thai government has launched a major crackdown on illegal daily condominium rentals, with a focus on three prime locations in Pattaya. Foreign investors, particularly Chinese nationals, have been accused of turning multiple condominium units into de facto hotels, violating the Hotel Act. These illegal operations have sparked outrage among locals and led to direct intervention by the Ministry of…
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Frenchman wanted for fatal prison break arrested in Phuket
Phuket police officers yesterday arrested a Frenchman wanted for aiding a prisoner’s escape and killing prison guards in France last year. The BBC reported last year that the French prisoner, 30 year old Mohamed Amra, also known as “The Fly,” managed to escape from custody while being transported back to prison after attending a court hearing. Amra had been arrested on…
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Phuket rolls out EV buses to boost tourism and reduce pollution
Phuket is set to introduce two new 18-seat open-top electric buses to enhance its tourism appeal. These environmentally friendly vehicles aim to tackle pollution and PM2.5 dust issues while serving as promotional tools for tourism, according to Saroj Angkanapilas, Mayor of Phuket municipality. The buses are adorned with illustrations of the area’s distinctive Sino-European architecture, highlighting the Old Town’s cultural…
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MP banned for 10 years over vote-buying in Thailand election
The Supreme Court has ruled that Mukdawan Luengsinil, a Bhumjaithai Party MP representing Nakhon Si Thammarat, is barred from contesting or voting in elections for the next 10 years due to an election law violation. This decision follows a petition from the Election Commission (EC), which found evidence of her involvement in vote-buying during the 2023 General Election in Constituency…
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British widow’s Thailand dream turns to heartbreak
A British woman paid tribute to her “kind, compassionate” husband, who died after suffering a heart attack on a flight home from their dream holiday in Thailand. The couple’s flight was diverted to India when he took ill and eventually died in a Delhi hospital. The dead man’s British wife, Gill Dunn, then had the ignominy of bringing her husband’s…
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Thai police surrenders after fatally shooting girlfriend in Nakhon Pathom
A Thai police officer turned himself in after fatally shooting his girlfriend in front of her family members at a house in the central province of Nakhon Pathom yesterday, March 26, the victim’s birthday. The Police Senior Sergeant Major from the Thung Song Hong Police Station, 38 year old Arnon, surrendered himself at Mueang Nakhon Pathom Police Station yesterday after…
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YouTuber’s van collides with truck, injuring seven in Nakhon Ratchasima
A van carrying the team of a popular YouTuber collided with the rear of a trailer truck, injuring seven people, including the YouTuber’s mother. The incident occurred yesterday, March 26, at 8.30am, on Mittraphap Road in Nakhon Ratchasima. Police Colonel Ratthawit Anandadilakkrit from Khong Police Station received the report and directed Police Lieutenant Songphon Nimmani to the scene, along with…
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British boxing champ knocked down by law after Thailand drug bust
An ex-British boxing champion who ducked and weaved his way through three continents to avoid drug charges has been sentenced to six years behind bars. Lennox Clarke, from Stourbridge in the West Midlands, was caught red-handed supplying narcotics to a known dealer before skipping town in a desperate bid to avoid a legal knockout. The former British and Commonwealth super-middleweight…
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Singaporean wanted after Thai girlfriend found dead in Bangkok condo
Police are searching for a Singaporean man after his Thai girlfriend was found dead in the bathroom of a luxury condominium on Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok yesterday, March 26. The naked body of the 30 year old woman, Proudphilas Paladon, was discovered in the bathroom of a unit on the 22nd floor of a condominium near Soi Sukhumvit 39 in…
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Teenagers arrested in Bangkok for homemade gun attack
Two teenagers were apprehended within two hours after brandishing homemade guns and firing shotgun shells at a rival in the Lat Krabang area. The incident, which took place on March 25 at approximately 8.30pm, resulted in no injuries. Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, along with other high-ranking officers from the Metropolitan Police Bureau, disclosed the arrest of 18 year old…
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PM Paetongtarn rules out Cabinet reshuffle after no-confidence win
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra stated that a Cabinet reshuffle is not imminent after surviving a no-confidence motion. Yesterday, March 26, she received substantial backing from Parliamentarians, with the vote totaling 319 to 162, with seven abstentions. After the vote, the Thai premier confirmed no immediate plans to alter the Cabinet. When questioned about whether her father, former Prime Minister Thaksin…
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Win a complimentary stay at Sole Mio Boutique Hotel & Wellness!
Be part of an exclusive experience where art, wellness, and cultural discovery come together. As the only hotel in Phuket with an on-site medical clinic, Sole Mio Boutique Hotel & Wellness presents the April Edition of Soul & Sole Sunset Journeys: Sunset & Strokes. Featuring a canvas painting workshop, culinary experiences, and enhanced hotel offerings in celebration of Phuket Biennale…
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Why Thai casinos are embracing Bitcoin: trends and insights
Crypto casinos, in general, and Bitcoin casinos, in particular, have drawn considerable attention in the past few years. However, in many countries, there exists a blanket ban on casinos or gambling. Thailand is one such country where gambling is largely illegal and is allowed in a restrictive manner. In Thailand, gambling was allowed only for horse races and those offered…
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East Pattaya mayor resolves year-long streetlight issue
A long-standing streetlight issue in Nong Pla Lai subdistrict, East Pattaya, which has left a key road in darkness for over a year, is finally being addressed. Phinyo Homklun, the Mayor of Nong Plalai, visited the area around the street cutting through Phon Thep 6 and Phon Thep 8 villages to investigate and resolve the problem after numerous complaints from…
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Pretty in pink: Bikini-clad woman wreaks havoc at police station
A Thai woman in a pink bikini top caused chaos at a police station in Nonthaburi near Bangkok for two days due to her mental health condition. A 47 year old Thai man, Ronnachai, had been searching for his wife, 34 year old Sudarat, who had been missing from their shared home since Sunday, March 23. He eventually found her…
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Man shoots thief in Phuket shrimp pond, police investigate
A shocking incident unfolded in Phuket late yesterday when a man opened fire on a suspected thief who had broken into his shrimp pond. The suspect, later identified as 28 year old Thana Phanthip, was shot in the ankle after allegedly attempting to steal from the property. Police Lieutenant Colonel Niwat Timket of Thalang Police Station received a call at 11.30pm,…
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Thailand bans all corporal punishment, a win for children’s rights
In a groundbreaking move for children’s rights, Thailand has officially outlawed all forms of corporal punishment, including both physical and psychological discipline. The amendment to Section 1567 of the Civil and Commercial Code, announced in the Royal Gazette on Monday, March 24, marks a historic moment for the nation, making Thailand the 68th country worldwide to ban violent discipline in…
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