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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Thailand-Cambodia border checkpoint closure leaves thousands stranded
The Baan Khlong Luek checkpoint, a key crossing on the Thailand-Cambodia border in Sa Kaeo province’s Aranyaprathet district, was unexpectedly closed yesterday afternoon, leaving thousands stranded. Security forces from both countries sealed the crossing at 4pm due to rising tensions. The closure stranded many Cambodian nationals on the Thai side and affected those at the Rong Kluea border market. Additionally,…
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Drug smuggler killed, 4.2 million meth pills seized in Chiang Rai shootout
In Chiang Rai‘s Mae Fah Luang district, a drug smuggler was killed and 4.2 million methamphetamine pills were seized following a 10-minute exchange of gunfire between armed traffickers and an army patrol early on June 6. Soldiers from the Phra Chao Taksin special units of the Pha Muang task force encountered a group of 15 to 20 men carrying rucksacks…
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Body of Thai hostage retrieved in Gaza by Israeli military
The body of a Thai hostage held in Gaza since the October 7 last year, attack by Hamas on Israel, has been retrieved by the Israeli military. Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed the recovery yesterday, June 7. Nattapong Pinta’s body was held by the Mujahedeen Brigades and retrieved from Rafah in southern Gaza. The family of the agricultural worker, located…
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Heavy rainfall warning issued for 38 provinces in Thailand
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a weather warning for heavy rainfall in 38 provinces, with 60% of Bangkok’s area expected to be affected. Residents are advised to be cautious of flash floods and forest runoffs on June 8. An increase in rainfall is anticipated across Thailand, with some regions experiencing significant downpours, particularly in eastern and southwest areas.…
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Imposter monk drags motorcycle along road in Korat (video)
A video showing a man dressed as a monk, tying his robe to a motorcycle with a sidecar and dragging it along a road, has surfaced on Facebook. The incident took place on Mittraphap Road, near Khao Yai Thiang in Si Khio district, Nakhon Ratchasima province, yesterday, June 6. The man is seen crawling on all fours and appeared to…
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Phuket cops team up with school to fight drugs and helmet rebels
Wichit Police have joined forces with Darasamut School in Phuket in a bold new campaign to tackle teen drug use, vaping, and traffic law violations, all while promoting safer, smarter behaviour among students. The initiative, held under the direction of Wichit Police Chief Police Colonel Somsak Thongkliang, was led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Wutthawat Liangbunchinda, Deputy Superintendent of Investigation. He…
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2 teenage girls rescued from Chon Buri karaoke bar prostitution
Police in Chon Buri raided a karaoke venue yesterday as part of a human trafficking investigation. The 59 year old owner is accused of exploiting underage girls for prostitution and operating without a licence. Police Major General Songkrot Krakritaya, commander of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division (ATPD), directed the operation in collaboration with local police in Mueang Chon Buri district.…
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5th Thai-Laos bridge to boost trade to over 28 billion baht
The fifth Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge is set to open by the end of the year, boosting cross-border trade to over 28 billion baht. Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit, alongside Lao Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, attended the concrete pouring ceremony for the bridge connecting Bueng Kan in Thailand and Bolikhamxai in Laos. This development aims to enhance…
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Golden GI banana boom brings millions to Chaiyaphum farmers
The Office of Agricultural Economics Region 5 has highlighted the success of the golden banana export initiative in Nong Bua Daeng, Chaiyaphum province. This venture generates over 36 million baht annually for local farmers by producing golden bananas with geographical indication (GI) certification for the international market. Chaisak Wuttisak, director of the Office of Agricultural Economics Region 5 in Nakhon…
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Knife-wielding man removed from Phuket streets
A mentally ill man accused of causing repeated panic in Phuket’s Soi Palai area has finally been removed from the community after over a year of complaints. The man, identified as Thiranai Chanphong, was taken into custody and transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital for psychiatric treatment on Thursday, June 5. The breakthrough came after frustrated landlady Pranee Boonsawang, 51, took…
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‘Arabian racers’ return: Daylight street chaos rocks Pattaya again
Street racing is once again plaguing Pattaya, with groups of Middle Eastern tourists — often referred to by locals as “Arabian racers” — taking over Sukhumvit Road in broad daylight. A viral dashcam clip circulating online shows three helmetless riders blasting off at a red light near Na Jomtien, treating the road like a racetrack while ignoring all traffic laws.…
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Bangkok serial thief busted with loot in Dusit district
A serial thief targeting Bangkok’s elite — including a judge and a government minister — was finally collared after a police bust in the capital’s Dusit district. Bangkok police have arrested 40 year old Tasanarat following a string of high-profile burglaries, including thefts from the homes of a former judge, a minister, and a former parliamentary chairman. The arrest, carried…
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Thai navy vows to guard seas as Cambodia drills near Koh Kut
The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) chief has reiterated the navy’s commitment to defending Thailand’s sovereignty, emphasising the necessity to repel any incursions into Thai territory promptly. Admiral Jirapol Wongwit made these remarks in Nakhon Si Thammarat amid reports that Cambodian naval forces were planning live-fire exercises near Koh Kut in Trat province. This latest issue between Thailand and Cambodia primarily…
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Princess Sirindhorn opens National Rice and Farmers Day event
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presided over the opening of the 2025 National Rice and Farmers Day yesterday, June 6. The event, themed Advanced Agricultural Technology: Promoting New Age Farming and Sustaining Thai Farmers, saw the princess presenting certificates of honour to the central committee of national community rice centres and four outstanding farmers and agricultural institutions. The…
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Monster rains, surging seas and storm warnings slam Thailand
Thailand is bracing for more rain and isolated heavy downpours, with the lower central region — including Bangkok — along with the east and south facing the highest risk, according to the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD)’s latest warning. The weather office said a moderate monsoon trough is moving south across the north, northeast, and upper central regions into a low-pressure…
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Thailand’s long-delayed airport high-speed rail finally back on track
Thailand is gearing up to sign a long-awaited contract for its high-speed rail project connecting Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi, and U-Tapao airports – a transport game-changer that has faced over five years of delays. The 224 billion baht mega-project, overseen by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), was severely derailed by the Covid pandemic, which impacted infrastructure investments nationwide. A key…
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Thailand rejects ICJ jurisdiction in land dispute with Cambodia
Thailand does not acknowledge the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in its land dispute with Cambodia. Yesterday, the Thai government issued its second statement about the border situation, indicating that since the clash in the Chong Bok area on May 28, both countries have agreed to use existing bilateral mechanisms for resolution. These include the Joint Boundary…
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4 suspects questioned after murder of gay Thai man in Surin
Police questioned four suspects after a gay Thai man was found dead in his home in the Isaan province of Surin on Wednesday, June 4, and his gold accessories, worth over 1 million baht, were reported missing. The 63 year old victim, Pratheep Kongthawee, was discovered lifeless near a sofa inside his home in Surin’s Mueang district. He sustained a…
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Phuket marine life in crisis as biologists save species
Marine biologists in Phuket are working tirelessly to protect the island’s marine life, with two sea turtle rescues and an investigation into the mysterious death of a dolphin. Yesterday, June 5, the Phuket Marine Biological Centre (PMBC) and the Rare Marine Animal Rescue Network sprang into action after receiving reports of two critically endangered species in distress. The first rescue…
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Thai woman left to raise daughters and repay debt after husband comes out
A Thai woman is seeking justice, claiming her gay ex-husband abandoned her with the responsibility of raising their two daughters and repaying a debt of over one million baht after coming out. The single mother, Som (alias), appeared on the Channel 3 talk show Hone Krasae yesterday, June 5, to share her family troubles and to seek advice. She urged…
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Smuggler killed in Chiang Mai clash, 200k meth pills seized
In Chiang Mai’s Fang district, a confrontation between an army patrol and armed drug traffickers resulted in the death of a smuggler and the seizure of 200,000 methamphetamine pills and 20 kilogrammes of opium. The incident occurred early yesterday morning in the northern border province. The Chaiyanuparp special unit from the Pha Muang task force encountered four to five armed…
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Thailand secures 12 Saab Gripen jets in 60 billion baht deal
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has confirmed its plan to acquire 12 Saab Gripen E and F fighter jets from Sweden, in a deal valued at 60 billion baht. The initial delivery is expected by 2029. Commander of the RTAF, Air Chief Marshal Punpakdee Pattanakul, announced yesterday, June 5, that the acquisition aims to replace Thailand’s ageing fleet of…
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Thailand launches free alcohol quality tests in 3 provinces
Thailand’s Excise Department is stepping up its efforts to improve the quality and safety of locally produced alcohol by launching a groundbreaking initiative aimed at ensuring community-made liquor meets safety standards. The Community Liquor Lab on Wheels programme, announced yesterday, June 5, by Deputy Finance Minister Paopoom Rojanasakul, will deploy mobile laboratories to Lampang, Sakon Nakhon, and Songkhla—three provinces with…
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Loan officer arrested for embezzling nearly 700,000 baht from client
Police arrested a loan officer for embezzling nearly 700,000 baht from a client in the Isaan province of Buriram by deceiving the victim into applying for a loan. Over ten additional victims came forward after the initial complaint. A 32 year old Thai woman, Phatchara, filed a complaint against the loan officer, Weerayut, at Mueang Buriram Police Station on September…
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Chiang Mai Univeristy students scammed of millions in single day
Ten students at Chiang Mai University experienced scams in a single day, resulting in losses amounting to several million baht. This has led the university and local police to issue a warning about the scams. The scams intensified during a long holiday from May 31 to June 2, according to Police Colonel Manatchai Inthean, superintendent of Bhubing Rajanives Police Station.…
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Tensions rise: Thai-Cambodian border dispute intensifies
Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia are reaching new heights, with the border dispute now a hot topic among the top military brass. Military leaders, including General Songwit Noonpakdee (Chief of Defence Forces) and General Phana Klaewplodthuk (Army Chief), remain on high alert despite believing the conflict is driven by motives other than actual combat. Both countries have deployed fully armed…
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Thai man found dead in hammock after suspected accidental strangulation
A Thai man tragically lost his life while sleeping on a hammock outside his relative’s home in the northeastern province of Si Saket. A 64 year old Thai woman, Wilai Sribunruang, reported the death of her 42 year old relative, Phantawut “Keng” Pongsatja, to officers at Uthumphon Phisai Police Station at approximately 5am on Wednesday, June 5. His body was discovered…
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Phuket tackles plastic pollution for World Environment Day
Over 350 participants gathered at Dragon Square in Phuket Town yesterday as the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO) launched its World Environment Day campaign. The event, held at Queen Sirikit Park, focused on the urgent need to eliminate single-use plastics, aligning with the United Nations’ 2025 global theme, Beat Plastic Pollution. The event, presided over by PPAO President Rewat Areerob,…
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Wall collapse horror: Pattaya construction mishap injures workers
A construction site in Pattaya turned into a scene of chaos yesterday when a concrete wall collapsed, trapping multiple workers and leaving two Myanmar nationals severely injured. The terrifying incident unfolded at 2.10pm yesterday, June 5, along the railway road in Soi Khao Talo, prompting an immediate response from local rescue teams and medical staff. The Sawang Boriboon Rescue Centre…
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Thai schoolboy uses AI to create nude images of female classmates
A Thai schoolboy in the central province of Pathum Thani allegedly used artificial intelligence (AI) to create nude images of his female classmates and shared them online. Yesterday, June 5, 20 schoolgirls and their parents visited the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau to file a complaint against their classmate after discovering their explicit pictures on social media. The young victims had…
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