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 5 ways retirees in Thailand lose money (and how to stop it)
Retiring in Thailand can be affordable and enjoyable, but many retirees lose money due to common mistakes. High living costs, scams, and unexpected expenses can quickly drain savings. There are five ways that retirees in Thailand can lose money and...
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Teen racers busted in Phuket midnight police crackdown
Reckless teen bikers got a rude awakening this week as Wichit Police swooped in on a notorious Phuket racing hotspot, hauling in 17 underage riders and seizing 10 souped-up motorbikes in a late-night sting. The crackdown, carried out in the early hours of yesterday, April 4 in the Laem Dinso area, was part of an intensified campaign to tackle illegal…
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Retiree surrenders after fatal shooting over dog dispute in Lamphun
A 62 year old retiree surrendered to the police after fatally shooting the owner of a dog that allegedly caused him to suffer an accident. The incident occurred yesterday, April 4 in a field located in Mueang Lamphun district, Lamphun province. Police Lieutenant Colonel Phanupong Songsuwan, from Ban Thi Police Station, reported a shooting at Ban Chae Son, Village 1,…
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Mass grave unearthed at Bangkok train station site
Construction workers got more than they bargained for while digging near Bangkok’s Siriraj Hospital—a chilling discovery of dozens of human skeletons beneath the ground, believed to be victims of a mass execution over two centuries ago. The remains were found during a survey at the future site of the MRT Orange Line’s Siriraj Station, which will link Bang Khun Non…
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Mild earthquake shakes Pai as Myanmar tremors surge nearby
Tourists in Thailand’s popular northern getaway Pai woke up to an unexpected jolt after a mild earthquake struck the area early this morning, April 5—part of a cluster of tremors shaking nearby Myanmar. At around 6am, a 2.1-magnitude earthquake was recorded in Pai district, Mae Hong Son province, at a shallow depth of just 1 kilometre. While the quake was…
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Pattaya driver accused of misconduct by intoxicated passenger
A 24 year old woman reported being coerced by a driver into a non-consensual act after she was heavily intoxicated while returning home from a host bar in Pattaya in the early hours. Despite filing a complaint with Pattaya Police Station, she was initially told to gather her own evidence, causing considerable distress. Yesterday, Police Colonel Arut Saphanon and Pol.…
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Phuket lawyer arrested over harassment and multiple marriages
Police in Phuket apprehended a well-known lawyer following allegations of harassment and multiple marriages. An arrest warrant was executed yesterday, April 4, as the Phuket Provincial Investigation Unit detained Anantarak, a social media-famous lawyer, at a local car park. This comes after previous revelations on a television show regarding claims of harassment and his admission of being involved with over…
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Fugitive thief and hit-and-run suspect captured in Pattaya
A sleepy fugitive’s midday snooze turned into a rude awakening after Pattaya police busted a 23 year old man wanted for theft and a fatal hit-and-run. The arrest unfolded while the suspect was dozing off beside a motorcycle repair shop. At 1pm on Thursday, April 3, officers from Pattaya Police Station arrested Mintada, who had been on the run from…
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Trat city opposes Koh Chang expressway, fears economic impact
Residents and business owners in Trat city have expressed strong opposition to a proposed 5.9-kilometre expressway connecting Laem Ngob district to Koh Chang. They contend that this new route, which bypasses the city, could adversely affect the local economy. A second public consultation for the expressway project took place at Trat City Hotel in Mueang district on Wednesday, April 2.…
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US academic slapped with lese majeste charges in Thailand
A 58 year old American lecturer is in hot water after Thai authorities issued a rare lese majeste arrest warrant against him—sending shockwaves through the country’s academic and expat communities. The suspect, Paul Chambers, a long-time resident of Thailand and special adviser on international affairs at Naresuan University in Phitsanulok, is facing charges under Thailand’s strict royal defamation laws, known…
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Thailand heatwave hits 28 provinces with summer storms
Thailand’s Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a weather warning for today, April 5, highlighting intense heat in some areas and storms affecting 28 provinces, including Bangkok. Strong gusty winds and high waves in the sea are also expected, urging residents to exercise caution. In Thailand’s upper regions, low pressure from heat is causing overall hot weather, with extreme heat in…
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Barking mad! Thai woman finds dog heartworm wriggling inside her
A Thai doctor issued a public warning after a patient discovered a dog heartworm in her body, believed to have been transmitted from pets to humans via mosquito bites. The doctor from FMC Thailand Clinic in the Isaan province of Nakhon Ratchasima shared a video of a white worm moving on a tissue on the clinic’s official Facebook page. The…
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Phuket trials emergency alert system after earthquake failures
In the wake of the March 28 earthquake that rocked Thailand, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has swiftly rolled out a trial run of a new Cell Broadcast alert system in Phuket, aiming to overhaul the country’s emergency alert infrastructure. During the trial, the system showed promising results on Android devices, providing real-time alerts without delays. However,…
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Warning: Sinkholes emerge in Mae Hong Son after earthquake
In a startling post-earthquake discovery, six sinkholes have appeared in Mae Hong Son’s Khun Yuam district, leaving locals on edge. The sudden appearance of these giant holes has prompted a warning from the Mineral Resources Regional Office 1, advising residents to exercise extreme caution. The sinkholes, which range in size from 2 to 30 metres in diameter, were first discovered…
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Dorm inspected in Phuket after quake sparks safety fears
In the wake of last week’s devastating earthquake in Myanmar, scrutiny has intensified on a Chinese contractor linked to multiple construction projects across Thailand, including a long-delayed female student dormitory at Phuket Rajabhat University. On April 3, officials from the Phuket branch of the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning (DPT Phuket) carried out an urgent inspection…
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Thailand goes shadowless: Sun overhead phenomenon begins
Get ready to look up because Thailand is about to go shadowless. The rare and dazzling astronomical event known as the sun overhead phenomenon is sweeping across the country, starting today in Yala’s Betong district and continuing through to May 22 in Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district. The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) confirmed that this solar spectacle…
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Meth, mayhem and the macabre: Pattaya man busted
In a twisted tale straight out of a crime thriller, a Pattaya man was arrested after police caught him using methamphetamine (meth) in a junkyard, surrounded by stolen human remains. The shocking discovery left locals stunned and police scrambling for answers. At around 10.30pm on Wednesday, April 2, officers from Bang Lamung Police swooped in on a notorious abandoned area…
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Brit son’s race against time to save dying dad in Thailand
A heartbroken British man is fighting to bring his dying dad home from Thailand for life-saving treatment, before it’s too late. Reginald Leo had been chasing his retirement dreams in Pattaya but now he’s clinging to life after a foot wound spiralled into a catastrophic medical crisis. Leo’s devastated son, Jonathan, who moved to Thailand in 2017, has given up…
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Bangkok governor apologises after woman’s cries go unanswered
In a heartbreaking development that has gripped the nation, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt issued a public apology after rescuers were unable to locate a woman whose desperate cries for help were heard beneath the rubble of a collapsed structure in Chatuchak district on April 2. Rescue operations yesterday, April 3, were concentrated in Zone B, where a woman’s voice and…
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Thai mother fights for baby taken by ex-husband and his mother
A Thai mother is fighting to regain custody of her daughter after her ex-husband and his mother took the baby from her before physically assaulting her at her home in Bangkok last month. The victim, identified only as A, sought help from the non-profit organisation Be One, hoping it would offer her a chance to see her daughter again. The organisation shared…
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Miss Tourism Myanmar found dead as quake toll rises
The body of Miss Tourism Myanmar 2018 was pulled from the rubble of a collapsed condo in Mandalay, Myanmar, as the country continues to reel from the catastrophic earthquake that struck on Friday, March 28. The death toll has now surged to 3,145, with more than 4,600 people injured and over 220 still missing. Rescue operations remain underway in multiple…
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Bangkok builder rapes teenage worker, threats to kill her
A lecherous Bangkok builder has been arrested for raping a 14 year old employee at a construction site, threatening to kill her unless she kept his vile deed a secret. He later confessed to the rape because he was drunk and horny. Police swooped to apprehend the 52 year old suspect, Arong (surname withheld) today, April 4, after a warrant was…
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Tourist sparks outrage in Phuket with fake cash stunt (video)
A foreign tourist has come under fire after being caught on video throwing fake dollar bills out of a moving car in Phuket, sparking outrage among locals and reigniting debate over Thailand’s visa exemption policy. The bizarre incident, believed to be a social media stunt, took place along Yaowarat Road in Samkong and quickly went viral. The footage, posted to…
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Rice and fall: Thai fragrant rice at risk as US tariffs give Vietnam edge
Thailand’s Hom Mali fragrant rice faces a major threat in the US market as new reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US could see the country lose its competitive edge to Vietnam. The Thai Rice Exporters Association has raised concerns after the US imposed a steep 36% tariff on Thai rice, which will push prices up to US$1,400 per tonne from…
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Thai politician’s teenage son arrested for murder of girlfriend
Police yesterday arrested the 19 year old son of a local politician for the murder of his girlfriend in the central province of Chai Nat. The politician vehemently denied the allegations, insisting that his son was a good boy. The victim’s mother, 33 year old Jeranan, was called to a rice field in the Hankha district of Chai Nat yesterday, April…
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Indian PM meets Thaksin to strengthen India-Thailand ties
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a significant meeting with former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday, April 3, sparking discussions aimed at strengthening India-Thailand relations in key areas such as defence, trade, and culture. Modi, who was in Thailand for a two-day visit to attend the sixth BIMSTEC summit, described the meeting as a “delight” and praised Thaksin’s vast…
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BoT launches debt relief and fraud crackdown in Phuket
To ease the financial burden on struggling debtors and combat rampant financial fraud, the Bank of Thailand’s Southern Office unveiled a new initiative in Phuket yesterday, April 3. The You Fight, We Help programme aims to provide critical support for citizens and small businesses facing financial difficulties while also tackling the growing issue of financial crime. Thatlap Paoleuangthong, Senior Director…
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2 Thai teenagers admit to homemade bombs that kill boy
Police yesterday arrested two Thai teenagers for making bombs that led to the death of a nine year old boy in the Isaan province of Phichit. The young boy lost his life after picking up an unidentified object he found on the road, which turned out to be a homemade bomb that exploded immediately upon contact. The fatal explosion occurred…
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Bangkok’s ‘Ghost Tower’ survives 7.7-magnitude earthquake
The Sathorn Unique Tower, a 49-storey building abandoned for over three decades, has gone viral after surviving a 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar on March 28. The earthquake, which struck as Myanmar’s strongest in 100 years, sent shockwaves throughout Southeast Asia, including Bangkok, over 1,000 kilometres away from the epicentre. While the tremors caused significant damage, including the collapse of a…
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Entertainment Complex Bill to be debated in Parliament by April 9
The much-discussed Entertainment Complex Bill is set to be reviewed in Parliament soon, with a likely discussion date of April 9, according to Chief Government Whip Wisut Chainarun. The bill, which was approved by the Cabinet on March 27, is designed to boost Thailand’s economy by diversifying tourism beyond its traditional seasonal peaks. Wisut, a Pheu Thai list-MP, provided an…
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Phayao’s 70-million-baht SAO building abandoned
A 70-million-baht government project in Phayao has been left incomplete and abandoned, sparking questions over its delayed construction. The building, intended to house the State Audit Office (SAO), remains unfinished, with no clear explanation for its stalled progress. Located near the provincial immigration office, the once-promising site now sits as an eyesore, with only the third-floor framework partially finished, surrounded…
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