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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Fatal shooting mars Udon Thani village festival amid youth clash
A tragic incident unfolded in Udon Thani’s Chai Wan district when a 31 year old man was fatally shot amidst a village festival dispute. Police were alerted to the shooting yesterday, March 17, which occurred in the vegetable garden behind a house in Phon Sung subdistrict, and promptly investigated the scene with Police Colonel Ratpholchai Pensongkhram. Narinthorn “Sek” Thongjuea was found…
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Landslide at pipe installation site claims 2 lives in South Thailand
A landslide during a pipe installation in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat claimed the lives of two workers and injured another. Officers from Khanom Police Station investigated the fatal accident at 2.30pm yesterday, March 17, at a construction site on Pu Chao Saming Road in the Khanom district of Surat Thani. Upon arrival, officers encountered the landslide at…
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Jet fuel spill in Khon Kaen prompts emergency response
A collision involving an 18-wheel truck and a truck carrying 48,000 litres of jet fuel occurred in Khon Kaen province. Emergency services yesterday, March 17, worked to transfer the highly flammable fuel, which is three times more volatile than petrol, to prevent any ignition. The incident took place on a bypass road in Khon Kaen’s Mueang district, specifically between Ban…
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Vape and escape: Pattaya police snuff out illicit puff trade
In a bold move to clamp down on the illegal vape trade, Pattaya City Police arrested three in a late-night sting operation. The raid resulted in the confiscation of seven fruit-flavoured vapes and the arrest of the suspects for illegally selling electronic cigarettes. At around 11.36pm, yesterday, March 17, the police launched the operation after gathering intelligence about a group…
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British pedophile’s 27-year run in Thailand ends (video)
A notorious British paedophile, who evaded capture for nearly three decades by living under a stolen identity in Thailand, has finally been brought to justice. Richard Burrows, faced Chester Crown Court and was found guilty of a staggering 54 offences against young boys, marking the end of one of the UK’s longest-running manhunts. The shocking extent of Burrows’ crimes was…
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Assumption University addresses Myanmar student’s death
Assumption University in Bangkok is facing fierce criticism following the tragic death of a Myanmar student in a motorbike accident. The accident, which took place on November 18 last year, sparked accusations of negligence from both the university and emergency responders. The victim, along with his 17 year old cousin, was en route to the university when disaster struck. A…
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Breath of trouble: Drunk Thai asthmatic attacks hospital staff
A drunk Thai man with asthma attacked three medical workers at a hospital in the Isaan province of Udon Thani, claiming he was simply afraid of dying from medical devices. Pictures and videos showing a Thai patient attacking medical workers at Nong Han Hospital in Udon Thani circulated on Thai social media yesterday, March 17. Three medical workers were injured…
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Severe hailstorm in Ratchaburi damages homes and crops
A severe summer storm in Ratchaburi, accompanied by a hailstorm, has caused extensive damage to homes and agriculture, affecting around 200 households and 50 rai of crops. The storm struck the Kaem On subdistrict in Chom Bueng district on Sunday, March 16, toppling trees and causing major power outages. Local officials, including Chom Bueng’s district officer, Taweesin Songcharoen, and Kaem…
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Iranian tasered after trying to stab Phuket hotel workers with syringe
Thai police officers used a stun gun to subdue an Iranian man who went on a rampage yesterday at a hotel in the Karon area of Phuket and attempted to stab hotel workers with a syringe. Officers from Karon Police Station were alerted to the foreign man’s rampage at 6.11pm yesterday, March 17, and rushed to the scene. The suspect…
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British man’s sun-soaked dream escape turns tragic in Thailand
A dream holiday in paradise has turned into an unimaginable nightmare for a British man whose life hangs by a thread in a Thailand hospital. The family and friends of British restauranteur Ricky Eury are by his bedside praying for his life following a shocking accident at a luxurious Thai resort. The 39 year old Brit, who was enjoying a…
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Thailand halves visa-free stay to curb illegal business activities
Thailand plans to shorten the visa-free stay period from 60 to 30 days to mitigate the misuse of the visa exemption programme by illegal businesses. This decision follows a principle agreement among relevant government officials, as reported by the Tourism and Sports Ministry. Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong indicated that the Foreign Ministry has acknowledged the issue, which has…
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Bangkok road sweeper gains fame as model after portrait by Russian man
A Thai road sweeper went viral on social media after a Russian photographer shared her portrait from a street photoshoot in Bangkok’s Chinatown on his TikTok account on Friday, March 14. The Russian photographer, Semyon Rezchikov, typically shares videos of himself taking portraits of people he meets on the street in each country he visits. The video shows the reaction…
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Police colonel caught with cheat sheet in Thai judicial exam
A police colonel was reportedly caught bringing a cheat sheet into a judicial examination room, as confirmed by the Administrative Court, who assured that no examination leak occurred. The incident, highlighted by the social media page Big Krian, happened on March 15. The Administrative Court’s office issued a statement today, March 17, addressing the situation where an exam candidate brought…
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Shell shocked: Minister calls for united front to save dugongs (video)
An impassioned call for collective action to tackle the conservation crisis threatening seagrass and dugongs was issued by Chalermchai Sri-on, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment at the Pullman Phuket Panwa Beach Resort. The turtle release ceremony, held on March 14, emphasised the urgent need for all sectors to collaborate in safeguarding these endangered marine species. Chalermchai lauded the efforts…
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Thai tomboy breaks up with girlfriend for refusing to back false assault
A Thai tomboy broke up with her girlfriend last night after the woman refused to support her false claim of physical assault at an entertainment venue in Samut Prakan province near Bangkok. Officers from Bangpu Police Station and rescuers from the Ruam Kusol Samut Prakan Foundation were alerted to a physical assault at a bar in Soi Bang Lam Phee…
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Volunteer escapes car bomb attack in Pattani, vehicle damaged
A female territorial defence volunteer today narrowly escaped a car bombing in Pattani province. The explosion severely damaged her vehicle, which caught fire. Emergency services responded promptly to assist at the scene. At 10am, today, March 17, the incident occurred in Mueang district’s Moo 2, Ban Cho Kapo, Karubi subdistrict. The volunteer, Suriyanee, was en route to work from her residence…
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Race against crime: Phuket police crack down on illegal street racers
Police in Wichit stepped up their campaign against illegal motorcycle racing, confiscating 22 motorcycles and arresting 10 young people in a focused operation addressing reckless riding. The action occurred on Saturday, March 15, as Wichit officers concentrated on key areas within Mueang district. Starting at 9pm, a team led by Wichit Police Chief Police Colonel Somsak Thongkliang, together with other…
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Arrested Thai woman laughs after brutal murder of transwoman
Police arrested a Thai woman at the weekend, suspected of having a mental illness, for the brutal murder of a transwoman in the eastern province of Rayong. A 29 year old Thai man, Prasit Yeesunhom, filed a complaint at Pluak Daeng Police Station on Friday, March 14, stating that his friend had stumbled upon the dead body of a woman…
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Nakhon Pathom police seize 50 million baht meth pills haul
Thai police announced the arrest of two men involved in the trafficking of over two million methamphetamine pills in Nakhon Pathom, Region 7. The drugs, hidden in a pickup truck, were being transported to Samut Sakhon, with the suspects reportedly paid 70,000 baht (US$2,080) each. The operation, valued at over 50 million baht (US$1.48 million), is under continued investigation to…
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Slapstick: Foreign man, ladyboy clash in Pattaya showdown (video)
A dispute over a motorcycle in the early hours of this morning spiralled into a fiery face-off between a foreign man and a ladyboy on the vibrant streets of Pattaya. The foreigner found himself on the receiving end of a stinging slap from a ladyboy, sparking a call for order in the bustling seaside resort. The altercation erupted at 1am,…
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Man shoots temple disciple in Pathum Thani, claims self-defence
An altercation in Pathum Thani led to gunshots when a man opened fire and injured a temple disciple, claiming self-defence. Eyewitnesses shared that the pair had an ongoing dispute for quite some time leading up to the near-deadly confrontation. Yesterday, March 16, officers from Pak Khlong Rangsit Police Station in Pathum Thani responded to reports of a shooting in front…
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Police nab drug dealer with 43 kilos of meth in Nakhon Pathom
Thai police apprehended a drug dealer in Nakhon Pathom province, recovering 43 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine, 2,000 methamphetamine pills, and over 800 e-cigarettes. Officials suspect connections to a car pawn gang and plan to coordinate with the Office of the Narcotics Control Board for asset seizure. Investigations by Metropolitan Investigation Team 8 led to the arrest of 38 year old…
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Bite club: German man sinks teeth into Korat dentist, sparks panic
A chilling wave of panic has swept through dental clinics in Korat after a German man sunk his teeth into a female dentist in a frenzied attack. The Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Dental Association is desperately urging the police to collar this foreign menace. Dentist Wivat Chatwongwan, representing the worried local dental community, today, March 17, escorted victims to Mueang Nakhon…
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Baht luck: German and Indian tourists pickpocketed in Pattaya
A German man yesterday lost about 6,000 baht in cash while an Indian man lost over 13,000 baht in a pickpocketing incident in Pattaya. The 67 year old German victim, Manfred Frey, along with his Thai wife and his friend, visited Mueang Pattaya Police Station yesterday, March 16, to report the theft. He stated that he was pickpocketed outside a…
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Thai tourism ministry cracks down on foreign-led tour businesses
The Ministry of Tourism affirmed its commitment to investigating foreign businesses and nominee operations in key tourist areas. In 2024, 40 licences were revoked. The ministry insists that tour companies and guides must be Thai. Natreeya Thaweewong, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, yesterday, March 16, addressed concerns raised by a former Phuket MP regarding foreign…
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Bolt from the blue: Transport Ministry speeds up rider crackdown
The Ministry of Transport (MoT) has put the pedal to the metal with Bolt, urging a rapid revamp of rider registrations to meet the Department of Land Transport (DLT) standards. The move aims to deliver safe and cost-effective services across Bolt’s platforms, as revealed by MoT Deputy Permanent Secretary Sorapong Paitoonphong. Following a high-profile meeting, Sorapong highlighted key resolutions, including…
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Foreigner assaults Thai man after alleged hit-and-run in Pattaya
A viral video surfaced showing a foreigner physically assaulting a Thai man in the middle of a road, following an alleged hit-and-run incident in Pattaya. The Thai motorist who witnessed the incident shared the video on his Facebook account yesterday, March 16, with a caption that read, “The assault was caused by a motorcycle crash. They ended up at a…
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Community aids suicidal woman at Bang Pakong pier
Police and rescue services in Chachoengsao intervened to aid a 54 year old woman contemplating ending her life at the Bang Pakong pier behind the Chachoengsao Vocational College. The woman, Add, seen crying and wearing a motorcycle taxi vest, was safely brought to safety by rescue personnel yesterday, March 16. Add shared her story, revealing her deep sorrow over her inability…
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Thai couple bring 24kg of cannabis to Japan in luggage mix-up
A Thai couple and their tour guide narrowly avoided charges after the couple mistakenly took the wrong luggage, belonging to a foreigner, and entered Japan with 24 kilogrammes of cannabis, which is illegal in the country. A Thai tour guide posted in a Facebook group called กลุ่มคนชอบตะลอนเที่ยวญี่ปุ่น (meaning a group for anyone who loves travelling around Japan) on Friday, March…
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Motorcycle crash on Highway 331 kills couple in Chachoengsao
A tragic accident occurred yesterday involving a motorcycle carrying three people that collided with a Toyota Fortuner on Highway 331 in Phanom Sarakham district, Chachoengsao province. The crash resulted in the death of a married couple, while another person sustained serious injuries. Police Lieutenant Pattana Pinich from the Nong Nae Police Station received a report about the accident and proceeded…
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