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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Swedish man’s ‘explosive’ suitcase sparks airport chaos in Thailand
A Swedish man triggered full-blown airport panic in Udon Thani after leaving behind a suitcase laced with what looked like bomb-making materials, only for it to turn out to be stuffed with nothing more than dried herbs and dirty laundry. The 58 year old Swede sparked a major security scare at Udon Thani International Airport after abandoning a suspicious suitcase…
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Ex-councillor wins 90 million baht lottery jackpot in Chumphon
A former local councillor and shrimp farm owner in Chumphon struck lucky this Songkran festival by winning first prize in the lottery, securing a substantial sum of 90 million baht. This remarkable win was publicised by DJ Wongwattana Matchimasatit, a well-known radio host and former secretary to the mayor of Hat Sairee subdistrict. He shared his congratulations on Facebook, celebrating…
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Big splash: Thai swimming coach denies sexually assaulting trainee
A Thai swimming coach denied sexually assaulting a female trainee at a condominium pool in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok and countersued her for allegedly damaging his reputation. The 26 year old Thai woman, whose identity remains undisclosed, filed a complaint against the swimming coach with officers at Bang Sri Mueang Police Station. She alleged that the coach touched her excessively, beyond…
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Bangkok and 46 provinces brace for thunderstorms and heavy rain
Weather forecasts indicate that 47 provinces in Thailand will experience thunderstorms and strong winds, with Bangkok likely to see heavy rainfall from the afternoon into the evening. Residents are advised to remain cautious, especially in southern regions where rain is expected to cover 60% of the area. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) predicts that the upper part of the country…
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Moo-ving madness: Thai farmers in a flap over US beef plan
Thailand’s beef farmers are kicking up a rumpus over government plans to welcome hormone-pumped US meat, branding it a dangerous trade-off that could gut their livelihoods and threaten national food security. The Beef Cattle Association of Thailand, backed by more than 60 allied groups, stormed the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives this week to protest a controversial proposal that could…
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Phuket reports zero road deaths during Songkran so far
Phuket is defying the odds this Songkran, with zero road deaths reported during Thailand’s notorious Seven Days of Danger, despite dozens of accidents involving both locals and foreign tourists. As the annual road and marine safety campaign nears its end, officials gathered today, April 17, at Phuket Provincial Hall to review the province’s performance. The meeting, chaired by Phuket Vice…
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Lawmakers grill auditor over quake-hit billion-baht building collapse
What started as a natural disaster may have shaken loose something even bigger — the truth behind a billion-baht state building in Bangkok that crumbled under pressure. Thailand’s House Anti-Corruption Committee has summoned Auditor-General Monthien Charoenpol to appear before Parliament on April 30, following the dramatic collapse of the State Audit Office (SAO) building during a powerful earthquake in Myanmar…
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Nestlé fights Thai court ban on Nescafé in bitter legal row
Thailand’s coffee kingpin is caught in a legal grind, and your morning cup of Nescafé could be at risk. Nestlé, the global food and beverage giant behind the iconic brand, is fighting back after a Thai court slapped a temporary ban on the production, sale, and importation of Nescafé products in the country. The high-stakes case pits Nestlé against its…
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Phuket airport scrambles to explain cyberattack on digital screen
Travellers at Phuket International Airport got more than just flight updates last week when a digital screen in the departure hall was hijacked in a shocking cyberattack, sparking serious concerns over airport cybersecurity. The incident, which occurred on April 8 around 7.30am, saw unauthorised messages and images suddenly appear on a screen at the international terminal’s departure check-in hall on…
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Sisters in Thailand win 12 million baht lottery prize
Two sisters from Chaloem Phra Kiat district in Nakhon Ratchasima province have won the first prize in the Thai lottery, each securing a lottery ticket worth 6 million baht, amounting to a total of 12 million baht. They plan to use the windfall to pay off debts and support their children while maintaining their current lifestyle. On April 16, the winning…
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Japan tops the table, but Thailand’s food scene is heating up fast
Thailand is turning up the heat on the global culinary map, climbing the ranks in food tourism, but it still has a bit of catching up to do with Japan. According to the Thailand Culinary Image Assessment and Michelin Guide Thailand 2024 survey by Kenetixs Consulting, Thailand has firmly positioned itself as a global gastronomy hotspot, securing second place just behind Japan…
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Van driver killed in tragic collision with trailer truck in Ayutthaya
In Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, a van driver was tragically killed when a trailer truck collided with his vehicle as he checked an unsecured rear door. The impact was fatal and the trailer driver fled the scene. Police are actively pursuing the suspect. Today, April 17, Police Lieutenant Chaiwat Tipyasot from Bang Pahan District Police Station in Phra Nakhon Si…
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Hunter accidentally kills friend in banana grove mishap
A man mistakenly shot his close friend while hunting in a banana grove, believing the noise he heard was a wild boar. The incident occurred in Mueang district, Uttaradit province, yesterday with police arresting the hunter for legal proceedings. Police Lieutenant Colonel Peerapol Chamnongchit of Mueang Uttaradit Police Station received a report at 10.02pm on April 16 about a death…
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Myanmar teens busted in Prachuap for no ID during Songkran
A group of Myanmar teens hoping to enjoy Thailand’s wild Songkran festivities got more than they bargained for — ending their water fight with a police escort instead of a party. Yesterday, April 16, police in Prachuap Khiri Khan detained 10 Myanmar nationals, all teenagers and young adults, for entering the city to join the Songkran celebrations without any identification…
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74 year old nun begs for help after rape attempts by teenage novice
Police allegedly ignored a complaint from a 74 year old nun at a temple in the Isaan province of Udon Ratchathani, who was repeatedly subjected to rape attempts by a 19 year old novice. The nun, Thawin, turned to news agencies for help after officers at Mueang Ubon Ratchathani Police Station failed to take action regarding her sexual assault complaint.…
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Blue by Alain Ducasse: Bangkok’s new casual dining spot at ICONSIAM
Blue by Alain Ducasse stirs the pot with a fresh twist on fine dining, unveiling a laid-back, all-day eatery at ICONSIAM that’s set to serve up style with every bite. This new chapter in Bangkok’s foodie scene is anything but “Blue” plate special—it’s casual, chic, and unmistakably Ducasse. Showcasing an exciting new menu of international favourites across 120 square metres…
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Thief desecrates grave, steals over 3,000 baht in Udon Thani
A thief desecrated a young man’s grave to steal over 3,000 baht, intended for his afterlife, prompting local monks to warn of potential spiritual repercussions. The incident occurred at a cemetery in Udon Thani province after a 20 year old, referred to as A, died in a motorcycle accident on April 14. At Wat Pa Phra Na Hai temple in…
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Songkran road death toll rises to 200 on sixth day
Thailand’s Songkran celebrations have once again been marred by tragedy, with the road death toll rising to 200, with over 1,300 injured in just six days of road mayhem. The Road Safety Centre reported that from April 11 to 16, the bulk of the annual Seven Dangerous Days campaign, a staggering 1,377 road accidents occurred across the country. The leading culprits? Speeding…
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Angry Swedish man refuses help after crashing pickup in Buriram
A Swedish man refused assistance from a rescue team and expressed anger after crashing his pickup into a streetlight in the Isaan province of Buriram on Tuesday, April 15. The man’s Thai wife told rescue workers not to take her husband’s anger personally, stating he’d had brain surgery. The Hook 31 Rescue Foundation rushed to the accident scene on the Rahan…
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Teen injured in Narathiwat after bomb explodes in hand
An incident involving a young man and a bomb in Narathiwat province has sparked nationwide discussions online. The 18 year old was preparing to throw a ping pong bomb at an adversary during a confrontation in Su-ngai Kolok district on April 15 at 11pm when it exploded, severely injuring his hand. The explosion left his wrist severely damaged, with him…
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Bangkok man arrested for clinic burglary to fund Songkran festivity
Officers from Lak Song Police Station arrested a 48 year old man for burglary at a dental clinic. The suspect, Nukul, also known as Yim, aimed to sell stolen gold and sacred amulets to fund a Songkran celebration at Sanam Luang. His criminal history revealed prior burglary offences. Yesterday, April 16, Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom and his team received…
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Thai-Scottish park ranger resigns after row with racist foreigner
A renowned half-Thai, half-Scottish park ranger announced his resignation following a conflict with an allegedly racist foreigner in the sea off Krabi in southern Thailand. The Thai-Scottish park ranger, 29 year old Siranudh “Sai” Scott, better known on social media as Sai Merman, made headlines in February after an argument with an Italian tourist. The Italian man reportedly violated a national…
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Karaoke worker bins newborn after bathroom birth in Chon Buri
A karaoke bar worker, allegedly unaware of her pregnancy, reportedly gave birth in a bathroom, placing the dead newborn in a plastic bag before discarding it in a rubbish bin. The incident unfolded at 7pm yesterday, April 16, in Chon Buri province, when a scrap collector discovered the baby’s body in a bin in Mueang subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chon…
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Pattaya cracks down on dangerous Songkran water guns
What’s meant to be all fun and games during Songkran has taken a dangerous turn, and Pattaya officials are sounding the alarm. As water fights continue to soak the city, officials have issued a stern warning over the use of high-pressure water guns, which have flooded the streets of Soi 6, Soi Buakhao, and Jomtien. Unlike your typical water blasters,…
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Bar worker beaten outside Patong hotspot after jealous row
A Patong bar worker was left bloodied and bruised after a savage street brawl erupted outside one of the island’s busiest nightlife zones — all sparked by a petty case of jealousy. The violent incident unfolded in the early hours of Monday morning, April 14, just outside a popular bar near the beach road entrance to Bangla Road. The victim,…
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Chumphon shop owner attacked, gold necklace stolen
A man was captured on CCTV attacking a 54 year old shop owner in Chumphon province with a beer bottle before fleeing with her gold necklace and a gold-encased amulet. The victim’s brother disclosed that the suspect is a regular customer. Yesterday, April 16, CCTV footage from a shop located along a concrete road in Mueang Chumphon district, Chumphon, showed…
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Thailand rolls out AI police cyborg in Nakhon Pathom
Thailand has unveiled its very own Robocop — and it made its debut at the country’s wildest water fight. The Royal Thai Police (RTP) proudly revealed photos of AI Police Cyborg 1.0, the nation’s first artificial intelligence-powered police robot, as it patrolled the Songkran festivities on Tonson Road in Nakhon Pathom province. Locals and tourists alike were stunned to see…
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Nakhon Phanom stabbing mars Songkran celebrations
In Nakhon Phanom, a 20 year old man was assaulted and stabbed during Songkran festivities on Monday. The incident occurred near Wat Pho Si in Mueang district, where police are now reviewing CCTV footage to identify the attackers. Police Lieutenant Pichanon Ploemsuk and his team, along with emergency services, responded to the scene at the intersection of Si Chiang Mai…
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Thai police seize 12kg of meth worth 500,000 baht in Trang
Officers from the Border Patrol Police Division 43, in collaboration with Division 435, seized 12 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine on Phetkasem Road in Mueang district, Trang province, yesterday, April 16. Police Major General Rungroj Thakoonpunyasiri, Deputy Commissioner of the Border Patrol Police, and Police Major General Narong Thananantakul, Commissioner of Border Patrol Police Region 4, received a report on the…
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Pattaya cops stop Chinese tourists in Songkran truck chaos
A splash of fun turned into a safety scare in Pattaya as police cracked down on reckless Songkran celebrations involving water trucks, and three Chinese tourists found themselves at the centre of the drama. During the city’s famous water-soaked festivities, several water trucks were spotted cruising through town and parking along busy roads, obstructing traffic and creating chaos for both…
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