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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Foreigner killed in high-speed SUV crash in Rayong (video)
A foreigner drove his SUV at high speed and collided with a six-wheel truck and a motorcycle in the eastern province of Rayong. The foreign driver was killed, while the two Thai nationals involved sustained injuries. Dashcam footage from the six-wheel truck, which was shared on a news Facebook page, showed the black Ford Everest SUV travelling at high speed…
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Chinese steel firm delays Bangkok conference over safety
Chinese steel manufacturer Xin Ke Yuan Steel has decided to postpone its much-anticipated press conference on steel quality, opting to await further clarification from Thailand’s Industry Ministry. The move comes amid growing scrutiny over the company’s involvement in the collapse of the State Audit Office (SAO) building in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district and concerns over the safety of its products. The…
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Thailand and Bhutan sign landmark Free Trade Agreement
Thailand and Bhutan have signed a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA), strengthening economic ties and paving the way for closer trade cooperation. The historic deal was signed during Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay’s visit to Bangkok last week, coinciding with the 6th BIMSTEC Summit. Bilateral trade between the two countries has already surpassed 460 million baht, and Tobgay expressed confidence…
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Thai stock market tumbles amid US tariff concerns
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) today experienced a significant drop in share prices amid concerns over a potential trade war following tariff increases by the US government. The SET Index fell by 42.30 points or 3.76%, reaching 1,082.91 shortly after opening. The Thai market resumed trading after a three-day break, while other global markets were unsettled yesterday, April 7,…
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Watt’s next: Thailand powers up for electric vehicle revolution
Thailand’s government is committed to transforming the nation into an electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing hub, with a policy focused on stimulating demand to encourage consumer adoption. Deputy Finance Minister Paopoom Rojanasakul emphasised the importance of building a domestic EV supply to meet this demand. The government has shifted from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle production to an EV focus through…
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Pattaya thrives as other Thai destinations struggle this Songkran
As Thailand gears up for the Songkran Festival, Pattaya is making waves while other major tourist destinations struggle to keep up. Amidst a national decline in hotel bookings and a challenging economic landscape, Pattaya has emerged as a beacon of success, defying the odds and seeing a surge in tourism activity. While the overall outlook for Thailand’s tourism industry has…
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2 Thai teenagers drown in Suphan Buri canal while washing hair
Two Thai teenagers drowned in a canal in the central province of Suphan Buri after entering the water with a friend to wash their hair following a dyeing session. A seven year old girl ran from the Jorrakay Samphan Canal back to her community yesterday, April 7, to seek help after her two older friends, 15 year old Kate and…
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Thai Airways expands fleet with 45 Boeing dreamliners
Thai Airways International (THAI) has confirmed that fleet expansion is a key part of its strategy, with the airline set to procure 45 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners as part of a major deal to increase its aircraft numbers and strengthen ties with the United States. In a bold move aimed at both modernising its fleet and supporting Thailand’s trade negotiations with…
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Chiang Mai prepares moat for Songkran with safety upgrades
As the Songkran festival approaches, Chiang Mai is ensuring its historic moat is ready for the annual water splashing fun, with significant upgrades to water quality and safety. The city has taken crucial steps to improve both the environment and the safety of residents and tourists who flock to the moat to celebrate Thailand’s most famous water festival. Since March…
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Whirlwind devastates Chanthaburi orchard, 50 tonnes of durian lost
A whirlwind storm recently devastated a fruit orchard in Chanthaburi‘s Mueang district, causing over 50 tonnes of durian, nearing harvest, to fall to the ground. The destruction resulted in a financial loss exceeding 8 million baht, with remaining sellable durians fetching only 10 baht per kilogramme. Yesterday, April 7, local journalists visited the fruit orchard in Mueang district, Chanthaburi province,…
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American professor denied bail on Section 112 charges
Paul Chambers, a prominent American academic from Naresuan University, has been denied bail by Phitsanulok Court following his arrest on charges under Section 112, the lese majeste law, sparking widespread outrage over academic freedom and human rights. Dr Chambers, an expert in Southeast Asian military-civilian relations, was apprehended after an arrest warrant was issued by the Phitsanulok Provincial Court. Today,…
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Thai doctor accused of encouraging patient to die after suicide attempt
A Thai woman battling depression and bipolar disorder accused a doctor at a hospital in Udon Thani, Isaan province, of urging her to end her life. This shocking claim surfaced after she was admitted following a suicide attempt on April 3. The 24 year old woman, Chompoo, shared her story with ThaiRath, seeking justice and calling for disciplinary action against…
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Locals slam Phuket cops for freeing thug after savage attack on foreign woman
Phuket residents criticised the police for releasing a man just two days after his arrest for an unprovoked, vicious assault on an unnamed foreign woman. The Phuket Times shared a video of the assault on April 4. The incident occurred at around 1pm on Thep Kasattri Road in the Thalang area of Phuket. The video showed the foreign victim standing…
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Thailand and Japan unite for Songkran Warm Water Onsen event
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is collaborating with Japan to celebrate the Songkran Warm Water Onsen event, aiming to link the Songkran festival with international tourism promotion. This initiative is expected to boost foreign visits to Thailand. Thapanee Kiatpaiboon, Governor of TAT, announced that this month, TAT will actively promote Thailand’s Songkran festival. For example, from April 5 to…
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Quake leaves 55 Bangkok buildings unusable, inspections continue
The Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning announced the results of building inspections following a recent earthquake. Some 55 buildings have been deemed severely damaged and are prohibited from use. Meanwhile, 6,487 buildings remain operational, and 361 have moderate damage. Yesterday, April 7, the Building Damage Inspection Centre, in collaboration with various engineering bodies including the Council…
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Black leopard wonder: Feline spotted hunting in Kaeng Krachan
Tourists visiting Kaeng Krachan National Park were treated to an extraordinary spectacle when a rare black leopard was spotted preparing to hunt a southern spectacled langur. Mongkol Chaiyaphakdi, Chief of Kaeng Krachan National Park, revealed the stunning image taken along the Khao Phanom Thung route at Kilometre 19. The black leopard, a critically endangered species, was calmly observing its prey…
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Big Joke sends 300 southerners home for Songkran
Former police chief Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn has made Songkran celebrations even sweeter for over 300 southerners by sending them back home with free flights and VIP bus rides, easing the financial burden during tough economic times. At Don Mueang International Airport, Big Joke, President of the Southern Association under Royal Patronage, personally waved off 320 people headed back to…
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Teen arrested for fatal stabbing at Ayutthaya traffic light
A 17 year old from Ayutthaya was arrested for fatally stabbing a 19 year old during an altercation at a traffic light. It was later revealed that the deceased was a relative. The incident occurred yesterday, April 7, at 1am, on Rojana Road in Ayutthaya. The suspect, referred to as A, was apprehended by Police Colonel Adirek Bothipan and his…
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Pattaya technician blasted off pole in fiery high-voltage horror
A Pattaya technician was left fighting for his life after being blasted by a high-voltage electric shock and falling from a utility pole in a fiery workplace disaster. The shocking incident occurred at 7.36pm yesterday, April 7, along Phra Tamnak Road near Soi 2 in Pattaya City. The Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Unit’s radio centre received an urgent distress call,…
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Thai PM sues man impersonating her adviser to deceive actress
Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has taken legal action against a man impersonating her advisor to deceive a Thai actress. The 33 year old Thai actress, Rinyarat “Kana” Watchararojsiri, yesterday, April 7, exposed the deceitful behaviour of her ex-boyfriend, identified as Thunyathep “Hot” Sirisubdaechakun, during an interview on Channel 3’s news programme Hone Krasae. Kana explained that Hot had pretended…
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4 more bodies found in Bangkok building collapse takes toll to 20
Four more bodies have been discovered beneath the debris of the collapsed Zone C of the new State Audit Office (SAO) building in Chatuchak, Bangkok, taking the death toll to 20 with 77 reported missing. These bodies, found crushed by the structure yet intact, were uncovered at approximately 7.45am today, April 8, opposite the collapsed building site. Anuwat Pho-ampai, a…
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Motorways open free for Songkran travel from April 11 to April 17
During the upcoming Songkran festival, the Department of Highways (DoH) is preparing to facilitate travel by opening two motorway routes free of charge. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Suriya Juangroongruangkit, stated that a significant number of people are expected to travel to their hometowns or on vacation during this period. To ensure smooth and safe travel from April…
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Bangkok quake collapse sparks probe into 2.1bn baht project
A 2.1-billion-baht government headquarters crumbled like a house of cards during Bangkok’s recent earthquake and now, investigators are chasing down the company behind it. The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has launched a high-profile probe into the collapse of the new State Audit Office (SAO) building in Chatuchak, which gave way during the 4.1-magnitude quake on March 28. The incident…
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Naked Russian woman falls to death from Pattaya condo
A naked Russian woman plunged to her death from a Pattaya high-rise, sparking police investigation involving a mystery man and a possible lover’s quarrel. At around 4pm on April 7, officers from Bang Lamung Police Station, Pattaya Tourist Police, and rescue workers from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation rushed to a condominium in Soi Naklua 16 after reports of a…
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Two boys drown in Loei River tragedy in Wang Saphung
A tragic incident unfolded in Wang Saphung district, Loei province when two 13 year old boys drowned in the Loei River. The distressing event occurred around 3.30pm, yesterday, April 7, near the Siri Songkhram Shrine in Wang Saphung municipality. Police Lieutenant Colonel Nattakamon Thaoklang from Wang Saphung Police Station received the report and coordinated with the municipality’s disaster prevention and…
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Thailand video news | Russians now hold 1 in 4 foreign work permits in Phuket, Vietnam warns of economic hit from sudden 46% US tariff
In today’s Thailand video news, Alex and Jay deliver key headlines from Thailand and Southeast Asia. In Phuket, Russians now hold one in four foreign work permits, signalling a shift from tourism to long-term residency. Meanwhile in Bangkok, a fraud scandal leads to a dramatic police station jump. Over in Ayutthaya, a bus crash injures more than 20 factory workers.…
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Bangkok news crew threatened at mall shooting scene
A Bangkok news crew found themselves at the centre of a chilling showdown when alleged bodyguards threatened and detained them while covering a fatal shooting at a mall in the Lat Phrao area. The News Broadcasting Council of Thailand and the Broadcasting Journalists Association of Thailand urged the national police commissioner general to launch an urgent investigation and pursue legal…
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Chinese workers escape Myanmar call centre, enter Thailand illegally
Seven Chinese nationals working for a call centre gang in Myanmar fled to Thailand on foot, crossing a river to escape their unbearably harsh conditions. The escape occurred yesterday, April 7, when the company reduced working hours and cut electricity, making it difficult for workers to live comfortably. The Rachamanu Task Force, along with the Naresuan Rapid Deployment Force, the…
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Phuket locals demand action after foreigners brawl on Bangla Road
Phuket locals yesterday demanded action from police officers after three foreign men engaged in a physical altercation on Bangla Road. A Thai man, Somnuck Chanagune, shared a video of the chaos on Bangla Road on his Facebook account, yesterday, April 7, with a caption that read, “Enjoy boxing in the early hours.” Three foreigners were seen engaging in an altercation,…
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Wife seeks justice for husband’s Bangkok train death
A tragic incident occurred at Hua Lamphong Station in Bangkok last week, resulting in the death of a 43 year old Thai man after he fell from a train. His 40 year old wife is seeking justice amidst concerns of negligence. On April 3, at about 7am, Kawin Karaket, accompanied by his 17 year old daughter Kawinthita, travelled from Prachantakham…
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