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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Booze cruise: Drunk foreign man rescued from drowning in Pattaya
Locals safely rescued an drunk foreign man from drowning yesterday after he swam out into the sea at Jomtien Beach in Pattaya. According to a report by Channel 7, the rescue took place last night, April 6, near the Dong Tarn booth of the Mueang Pattaya Police Station. Locals observed the foreign man walking into the dark waters and appearing…
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Thai airports to boost tighten service for Songkran 2025
The Thai government has instructed the Department of Airports (DOA) to enhance security and efficiency in anticipation of increased passenger traffic during the Songkran festival in 2025. This includes strict measures against overpricing by taxis and airport vendors. Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri directed the DOA to ensure readiness for Songkran. The focus is on rigorous safety and security checks.…
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Thai contractor demands payment for collapsed building project
A construction contractor, owed over 3 million baht in unpaid wages, has criticised a subcontracting company involved in the earthquake-hit collapsed building project in Bangkok The contractor revealed structural flaws in the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) building, which collapsed on Friday, March 28, following an earthquake in Myanmar. Yesterday, April 6, a meeting was held between representatives of…
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Hua Hin set to soar: Runway makeover aims to lift tourism fortunes
After years stuck on the tarmac, Hua Hin could finally be cleared for international take-off, with a long-overdue runway revamp set to bring in global jet-setters and breathe new life into the coastal city’s flagging tourism trade. The sun-soaked resort town may soon welcome international flights for the first time in years, as Thai officials look to upgrade the sleepy…
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Locals question Pattaya’s silence on Songkran traffic preparations
Pattaya is bracing for heavy traffic and travel delays as the city gears up for the annual Songkran holiday next week. As visitors flood into the seaside hotspot, both foot and vehicle traffic are expected to surge. But like in previous years, locals remained concerned about the expected gridlock. Last year, one local recalled how officials tried to control traffic…
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Former guard arrested for robbery to fund gambling, Songkran
A former security guard has been apprehended for allegedly robbing a woman on a motorcycle to finance gambling and Songkran festivities. Yesterday, April 6, Police Major General Komsit Rangsai of Metropolitan Police Bureau 9, alongside Deputy Police Colonel Teerachai Detkad and Police Colonel Wichayanon Ektasaeng of Tha Kham Police Station, received a report from Police Lieutenant Colonel Thanakorn Chanrod and…
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Swept into chaos! Bangkok road sweepers battered in bin bust-up
Two Bangkok road sweepers sustained injuries while on duty following a physical assault by a male vendor in the Samphan Thawong district at the weekend in a rubbish collection dispute. The Facebook page Red Skull XXX shared a video of the altercation, which occurred on Saturday, April 5, in the middle of an alley in the Samphan Thawong area. The post…
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K9 team wraps up collapsed Bangkok building search after 11 days
The K9 urban search and rescue (USAR) Thailand team has called off the search for missing persons in the aftermath of the tragic State Audit Office building collapse, confirming the end of their heroic operation. After a grueling 11 days of searching since the disaster on Friday, March 28, Suthikiat Sophonik, Director of the National Rescue Dog Organisation, announced that…
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Thai motorcyclist dies after crash into cement post and pond
A 25 year old man died when his motorcycle skidded off a curve and crashed into a cement post, propelling him into a pond. Yesterday, April 6, at 11am, officers from Ban Pho Police Station and emergency services in Chachoengsao were alerted to the discovery of a man’s body in a fish pond near a motorcycle at the entrance of…
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Excise crackdown: 2.7 billion baht fines for tax evasion surge
The Excise Department has been directed to swiftly enforce a zero-tolerance policy on excise tax evasion, focusing on breaches of excise regulations. Deputy Finance Minister Paopoom Rojanasakul emphasised efforts to prevent the smuggling of goods without tax payment, particularly across borders and through online platforms. The department expressed a commitment to prosecuting and taking action against those involved in selling…
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Butt of the bust! Cops stub out 3 million baht cig smuggling racket
Police yesterday intercepted a shipment of illegal cigarettes worth approximately 3 million baht, hidden among parcels on a truck. The driver claimed ignorance of the cargo’s contents, saying warehouse staff loaded the vehicle. Police Lieutenant Colonel Waris Machcha from Highway Police Station 3, Division 7, led the operation yesterday, April 6, that seized 5,480 packs of foreign cigarettes that had…
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Brief encounter! Lawyer cuffed over ‘land grab’ threats in Phuket
A Phuket lawyer found himself on the wrong side of the law after allegedly trying to muscle in on someone else’s land, using threats and intimidation to stake his claim. Anantrak Phethin was nicked in broad daylight on Thursday morning, April 3, in the car park of the Phuket Provincial Land Office, after cops swooped in with a court-issued arrest…
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Thailand to boost US imports amid 36% tariff on exports
The Government of Thailand has committed to boosting imports of energy, aircraft, and agricultural products from the United States. This decision is part of efforts to counteract the impact of the US’s 36% tariff on Thai exports, according to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira is set to lead a delegation to the US this week to address…
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Elderly woman with Alzheimer’s dies after fall in Prachin Buri pit
A 72 year old woman with Alzheimer’s disease tragically died after falling into a 10 metre deep pit in Prachin Buri province. Her brother, who noticed her absence, discovered her body. The victim lived alone and suffered from Alzheimer’s and heart disease for over two years. At 2.30pm yesterday, April 6, Police Lieutenant Ratthaphon Yodkruea, deputy inspector (investigation) of Mueang…
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Thai bus driver and passenger lose lives in collision with truck
A coach driver and a passenger lost their lives after a bus collided with a six-wheel truck on a road in the central province of Pathum Thani yesterday. Officers from Lat Lum Kaeo Police Station investigated the fatal accident on Road 346 in the Lat Lum Kaeo district of Pathum Thani at 8.20am, yesterday, April 6. The Por Teck Tung…
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Tragic accident in Chon Buri claims life of lottery winner
A 55 year old lottery winner tragically lost his life after being run over by a truck in Chon Buri yesterday. The man, identified as Praphan from Ubon Ratchathani, was found with a winning lottery ticket in his possession that he had not yet cashed. At approximately 4.30pm, yesterday, April 6, police from Mueang Chon Buri received reports of an…
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Families to receive up to 2 million baht after Bangkok building collapse
Families of those who lost their lives in the collapse of the State Audit Office building are set to receive compensation from the Ministry of Labour, amounting up to 2 million baht per family. Boonsong Thapchaiyuth, the ministry’s permanent secretary, visited the Coordination and Assistance Centre to assure both migrant and Thai workers of equal treatment. He stated that relatives…
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Songkran event: Fatal shooting, journalist threatened with death (video)
A Songkran Festival event at Tawanna Shopping Centre in the Bang Kapi area of Bangkok has been cancelled following a fatal shooting on Saturday night. A Thai journalist team was reportedly threatened with death by one of the event organisers. The Facebook page Jmoi V+ (เจ๊มอย v+) shared a video of the altercation on Saturday, April 5, between two groups…
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Drug gang caught with two million meth pills in Loei
A drug trafficking gang attempted to use the long holiday to smuggle two million methamphetamine pills from a neighbouring country. They were apprehended at a checkpoint after trying to flee. Yesterday, April 6, Police Lieutenant General Chatchai Surachetphong, Major General Boonsin Phadklang, Loei Provincial Governor Chaiphot Charoonpong, Police Major General Wiradech Lekaworakul, Police Lieutenant Colonel Yutthawat Chokchai, Police Colonel Natthakrit…
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American nurse recovers after cheating death in Krabi moped crash
An American nurse went from ziplining with elephants to clinging to life in a Thai hospital but now she is thrilled to be back home after a moped crash in Krabi left her face shattered and her future uncertain. Sierra Fairhurst, an intensive care nurse at Salem Hospital in Massachusetts, was on holiday in Thailand with friends when disaster struck.…
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SRT confirms high-speed rail steel meets safety standards
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has confirmed that the steel used in the Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project complies with all engineering and quality standards. This assurance follows detailed inspections initiated due to public concerns after an earthquake in Myanmar on Friday, March 28, which sent tremors to Bangkok, resulting in the collapse of the State Audit Office building in…
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Summer storm set to batter Thailand with wild weather
The Thai Meteorological Department has issued a warning for today, April 7, forecasting a summer storm set to sweep across northern and northeastern Thailand, bringing with it strong winds and hailstones in some unlucky spots. Meanwhile, Bangkok and surrounding areas aren’t off the hook either, with thunderstorms expected to lash 30% of the capital, commuters could be in for a…
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Busted: ‘Pilot’ grounded in Bang Lamung drug operation
In a dramatic late-night raid, Bang Lamung police swooped on a major drug operation, arresting two suspects, including a deliveryman dubbed the “pilot” of the trade. The suspects were cornered at 10.36pm yesterday, April 6, in a rented Laem Chabang room, as police swooped in. Led by Police Colonel Sarawut Nuchanart, the operation unveiled a shocking haul of 5,411 Yaba…
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Flaming fury: Unpaid worker sets Pattaya resort ablaze in protest
In a blaze of fury, an unpaid building worker unleashed havoc by setting fire to a luxury resort home in Na Jomtien. The dramatic showdown ended as the arsonist handed himself over to the police. At 9.30am on April 5, Na Jomtien Police sprang into action after receiving reports of a roaring fire at a plush three-storey residence. Firefighters dashed…
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German tourist arrested in Phuket for assault and theft spree
A 20 year old German tourist has been apprehended in Phuket, accused of assaulting a Thai man to steal his motorcycle and subsequently stealing a mobile phone from a department store, as confirmed by local police. Ryan Leo Akam was detained by officers from Chalong Police Station following two incidents that were reported on April 4. The first incident took…
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Scottish tourist arrested after allegedly attacking teen, vandalising motorcycle in Phuket (video)
A 40 year old Scottish tourist was arrested in Phuket after allegedly attacking a teenage boy in front of his mother and a shopkeeper. George Paterson, from Glasgow, reportedly went on a rampage in the early hours of the morning on April 4, first vandalising a motorcycle outside a local store before turning violent. CCTV footage showed Paterson attempting to…
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Kok River pollution triggers health alert in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai
The discovery of arsenic and lead contamination in the Kok River, particularly in the Mae Ai district of Chiang Mai province, has prompted health warnings for residents in both Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. Levels of arsenic and lead were found to exceed the standard limits, with arsenic measured at 0.026 mg/litre and lead at 0.076 mg/litre. The acceptable levels…
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Chinese fugitive arrested in Bangkok after two decades on the run
Thai police have apprehended a 52 year old Chinese national, owner of a popular mala restaurant in Bangkok, for allegedly shooting a compatriot in 2003. The suspect, Zhang Lao Er, had been evading police for over two decades before being captured. Yesterday, April 5, Police Major General Witaya Sriprasertphap directed the arrest of Zhang in connection with an outstanding warrant…
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Woman claims doctor urged her to die in Udon Thani hospital
A 24 year old woman, from Nong Han district in Udon Thani province, reported a distressing encounter with a doctor at a local hospital’s emergency room. Chompoo claims the doctor used harsh language, telling her to die, which left her in tears. The incident occurred on April 3, when she sought medical attention for depression and bipolar disorder. Chompoo explained…
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Thai man brandishes knife over pad Thai order blunder
A 32 year old man became agitated and wielded a knife at a convenience store in Chon Buri after ordering pad Thai without Chinese chives, only to find them included. The incident occurred yesterday, April 5. Officers from Mueang Chon Buri Police Station received a report of the man, Thakorn, entering a convenience store at Mueang district’s Na Pa subdistrict, with…
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