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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Transgender woman’s topless dance at Songkran festival sparks backlash
A video showing a transgender woman dancing topless during the Songkran festival in Nakhon Ratchasima sparked criticism for damaging Thai cultural values. The incident occurred yesterday, April 15, during the festivities’ final day, with crowds of locals and tourists participating in water fights on main roads. In Nakhon Ratchasima, people celebrated Songkran by riding in pickup trucks loaded with water…
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Cell shock: Thai cops gear up with Israeli tech to bust scam rings
Scammers beware, the Royal Thai Police (RTP) are now armed with cutting-edge Israeli tech to crack phones, catch fraudsters and bring cyber crooks to justice faster than you can say “call centre con.” The RTP beefed up their cybercrime-fighting arsenal with state-of-the-art digital forensic tools from Israeli firm Cellebrite, giving officers the power to extract crucial data from phones and…
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Pattaya police target water trucks causing Songkran traffic chaos
Pattaya police announced a crackdown on water trucks that obstruct traffic and pose safety risks during Songkran festivities. Yesterday, April 15, at 7.36pm, reporters in Chon Buri observed water trucks spraying people and causing traffic jams in Pattaya, creating potential hazards for those on and around the vehicles. Police Lieutenant Colonel Phanuphong Nimsuwan, a traffic inspector at Pattaya City Police…
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State Audit Office families to get 100,000 baht quake compensation
As the death toll from the collapsed State Audit Office building rises to 44, heartbroken families are being offered compensation while rescuers race against time to find dozens still buried beneath the rubble. The Interior Ministry announced that it will pay 100,000 baht to the families of each victim killed in the State Audit Office building collapse in the Chatuchak…
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Crime doesn’t pay-as-you-go: 130,000 Thai mule accounts axed
The Government of Thailand slammed the brakes on a massive online scam operation, axing over 130,000 dodgy mule accounts and collaring hundreds of fraudsters in just three months. Sasikarn Wattanachan, deputy government spokesperson, said the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society’s Anti-Online Crime Operation Centre (AOC) had ramped up its war on online fraudsters. Between January and March, a staggering…
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Thunderstorm warning for 42 provinces: Thai it down
Hold onto your brollies, folks, the Thai Meteorological Department has sounded the alarm today, predicting a deluge of thunderstorms across a whopping 42 provinces, including bustling Bangkok. Down south, it’s even more dramatic, with heavy rain set to drench 70% of the area, whipped up by fierce gusts. Residents are being urged to stay vigilant and brace for a soggy…
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Booze clues: Underage drinking promos soak Songkran spirit
Songkran’s splashy celebrations may have cooled the crowds but things are heating up for Thailand’s booze industry after a leading watchdog exposed widespread law-breaking underage alcohol drinking over the holiday. Teera Watcharapranee, director of the StopDrink Network, claims major alcohol brands brazenly flouted the law with flashy promotions and events in more than 137 locations nationwide. “Among these, 42 were…
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Fake monk caught soliciting donations during Nakhon Pathom Songkran
Residents in Nakhon Pathom raised concerns about a man impersonating a monk to solicit donations during the Songkran festival. Today, April 15, the incident was reported to Phra Khru Phalat Sitthiwat, also known as Luang Pi Namfon, who chairs the committee addressing complaints within the monastic community of Region 14. The man, suspected of being a fake monk, was seen…
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Laotian woman drowns in Bangkok restaurant pool during Songkran
A 37 year old Laotian woman, named Noi, tragically passed away after losing consciousness in a pool at a restaurant in Taling Chan district, Bangkok. The incident occurred yesterday, April 14, around 9.28pm. Despite efforts from rescue personnel to revive her, she was pronounced dead at 11pm. The restaurant owner revealed that the establishment was closed for the Songkran festival…
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Cattle dispute leads to fatal shooting in Chon Buri
A group linked to a cattle dispute has been apprehended after a deadly shooting incident. The confrontation left 53 year old cattle farm owner Sompong (surname withheld) dead at his farm in Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri. The incident arose from a misunderstanding over stolen cattle, leading to an altercation followed by the shooting. Police captured 40…
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Teen arrested for brandishing modified BB gun at Korat festival (video)
A 19 year old man was apprehended after brandishing a modified BB gun during a Songkran water festival in Korat. The incident, captured on video and widely shared on social media, showed the young man threatening a group of rivals on a public street. The video depicts the youth, dressed in a white shirt and patterned shorts, pointing a weapon…
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Myanmar worker fatally stabbed during Songkran festival
A violent altercation among Myanmar workers during the Songkran festival in Mueang Samut Sakhon district resulted in the fatal stabbing of a 25 year old, Zay Ya Kyaw. The suspect managed to flee amidst the chaos of the water festival celebrations. Police Colonel Pichetphong Jangkaikom, along with other officers from the Mueang Samut Sakhon Police Station, investigated the incident at…
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Indian man injured in Pattaya apartment altercation
A 43 year old Indian national was injured in an altercation with his Thai girlfriend at their apartment in Pattaya. The incident, yesterday, April 14, involving a broken bottle attack, resulted in the man sustaining chest and arm injuries. The incident occurred shortly after midnight at an apartment in Soi Kromtheedin 6, Nong Prue, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province.…
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Chiang Mai lottery sales surge during Songkran festival
In Chiang Mai, lottery ticket sales are thriving during the Songkran festival, with locals eagerly purchasing tickets from various stalls around the city, including areas like Chiang Mai Gate, Chang Phueak Gate, Mahidol Road, Mueang district, the railway station, and morning markets. Tickets are priced at 100 baht (US$3) each, with sets of two selling for 200 baht (US$6), three…
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Welsh traveller goes missing in Thailand, family appeals for help
A 26 year old Welsh traveller has gone missing in Thailand, prompting concern from his family and friends who haven’t heard from him in over four weeks. Daniel Davies, from Llanelli, was last in contact with his family on March 13 while staying at the Hangover Hostel in Bangkok. He was later seen on the island of Koh Phi Phi, a…
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Small earthquake strikes Krabi, no tsunami risk reported
An earthquake measuring 3.5 on the Richter scale occurred in Krabi province, with the epicentre located in Khlong Khama subdistrict, Nuea Khlong district. The event, which was felt by locals, took place at 2.27pm yesterday, April 14. The Thai Meteorological Department’s Earthquake Surveillance Division reported the quake’s depth at 2 kilometres. At 2.42pm, the Thai Meteorological Department issued a statement…
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Bangkok Songkran draws 360,000, 10 killed in traffic accidents
Songkran festivities in Bangkok attracted a global audience, with over 360,000 people attending events on Silom and Khao San roads during the opening two days of the holiday, according to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA). From April 12 to April 13, Silom Road hosted 165,239 visitors at celebrations held from noon until 10pm, while Khao San Road saw 197,314 people…
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PM Paetongtarn invites tourists to Chiang Mai’s vibrant cultural fest
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has encouraged both Thais and tourists to partake in the Pee Mai Mueang San Kamphaeng event, highlighting the enchanting Lhong Him Khao community in Chiang Mai. Lhong Him Khao, located in the San Kamphaeng district, is a vibrant community celebrated for its traditional Lanna arts, crafts, and cultural expressions. Residents have transformed their homes into cafes,…
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Heavy rain forecasted for Bangkok and 33 provinces post-Songkran
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasted heavy rain across 33 provinces, including Bangkok, as the Songkran festival comes to an end. The weather is expected to include thunderstorms, strong winds, and possible lightning today, April 15. The upper regions of Thailand will experience rising temperatures, with hot weather prevailing in central areas, Bangkok, and surrounding vicinities, as well as the…
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Death toll hits 41 after State Audit Office collapse in Thailand
The discovery of four more bodies, comprising both male and female people, was made under the rubble of the collapsed State Audit Office building. Identification of some remains is ongoing, with scattered human body parts found in zone C. The death toll has now reached 41, with 53 people still missing. By 10am today, April 14, the site of the…
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Car overturns in Phayao, killing driver during Songkran festival
A car accident on the Phaholyothin Road in Phayao province resulted in the death of a 33 year old man today, April 14. The car overturned on the rain-slicked road, marking the third fatality in the region during the Songkran festival period. Officers from Mueang Phayao Police Station received a report of a vehicle accident involving an overturned car on…
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Gas station cashier killed in Chon Buri robbery
A male gas station employee allegedly stabbed a female cashier to death before fleeing with her wallet at a gas station in Mueang district, Chon Buri province. The incident occurred at 11.20pm yesterday, April 13. Police Lieutenant Ratchaphon Ratchawakan, a deputy investigation officer at Don Hua Lo Police Station in Chon Buri, received a report of a serious stabbing at…
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Phuket woman dies after brutal assault by partner
A tragic incident unfolded at a rental room in the Mueang district of Phuket, where a woman succumbed to injuries following a violent altercation with her partner. Police apprehended the suspect, who later confessed to the assault. At approximately 10.45pm yesterday, April 13, Police Lieutenant Wutthichai Chanpai, Deputy Inspector of Wichit Police Station, was alerted to a domestic dispute resulting…
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Fatal stabbing cancels Charming Maha Songkran event in Trang
A fatal stabbing incident occurred during the Charming Maha Songkran event, leading organisers to immediately cancel the event and pursue legal action against the perpetrators. A 21 year old woman was also injured by a stray bullet. The incident unfolded around 1.15am yesterday, April 13, when Police Lieutenant Pandhiwat Phetloh of the Huai Yot Police Station in Trang province was…
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Mysterious skeleton found in Chaiyaphum pond with yellow shirt
A mysterious skeleton, accompanied by a yellow sports shirt, was discovered among water hyacinths in a public pond in Chaiyaphum province, believed to be over a month old. Police are working to identify the remains found on April 13. Upon receiving the report, rescue workers from Luang Siri Rescue Unit, police from Nong Bua Daeng Police Station, and an on-duty…
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Fire in Ban Pong destroys over 20 rooms, no injuries reported
A fire broke out in the Rong Thoop community in Ban Pong, Ratchaburi province, destroying over 20 rooms. The incident occurred at 1.40pm yesterday, April 13 and involved several fire engines mobilised to extinguish the blaze. Police Lieutenant Colonel Surachai Boonin of Ban Pong Police Station received the report and notified Police Colonel Kobchoke Lektragul, the station chief, before heading…
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Man arrested for fatal knife attack on ex-wife in Phetchabun
A 39 year old man has been detained after allegedly fatally attacking his former wife with a knife in Phetchabun province. The incident occurred on April 12, when 43 year old Somkit was found with severe neck injuries in her home in Pak Chong subdistrict, Lom Sak district. The suspect, her ex-husband, Sombat, allegedly confessed to having taken five methamphetamine pills…
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Teenagers arrested for murder of student in Pathum Thani
Three teenagers, between 16 and 18 years old, have been apprehended for the murder of a 26 year old engineering student, Thanat Somsakul, from Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi. The incident occurred yesterday, April 13, in Pathum Thani province. The suspects allegedly attacked the student under a footbridge in the Prachathipat subdistrict, following a confrontation that began when their motorcycles…
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Thailand launches elderly support initiatives for National Elderly Day
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra extended her best wishes to Thai families in a national address marking National Elderly Day and Family Day. She also mentioned that the government has introduced welfare programmes to tackle issues arising from Thailand’s ageing demographic. In a related message, Minister of Public Health Somsak Thepsutin encouraged families to care for the elderly and invited them…
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Thailand waives park fees for Family Day celebration
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation will waive entrance fees to all national parks, botanical gardens, wildlife sanctuaries, and conservation sites in Thailand today in celebration of Family Day, observed annually on April 14. According to Attapol Charoenshunsa, the director-general of the department, this initiative is part of an effort to promote visits to the country’s lesser-known…
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