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 Thinking of retiring in Thailand long-term? Here’s your health checklist before the move
Thinking of retiring in Thailand long-term? Thailand is a popular choice for retirees because of its beautiful landscapes, warm climate, and affordable living. Cities like Chiang Mai and coastal areas offer a relaxed lifestyle with friendly communities. The country also...
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Chiang Mai hotels thrive during Songkran with strategic pricing
Hotels in Chiang Mai experienced a strong performance during the Songkran holiday, despite offering lower room rates compared to the previous year. The pricing strategy was aimed at attracting last-minute domestic travellers, whose confidence was affected by last month’s earthquake. Paisarn Sukjarean, President of the Thai Hotels Association’s upper northern chapter, indicated that many Thais remained unsettled by the earthquake…
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Thai woman strangles baby with electric wire after row with boyfriend
A 19 year old Thai woman strangled her 10 month old baby girl with an electric wire following an argument with her boyfriend at a house in the central province of Ratchaburi. Esor News shared part of the video showing the abuse on April 17. The caption read, “This woman strangled her child with an electric wire after her boyfriend…
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Bank of Thailand seeks new governor as Sethaput’s term ends
The Ministry of Finance has initiated the process to select a new governor for the Bank of Thailand (BoT), as Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput’s five-year term concludes on September 30. A selection committee, led by former Finance Permanent Secretary Sathit Limpongpan, will soon convene to establish candidate requirements and the application timeline, according to ministry spokesperson Pornchai Thiraveja. Under Thai law, the…
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License to bill: Thailand gives green light to trio of virtual banks
Thailand’s financial future is getting a digital upgrade, with three new virtual banks set to get the green light by June 19, the Finance Ministry has confirmed. In a bold move to modernise banking and boost financial inclusion, the Bank of Thailand has already shortlisted three candidates from a pool of five heavyweight consortiums. The final list of approved operators…
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Geely does it: Chinese EV giant shifts gears with Thai expansion
A Chinese electric carmaker is ready to spark up Thailand’s electric vehicle (EV) scene, with big plans, bold investments and a battery-powered push to win over local drivers. Geely, one of China’s top EV brands, is plugging into Thailand in a big way, with its local distributor, Thonburi Neustern Co, unveiling ambitious plans to supercharge the brand’s presence in the…
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Indian women steal the spotlight with viral Pattaya dance
Who needs a stage when the streets of Pattaya will do just fine? Two Indian women have taken the Internet by storm after a video of their impromptu dance performance on a Thai street went viral and the world can’t stop watching. Decked out in traditional Indian attire, the duo lit up the streets of Pattaya with sheer joy, rhythm,…
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Bangkok airport security guard strikes gold but gives it back
A female security guard at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok is winning praise nationwide after discovering a bag filled with gold necklaces and pulling off a high-speed mission to return it to its owner, just minutes before his flight back to India. CCTV footage from Gate 8 on the 4th floor of the departure terminal shows the heartwarming moment today,…
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Midnight quakes jolt northern Thailand and Myanmar region
Late-night rumblings rattled parts of northern Thailand and Myanmar today as seven minor earthquakes struck the region in the early hours, sparking concern but causing no reported damage. According to the Thai Meteorological Department’s Earthquake Observation Division, the series of seismic events occurred today, April 18, with magnitudes ranging from 1.4 to 4.1. Most of the tremors were recorded in…
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Thailand video news | Parliament investigates collapsed billion-baht building in Bangkok, Thai influencer ‘Uncle Tony’ faces legal heat over pork video
On today’s Thailand video news update, Jay and Alex cover a wide range of critical stories—from a high-profile corruption investigation over a collapsed government building to a legal controversy involving a social media influencer. Other headlines include a temporary Nescafé ban, the debut of AI policing during Songkran, and regional developments involving China, Russia, and ASEAN neighbours. Here’s a…
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Pattaya boosts Songkran safety with drones and freebies
Tourists heading to Koh Larn for Songkran got more than just a splash this year, they were greeted by high-tech patrols, free gifts, and a full force of security personnel as Pattaya rolled out a slick operation to keep visitors safe and smiling. The action unfolded at the Multi-Purpose Hall on Laem Bali Hai Pier, South Pattaya, where senior officials…
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Brake-ing news: Officials rebuild trust after German tourist crash
Phang Nga officials are scrambling to restore tourist confidence after a horrific road crash left two German holidaymakers critically injured and their toddler hospitalised. The brutal smash happened around 5pm on Tuesday, April 15, in the Khao Lak area, when a speeding pickup truck slammed into a young family crossing Phetkasem Road at a zebra crossing near the local post…
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Forestry worker dies in Udon Thani forest gun accident
A 53 year old forestry worker and seasoned fireworks maker died from a gunshot wound in a forest in Udon Thani province. The incident occurred yesterday, April 17, with his wife expressing shock as they had spoken just that morning. Police Colonel Sonthaya Hitayaso from Phen District Police Station was notified of the incident, which took place in the forest…
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Thief poses as monk to steal 300k baht from Ubon temple
A thief disguised as a monk targeted the abbot’s quarters at a temple in the Isaan province of Ubon Ratchathani, stealing 300,000 baht. The incident, captured on CCTV, marks the second such theft, leading to a manhunt by local police. The footage, shared by the Warin Chamrap Ban Hao Facebook page, shows a man dressed like a monk leaving the…
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Meth-ed up: Thai drug dealer gobbles stash, ends up in hospital
A Thai drug dealer in Samut Prakan thought he’d outsmart the cops by wolfing down nearly 100 meth pills but instead of escaping jail, he landed himself in hospital fighting for his life. The 40 year old suspect in Samut Prakan sparked a wild police chase before shoving a stash of meth pills down his throat in a desperate bid…
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Teen girl’s leg trapped in drainage grate during Songkran festival
What started as a fun-filled Songkran celebration quickly turned into a nightmare for one teenage girl in Chon Buri’s Sattahip district, after her leg got stuck in a drainage grate in the middle of the street. The 14 year old, dressed in traditional Songkran clothing, had been enjoying the water fights in Sattahip market yesterday, April 17, when she accidentally…
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Phuket braces for floods as emergency pumps deployed
Phuket is battening down the hatches as officials race to prevent flash floods and landslides, with a massive emergency response underway across the island. With heavy rainfall already soaking parts of the province, the Phuket governor has issued an urgent directive to all district chiefs, local government leaders, and heads of government agencies to launch immediate preventative action. The warning…
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Woman shot dead by boyfriend in Yasothon, northeast Thailand
A tragic incident unfolded in Yasothon province yesterday when a 24 year old woman was fatally shot by her boyfriend following an unsuccessful attempt to reconcile. The woman had previously returned to her home in Samakkhi subdistrict, Loeng Nok Tha district, unable to endure his jealousy-fuelled violence. Officers from Loeng Nok Tha Police Station responded to the scene yesterday, on…
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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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Tariff and away! Thailand backs ASEAN in showdown with Trump
Thailand is saddling up with its ASEAN friends for a tariff tussle with the US, as Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra vows to stand firm against Washington’s trade muscle-flexing and back a united front in talks with Donald Trump’s White House. Thailand PM Paetongtarn has thrown her weight behind ASEAN’s united stand against a hike in US import tariffs, declaring the…
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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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Thai influencer apologises after wearing Islamic attire to promote pork
A Thai social media influencer issued an apology after sparking criticism for wearing Islamic attire while promoting grilled pork at his restaurant in the northern province of Phetchabun. The 48 year old influencer, Charoensak “Tony” Phosichai, better known online as Uncle Tony, posted a TikTok video promoting his restaurant, ครัวลุงโทนี่ (Krua Lung Tony which translates to Uncle Tony’s Kitchen). In the…
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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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Transgender woman alleges unfair dismissal in Samut Prakan
A 27 year old transwoman alleged unfair dismissal from her job due to her gender identity. She claims that her supervisor’s bias against transgender persons led to her having to resign under duress. The incident occurred at a company in Khlong Dan subdistrict, Bang Bo district, Samut Prakan province, where she worked as a heavy lifting equipment operator. Chatchai explained…
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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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