Thailand News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, and lifestyle—get breaking updates from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. Stay informed on Thai society, economy, tourism, and expat life with The Thaiger.
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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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Toddler drowns in Wang River, northern Thailand
A two year old boy tragically drowned in the Wang River in Lampang province after wandering away from his grandmother’s house. The incident occurred yesterday, March 26, at 5pm, and police, along with rescue teams, responded to the scene. The Lampang Rescue Association, in collaboration with local hospital emergency staff and police, searched and found the boy’s body in the…
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Thai food fight: Restaurant industry left starving as spending drops 40%
Thailand’s restaurant industry is in turmoil, with purchasing power dropping by over 40% in the first quarter of 2025, according to Thanivarn Kulmongkol, President of the Thai Restaurant Association. The sluggish economic recovery and stagnant incomes have left consumers tightening their belts, opting for savings rather than spending, especially ahead of major festivals like Songkran. This downturn is affecting all…
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Russian man’s Phuket cannabis empire goes up in smoke
Police in Phuket yesterday arrested a Russian man for illegally distributing dried cannabis flowers and vapes, seizing illegal items worth nearly 1 million baht from his accommodation. Local police officers, in collaboration with administrative officials, launched a crackdown on the illegal sale and use of cannabis and e-cigarettes in Phuket between 21 and 30 March. The arrest of the 24…
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Lottery tips and stories fuel excitement for April 1 draw
Lottery enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating the draw on April 1. Various sources have shared their predictions for this upcoming event. Here are some notable lottery tips and stories circulating. Renowned lottery predictor Mae Nam Nueng revealed her picks for April 1. She highlights the number 4 and suggests combinations such as 4176. For a three-digit finish, she proposes 417 and…
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Thai police arrest Chinese duo for counterfeit cosmetics trade
Thai police arrested a 40 year old Chinese national who had obtained Thai citizenship and a 36 year old Chinese woman for allegedly selling counterfeit cosmetics and medicines. They rented two houses in Bangkok, where over 8,200 illegal items were seized. Yesterday, March 26, Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, alongside other senior officers, directed a team, including officials from the Food…
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Illegal condo rentals exposed in Pattaya crackdown
The Thai government has launched a major crackdown on illegal daily condominium rentals, with a focus on three prime locations in Pattaya. Foreign investors, particularly Chinese nationals, have been accused of turning multiple condominium units into de facto hotels, violating the Hotel Act. These illegal operations have sparked outrage among locals and led to direct intervention by the Ministry of…
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Frenchman wanted for fatal prison break arrested in Phuket
Phuket police officers yesterday arrested a Frenchman wanted for aiding a prisoner’s escape and killing prison guards in France last year. The BBC reported last year that the French prisoner, 30 year old Mohamed Amra, also known as “The Fly,” managed to escape from custody while being transported back to prison after attending a court hearing. Amra had been arrested on…
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Phuket rolls out EV buses to boost tourism and reduce pollution
Phuket is set to introduce two new 18-seat open-top electric buses to enhance its tourism appeal. These environmentally friendly vehicles aim to tackle pollution and PM2.5 dust issues while serving as promotional tools for tourism, according to Saroj Angkanapilas, Mayor of Phuket municipality. The buses are adorned with illustrations of the area’s distinctive Sino-European architecture, highlighting the Old Town’s cultural…
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MP banned for 10 years over vote-buying in Thailand election
The Supreme Court has ruled that Mukdawan Luengsinil, a Bhumjaithai Party MP representing Nakhon Si Thammarat, is barred from contesting or voting in elections for the next 10 years due to an election law violation. This decision follows a petition from the Election Commission (EC), which found evidence of her involvement in vote-buying during the 2023 General Election in Constituency…
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British widow’s Thailand dream turns to heartbreak
A British woman paid tribute to her “kind, compassionate” husband, who died after suffering a heart attack on a flight home from their dream holiday in Thailand. The couple’s flight was diverted to India when he took ill and eventually died in a Delhi hospital. The dead man’s British wife, Gill Dunn, then had the ignominy of bringing her husband’s…
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Thai police surrenders after fatally shooting girlfriend in Nakhon Pathom
A Thai police officer turned himself in after fatally shooting his girlfriend in front of her family members at a house in the central province of Nakhon Pathom yesterday, March 26, the victim’s birthday. The Police Senior Sergeant Major from the Thung Song Hong Police Station, 38 year old Arnon, surrendered himself at Mueang Nakhon Pathom Police Station yesterday after…
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YouTuber’s van collides with truck, injuring seven in Nakhon Ratchasima
A van carrying the team of a popular YouTuber collided with the rear of a trailer truck, injuring seven people, including the YouTuber’s mother. The incident occurred yesterday, March 26, at 8.30am, on Mittraphap Road in Nakhon Ratchasima. Police Colonel Ratthawit Anandadilakkrit from Khong Police Station received the report and directed Police Lieutenant Songphon Nimmani to the scene, along with…
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British boxing champ knocked down by law after Thailand drug bust
An ex-British boxing champion who ducked and weaved his way through three continents to avoid drug charges has been sentenced to six years behind bars. Lennox Clarke, from Stourbridge in the West Midlands, was caught red-handed supplying narcotics to a known dealer before skipping town in a desperate bid to avoid a legal knockout. The former British and Commonwealth super-middleweight…
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Singaporean wanted after Thai girlfriend found dead in Bangkok condo
Police are searching for a Singaporean man after his Thai girlfriend was found dead in the bathroom of a luxury condominium on Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok yesterday, March 26. The naked body of the 30 year old woman, Proudphilas Paladon, was discovered in the bathroom of a unit on the 22nd floor of a condominium near Soi Sukhumvit 39 in…
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Teenagers arrested in Bangkok for homemade gun attack
Two teenagers were apprehended within two hours after brandishing homemade guns and firing shotgun shells at a rival in the Lat Krabang area. The incident, which took place on March 25 at approximately 8.30pm, resulted in no injuries. Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, along with other high-ranking officers from the Metropolitan Police Bureau, disclosed the arrest of 18 year old…
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PM Paetongtarn rules out Cabinet reshuffle after no-confidence win
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra stated that a Cabinet reshuffle is not imminent after surviving a no-confidence motion. Yesterday, March 26, she received substantial backing from Parliamentarians, with the vote totaling 319 to 162, with seven abstentions. After the vote, the Thai premier confirmed no immediate plans to alter the Cabinet. When questioned about whether her father, former Prime Minister Thaksin…
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Win a complimentary stay at Sole Mio Boutique Hotel & Wellness!
Be part of an exclusive experience where art, wellness, and cultural discovery come together. As the only hotel in Phuket with an on-site medical clinic, Sole Mio Boutique Hotel & Wellness presents the April Edition of Soul & Sole Sunset Journeys: Sunset & Strokes. Featuring a canvas painting workshop, culinary experiences, and enhanced hotel offerings in celebration of Phuket Biennale…
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East Pattaya mayor resolves year-long streetlight issue
A long-standing streetlight issue in Nong Pla Lai subdistrict, East Pattaya, which has left a key road in darkness for over a year, is finally being addressed. Phinyo Homklun, the Mayor of Nong Plalai, visited the area around the street cutting through Phon Thep 6 and Phon Thep 8 villages to investigate and resolve the problem after numerous complaints from…
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Pretty in pink: Bikini-clad woman wreaks havoc at police station
A Thai woman in a pink bikini top caused chaos at a police station in Nonthaburi near Bangkok for two days due to her mental health condition. A 47 year old Thai man, Ronnachai, had been searching for his wife, 34 year old Sudarat, who had been missing from their shared home since Sunday, March 23. He eventually found her…
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Thailand offers rewards for reporting e-cigarette sellers and users
To crack down on e-cigarette use, the Thai government has launched a new initiative allowing the public to report sellers and users of e-cigarettes through the Thang Rath mobile app. The scheme offers lucrative rewards for tipsters, with informants standing to pocket 60% of the fines imposed on suspects. Those providing information that leads to an arrest could earn a…
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Thailand bans all corporal punishment, a win for children’s rights
In a groundbreaking move for children’s rights, Thailand has officially outlawed all forms of corporal punishment, including both physical and psychological discipline. The amendment to Section 1567 of the Civil and Commercial Code, announced in the Royal Gazette on Monday, March 24, marks a historic moment for the nation, making Thailand the 68th country worldwide to ban violent discipline in…
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Thai Sang Thai MPs back Paetongtarn, leader blasts ‘cobra MPs’
Five MPs from the opposition Thai Sang Thai Party caused a stir by defying their party and voting in favour of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. The rebellion left the party’s founder and leader, Sudarat Keyuraphan, furious and vowing consequences for those involved. After the no-confidence vote results were announced, Sudarat was quick to express her outrage on Facebook. She revealed…
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CCTV confirms suicide as Thai man falls to death in Bangkok mall
A Thai man with a mental health condition yesterday fell to his death from the fourth floor of a shopping mall in the Rama 2 area of Bangkok. CCTV footage confirmed the incident as a suicide. Several shoppers yesterday, March 25, took to social media to share their distressing experiences of witnessing the fatal fall of a man, believed to…
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Patong police crackdown on drink driving nets multiple arrests
A late-night operation in Patong saw local traffic police set up a checkpoint at Laem Phet Monastery, where they tested drivers for alcohol consumption. The checkpoint, which ran from 12.30am to 2.30am today, March 26, revealed a disturbing number of intoxicated drivers on the road, said Police Colonel Chalermchai Hirasawat, Superintendent of Patong Police Station. “The results of the checkpoint…
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Mysterious pipe near Pattaya beach sparks pollution concerns
A mysterious pipe emerging from the sea near Wong Amat Beach in Naklua has raised alarm among locals, prompting an investigation by Pattaya’s City Hall complaints division. The issue, which has been brewing for some time, has stirred a mix of reactions from residents, some praising the swift response, while others remain frustrated at the delay in addressing the matter.…
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Tragic collision in Ayutthaya leaves three dead on Rojana Road
A tragic accident occurred in Ayutthaya when a car collided with a motorcycle carrying three people, resulting in their deaths at the scene. The driver claimed he failed to brake in time as the motorcycle made a sudden U-turn. The incident took place today, March 26, on Rojana Road near Baan Montri U-turn, kilometre marker 15, in Khan Ham subdistrict,…
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Chinese man caught in Bangkok for 50 million baht fraud
Thai Tourist Police apprehended a Chinese man accused of fraud amounting to over 50 million baht. Under orders from Police General Kittirat Phanphet, law enforcement intensified efforts against crime, particularly targeting those involved in firearms offences and those with outstanding warrants, ahead of the Songkran festival. Police Lieutenant General Saksira Phuak-am, the Commissioner of the Tourist Police, along with Deputy…
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Russian motorcyclist seriously injured after allegedly running red light
A Russian motorcyclist reportedly ran a red light on a road in Pattaya and collided with a sedan car, resulting in severe injuries. Mueang Pattaya Police Station and the Sawang Borriboon Dhammastan Rescue Foundation were alerted to the accident near the entrance of an entertainment venue at 5.19am yesterday, March 25. The incident took place on Pattaya Sai Sam Road…
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Hazardous dust levels hit 43 Thai provinces in north and northeast
Over the past 24 hours, hazardous ultrafine dust levels were detected across the north, northeast, and other regions, as reported by the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA). At 7am, today, March 26, GISTDA announced that 43 provinces experienced unsafe levels of particulate matter (PM2.5) smaller than 2.5 micrometres in diameter. Eighteen of these provinces, located in the north…
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Thai Education Council challenges global ranking, cites flaws
Thailand’s education system has found itself at the centre of controversy after being ranked 107th out of 203 countries in a global education survey. The ranking, published by the World Population Review, has raised eyebrows among Thai officials, who argue that the methodology behind the ranking is flawed and misleading. “These rankings are based on subjective opinions, not measurable, concrete…
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