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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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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Baht to the future: Thai currency eyes 33 mark as dollar dives
The Thai baht is flexing its muscles on the global stage, with experts predicting it may surge past the symbolic 33-per-dollar mark in the second quarter, fuelled by trade tensions, a faltering US economy, and sky-high gold prices. According to Kasikorn Research Center (K-Research), the baht has climbed to a six-month high, riding the wave of a weakening US dollar…
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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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Bangkok and 46 provinces brace for thunderstorms and heavy rain
Weather forecasts indicate that 47 provinces in Thailand will experience thunderstorms and strong winds, with Bangkok likely to see heavy rainfall from the afternoon into the evening. Residents are advised to remain cautious, especially in southern regions where rain is expected to cover 60% of the area. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) predicts that the upper part of the country…
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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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Nestlé fights Thai court ban on Nescafé in bitter legal row
Thailand’s coffee kingpin is caught in a legal grind, and your morning cup of Nescafé could be at risk. Nestlé, the global food and beverage giant behind the iconic brand, is fighting back after a Thai court slapped a temporary ban on the production, sale, and importation of Nescafé products in the country. The high-stakes case pits Nestlé against its…
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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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Van driver killed in tragic collision with trailer truck in Ayutthaya
In Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, a van driver was tragically killed when a trailer truck collided with his vehicle as he checked an unsecured rear door. The impact was fatal and the trailer driver fled the scene. Police are actively pursuing the suspect. Today, April 17, Police Lieutenant Chaiwat Tipyasot from Bang Pahan District Police Station in Phra Nakhon Si…
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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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Myanmar teens busted in Prachuap for no ID during Songkran
A group of Myanmar teens hoping to enjoy Thailand’s wild Songkran festivities got more than they bargained for — ending their water fight with a police escort instead of a party. Yesterday, April 16, police in Prachuap Khiri Khan detained 10 Myanmar nationals, all teenagers and young adults, for entering the city to join the Songkran celebrations without any identification…
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74 year old nun begs for help after rape attempts by teenage novice
Police allegedly ignored a complaint from a 74 year old nun at a temple in the Isaan province of Udon Ratchathani, who was repeatedly subjected to rape attempts by a 19 year old novice. The nun, Thawin, turned to news agencies for help after officers at Mueang Ubon Ratchathani Police Station failed to take action regarding her sexual assault complaint.…
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Blue by Alain Ducasse: Bangkok’s new casual dining spot at ICONSIAM
Blue by Alain Ducasse stirs the pot with a fresh twist on fine dining, unveiling a laid-back, all-day eatery at ICONSIAM that’s set to serve up style with every bite. This new chapter in Bangkok’s foodie scene is anything but “Blue” plate special—it’s casual, chic, and unmistakably Ducasse. Showcasing an exciting new menu of international favourites across 120 square metres…
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Thief desecrates grave, steals over 3,000 baht in Udon Thani
A thief desecrated a young man’s grave to steal over 3,000 baht, intended for his afterlife, prompting local monks to warn of potential spiritual repercussions. The incident occurred at a cemetery in Udon Thani province after a 20 year old, referred to as A, died in a motorcycle accident on April 14. At Wat Pa Phra Na Hai temple in…
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Songkran road death toll rises to 200 on sixth day
Thailand’s Songkran celebrations have once again been marred by tragedy, with the road death toll rising to 200, with over 1,300 injured in just six days of road mayhem. The Road Safety Centre reported that from April 11 to 16, the bulk of the annual Seven Dangerous Days campaign, a staggering 1,377 road accidents occurred across the country. The leading culprits? Speeding…
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Angry Swedish man refuses help after crashing pickup in Buriram
A Swedish man refused assistance from a rescue team and expressed anger after crashing his pickup into a streetlight in the Isaan province of Buriram on Tuesday, April 15. The man’s Thai wife told rescue workers not to take her husband’s anger personally, stating he’d had brain surgery. The Hook 31 Rescue Foundation rushed to the accident scene on the Rahan…
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Teen injured in Narathiwat after bomb explodes in hand
An incident involving a young man and a bomb in Narathiwat province has sparked nationwide discussions online. The 18 year old was preparing to throw a ping pong bomb at an adversary during a confrontation in Su-ngai Kolok district on April 15 at 11pm when it exploded, severely injuring his hand. The explosion left his wrist severely damaged, with him…
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Bangkok man arrested for clinic burglary to fund Songkran festivity
Officers from Lak Song Police Station arrested a 48 year old man for burglary at a dental clinic. The suspect, Nukul, also known as Yim, aimed to sell stolen gold and sacred amulets to fund a Songkran celebration at Sanam Luang. His criminal history revealed prior burglary offences. Yesterday, April 16, Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom and his team received…
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Thai-Scottish park ranger resigns after row with racist foreigner
A renowned half-Thai, half-Scottish park ranger announced his resignation following a conflict with an allegedly racist foreigner in the sea off Krabi in southern Thailand. The Thai-Scottish park ranger, 29 year old Siranudh “Sai” Scott, better known on social media as Sai Merman, made headlines in February after an argument with an Italian tourist. The Italian man reportedly violated a national…
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Karaoke worker bins newborn after bathroom birth in Chon Buri
A karaoke bar worker, allegedly unaware of her pregnancy, reportedly gave birth in a bathroom, placing the dead newborn in a plastic bag before discarding it in a rubbish bin. The incident unfolded at 7pm yesterday, April 16, in Chon Buri province, when a scrap collector discovered the baby’s body in a bin in Mueang subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chon…
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Pattaya cracks down on dangerous Songkran water guns
What’s meant to be all fun and games during Songkran has taken a dangerous turn, and Pattaya officials are sounding the alarm. As water fights continue to soak the city, officials have issued a stern warning over the use of high-pressure water guns, which have flooded the streets of Soi 6, Soi Buakhao, and Jomtien. Unlike your typical water blasters,…
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Bar worker beaten outside Patong hotspot after jealous row
A Patong bar worker was left bloodied and bruised after a savage street brawl erupted outside one of the island’s busiest nightlife zones — all sparked by a petty case of jealousy. The violent incident unfolded in the early hours of Monday morning, April 14, just outside a popular bar near the beach road entrance to Bangla Road. The victim,…
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Chumphon shop owner attacked, gold necklace stolen
A man was captured on CCTV attacking a 54 year old shop owner in Chumphon province with a beer bottle before fleeing with her gold necklace and a gold-encased amulet. The victim’s brother disclosed that the suspect is a regular customer. Yesterday, April 16, CCTV footage from a shop located along a concrete road in Mueang Chumphon district, Chumphon, showed…
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