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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Starting a new life abroad is exciting—new culture, new lifestyle, and new chances to grow. But living far from home also means taking steps to protect your health in unfamiliar surroundings. Without the right coverage, even small health issues can...
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Thai police seize 12kg of meth worth 500,000 baht in Trang
Officers from the Border Patrol Police Division 43, in collaboration with Division 435, seized 12 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine on Phetkasem Road in Mueang district, Trang province, yesterday, April 16. Police Major General Rungroj Thakoonpunyasiri, Deputy Commissioner of the Border Patrol Police, and Police Major General Narong Thananantakul, Commissioner of Border Patrol Police Region 4, received a report on the…
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Pattaya cops stop Chinese tourists in Songkran truck chaos
A splash of fun turned into a safety scare in Pattaya as police cracked down on reckless Songkran celebrations involving water trucks, and three Chinese tourists found themselves at the centre of the drama. During the city’s famous water-soaked festivities, several water trucks were spotted cruising through town and parking along busy roads, obstructing traffic and creating chaos for both…
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Bare-faced cheek: Phuket shoppers shocked by naked man
Shoppers at a Phuket market got more than they bargained for yesterday morning, when a naked man strolled casually through the streets, leaving stunned onlookers doing double-takes. The bizarre incident unfolded yesterday, April 16, in the Tha Ruea area of Thalang district, near a fresh market and the local branch of Bangkok Bank. The man, believed to be aged between…
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Thai woman gives birth on street, leaves newborn to die to celebrate Songkran
A Thai woman gave birth on a roadside in Bangkok and abandoned the newborn to die before returning to celebrate the Songkran Festival with her friends on Monday, April 14. The tragic incident came to light after the Facebook news page, เจ๊ม้อย v+ (Jmoi v+), shared a photo of the dead baby along with a brief report yesterday, April 16. The…
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Kind act turns Buriram woman into lottery millionaire
What started as a moment of pity turned into a life-changing windfall for one lucky woman from Buriram — all thanks to a persistent lottery vendor and a single ticket. Kamplaeng Singkulang, a 53 year old resident of Buriram province, is now 6 million baht richer after unexpectedly winning the top prize in the April 16 lottery draw. The twist?…
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Chon Buri vendor wins 12 million baht in lottery
A vegetable vendor from Bo Win market in Chon Buri has become a millionaire after winning the first prize in the Thai government lottery, amounting to 12 million baht. The vendor, identified as Daeng, and her husband, bought their winning tickets after performing a religious merit-making visit to a temple. The lottery draw yesterday, April 16, revealed the winning number…
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Thailand video news | Thai ranger drowns retrieving tourist’s phone in flooded cave, Landslide injures two Filipinas on Khao Yai waterfall trail
Today’s regional headlines highlight a mix of tragedy, controversy, and progress across Southeast Asia. From a heroic ranger’s death in Thailand and a landslide at a national park, to viral clashes in Pattaya and heated cultural debates during Songkran, the country has seen both celebration and chaos. Meanwhile, regional developments include a major diplomatic visit by China’s president to…
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Phi Phi Islands reopen snorkelling and diving after coral recovery
Tourists can once again dive into the crystal-clear waters of the Phi Phi Islands and this time, with a mission to protect paradise. After a year-long ban due to severe coral bleaching, snorkelling and scuba diving have officially resumed at 10 designated sites within the Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park in Krabi. The decision comes after promising…
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Meth fiend’s brutal pork heist leaves vendor fighting for life
A twisted robbery turned violent and left a grilled pork vendor fighting for her life — all for a few thousand baht and a methamphetamine (meth) binge. A 21 year old man has been arrested after launching a savage attack on a 55 year old street vendor in Chon Buri, striking her in the head with a brick before fleeing…
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German couple seriously injured in crash on Phang Nga zebra crossing
A Thai baht bus driver crashed into a German couple on a zebra crossing in the southern province of Phang Nga, leaving the victims with serious injuries. Fortunately, their one year old child was unharmed. The President of the Phang Nga Tourism Business Association, Lertsak Ponklin, shared dashcam footage of the incident along with a message criticising the driver’s recklessness.…
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Booze, bruises & bottle blues: Pattaya beach bum clobbers tourist
A booze-soaked beach bum with a rap sheet as long as Pattaya Beach punched a Pakistani tourist in the face for no reason, before sheepishly saying sorry and begging not to be nicked… again. The Pakistani tourist’s early morning stroll turned into a bloody mess after the drunk Thai jailbird randomly punched him in the mouth at Pattaya Klang Beach,…
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Trash island no more! Koh Larn’s rubbish crisis nears fiery end
A long-awaited solution to Koh Larn’s mountain of rubbish is finally on the horizon, and it’s going up in smoke. The waste incineration plant on the popular tourist island near Pattaya is now 70% complete and expected to be operational within six months, according to Kiatsak Sriwongchai, the permanent secretary of Pattaya City. Construction of the plant began on May…
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Drunk Chinese tourist crashes, pukes, passes out in Pattaya
A drunk Chinese tourist turned a quiet Pattaya street into a late-night demolition derby after ploughing his pickup into parked vehicles, before vomiting out the window and passing out behind the wheel. Pattaya police were called to the boozy crash scene in the early hours of this morning, after the Chinese man smashed his black pickup truck into multiple parked vehicles,…
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Thailand pioneers 3D-printed titanium hip socket surgery
Siriraj Hospital at Mahidol University has achieved a world-first by developing and implanting a 3D-printed, customised titanium hip socket for a patient. This advancement marks a significant step forward in orthopaedic surgery and highlights Thailand’s medical innovation. Apichat Asavamongkolkul, dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Siriraj Hospital, shared insights into this pioneering procedure during a press conference titled World…
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DSI digs deeper into deadly ‘pancake’ Bangkok building collapse
Investigators are piling pressure on firms behind the deadly State Audit Office building collapse, as the case takes a darker turn with forgery claims, phantom contractors, and a “pancake” tragedy that’s left dozens dead and scores missing. The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is ramping up its probe into the catastrophic collapse of the State Audit Office building in Chatuchak,…
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Weather alert: April showers to batter Bangkok and beyond
Brace yourselves, Thailand, the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has sounded the alarm for today, as severe weather is set to ravage 40 provinces across the nation, including the bustling capital of Bangkok. Expect intense thunderstorms, howling winds, and the shocking possibility of lightning strikes. Southern Thailand is in the line of fire, with a whopping 70% of the region bracing…
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Thailand eyes LNG import deal with US to ease trade tensions
Thailand is preparing to offer energy import deals to the United States in a bid to rebalance trade and strengthen bilateral ties, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavachira. Speaking after a meeting with executives from PTT today, April 16, Pichai said Thailand plans to sign a 15-year concession to import 1 million tonnes of liquefied natural…
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Man stabbed during Songkran celebration in Nakhon Phanom
A 20 year old man was stabbed in the back during a Songkran celebration in Nakhon Phanom on April 14, after being chased by a group of unknown assailants. The incident occurred around 8pm in Mueang district. The victim, identified only as Vach, had been celebrating the last night of Songkran with around 10 friends at a riverside concert venue…
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Khao Yai landslide injures 2 Filipinas, waterfall trail closed
Two female tourists from the Philippines were injured after part of a cliff near Haew Narok Waterfall in Khao Yai National Park collapsed today, April 16, prompting an immediate closure of the area for safety inspections. The incident occurred near a high cliff section by the bridge walkway leading down to the popular Haew Narok Waterfall. Large volumes of soil…
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Park ranger dies retrieving tourist’s phone in Kanchanaburi cave
A Thai park ranger tragically lost his life after diving into a rain-swollen stream to retrieve a tourist’s dropped phone inside a cave in Kanchanaburi province. The incident occurred yesterday afternoon, April 15, at Tham Sao Hin, also known as the Stone Pillar Cave, located in Lam Khlong Ngu National Park in Thong Pha Phum district. At around 1pm, 43…
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Down but not out: 2 year old boy trapped in Trang pit rescued
A toddler in Trang gave rescuers the fright of their lives after plunging into a deep, narrow pit next to a well, with the nail-biting rescue operation lasting several hours. The dramatic ordeal unfolded today, April 16 in Moo 1, Wang Maprang Nuea subdistrict, Wang Wiset district, when residents raised the alarm after hearing cries from beneath the ground. The…
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PM Paetongtarn named Young Global Leader 2025
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been named one of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders (YGL) for 2025, crediting her as one of the top changemakers under 40 on the global stage. Government advisor Jirayu Huangsap confirmed the honour today, April 16, noting that the 38 year old PM is among 114 individuals selected worldwide for their leadership and…
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Meatball mayhem: Pattaya vendor slices ex’s ear in street bust-up
A fiery feud turned bloody in the early hours of this morning when a Pattaya meatball vendor slashed her ex-husband’s ear during a jealous booze-fuelled bust-up, right in front of her food stall. It all kicked off at 2.36am, today, April 16, when emergency crews and police were scrambled to Soi Kor Pai after reports of a stabbing outside a…
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Strong winds cause glass collapse at Thai Air Force canteen
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) spokesperson has explained the recent incident where strong winds caused a glass partition to collapse in a Bangkok canteen. The event, involving an elderly woman with a cane, occurred at the Jantharubeksa Sports Stadium canteen on April 13. She fell backwards when a sudden storm with strong winds blew through, causing the glass partition…
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Another arrest in 16 billion baht healthcare fraud case
This morning, a woman involved in the 16 billion baht medical fraud case linked to Thon Buri Healthcare Group founder Doctor Boon Vanasin was taken into custody. Police identified the suspect as an investment broker who had previously left Thailand but returned. Media reports later identified her as 39 year old Kotchaporn Suwannakut. Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong interrogated the suspect…
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Songkran festival turns sour as woman drenched by teens (video)
A young woman was left frustrated during the Songkran festival after being unexpectedly drenched with water by a group of teenagers, causing her to be knocked off balance. The water’s suspicious yellowish hue further added to her concern. Celebrated annually, the Songkran festival is eagerly awaited by many for its water festivities. However, participants are reminded to prioritise safety, as…
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Traffic toll: Thailand ranks 4th in global road accident fatalities
A recent report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Statista highlights Thailand as one of the countries with the highest road accident fatality rates globally. The country records a death rate of 25.4 per 100,000 people annually, significantly surpassing the global average. According to data from Statista, Thailand’s roads are alarmingly dangerous for users, placing the country among the…
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Nakhon Ratchasima waste crisis worsens as military halts disposal
In Nakhon Ratchasima, 34 local administrative organisations face a growing waste crisis, as the military orders halt waste disposal due to excessive accumulation. The rubbish disposal facility in Mueang district has been overwhelmed, with the Second Army Area prohibiting waste dumping in the temporary 50-rai landfill in Zone C from April 11. The backlog has reached over 334,863 tonnes, surpassing…
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Cops hunt suspects in Songkran shooting at Nakhon Sawan temple
Police are actively pursuing two people involved in a shooting at a Songkran festival at a well-known temple in Nakhon Sawan, resulting in three injuries, with one person critically wounded after bullets were lodged in eight places on their body. The incident occurred on Monday, April 14, at Wat Krok Phra Nuea, Krok Phra district. Initial investigations revealed that the…
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