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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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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Summer storm warning for 44 Thai provinces including Bangkok
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a weather forecast indicating persistent severe conditions, with a summer storm affecting 44 provinces, including Bangkok. Thunderstorms are expected across the north, central, east, and Bangkok, covering 60% of these areas on April 13. The weather forecast for the next 24 hours predicts a summer storm in upper Thailand, characterised by thunderstorms, strong…
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Maha Songkran World Water Festival splashes on Bangkok
The Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2025 kicked off with a vibrant atmosphere at Sanam Luang, Bangkok, drawing large crowds to enjoy the festivities. Organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the event will run until Tuesday, April 15, 3pm to 11.30pm daily. The festival features various highlight zones, including the Giant Maha Songkran zone, where visitors can capture…
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Canadian’s US$3,000 necklace stolen by transgenders in Pattaya
A Canadian tourist has reported a shocking theft on Pattaya Beach Road, alleging that a group of transgenders stole his gold necklace in the early hours of yesterday, April 11. At 1.06am, 57 year old Canadian national Nirbjit filed a complaint with Pattaya Police, recounting a bizarre and unsettling encounter. According to Nirbjit, as he was walking past a McDonald’s…
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Bangkok building collapse death toll rises to 32
The ongoing rescue operation at the collapsed State Audit Office building in Bangkok revealed five additional fatalities, raising the death toll to 32. Suriyachai Raviwan, director of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, reported that emergency services have been working tirelessly to locate the missing. Information indicated that the area with flashing light signals was under a beam tilted…
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Thailand to negotiate US trade policies, avoid pork imports
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Pichet Choonhavan, outlined five strategies to address the issue of the so-called Trump tariffs, emphasising that Thailand will not import pork due to concerns about the impact on domestic producers. Following a meeting on Thailand’s approach to US trade policies, Pichet revealed that while no specific date has been set for negotiations with the…
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Truck crash causes major disruption on Phuket road
Motorists are being warned to steer clear of Patak Road over Kata Hill, following a dramatic accident involving a 10-wheel truck. The truck skidded on the wet, rain-slicked road and crashed into three power poles, bringing down live cables and causing major disruptions. The incident, which occurred at approximately 12.15pm yesterday, April 11, has led to a temporary road closure…
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Engineering student stabbed to death in central Thailand
A 26 year old engineering student from Rajamangala University was fatally stabbed by a group of approximately 10 people. The incident occurred while he was on his way home after his internship. Although his personal belongings remained intact, his student jacket was missing. The incident involved Thanat, a fourth-year engineering student, who was attacked with a sharp object, sustaining injuries…
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Tourist police raid Pattaya salon, arrest foreigners without permits
A beauty salon in central Pattaya was the scene of a shocking bust yesterday, April 11, when Tourist Police apprehended a group of foreigners working illegally without the proper permits. The raid, conducted by an investigation team from the Tourist Police Bureau, revealed several individuals, believed to be Chinese nationals, providing beauty services to customers without the necessary work authorisations.…
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Tourist boat fire injures two near Koh Kut, southeast Thailand
A tourist boat carrying a family of four caught fire near Koh Kut in Trat province, injuring at least two people yesterday, April 11. Provincial officials were notified to assist at approximately 11.40am, as the Aor Subpiti was engulfed in flames, with initial reports mentioning one injured person on board. The boat held a family of four tourists and a…
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Thaksin hospitalisation ethics probe to conclude by May
An ethics investigation into the doctors involved in the hospitalisation of Thaksin Shinawatra at Police General Hospital is progressing on schedule, according to the Medical Council of Thailand. Professor Doctor Prasit Watanapa, Vice President of the Medical Council, addressed the media yesterday, April 11, clarifying that there has been no delay in the proceedings. He noted that a subcommittee is…
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Water spouts create spectacle in Chalong Bay, not a tornado
Water spouts moving through Chalong Bay’s anchorage sparked online discussions yesterday, April 11, with many referring to the event as a “tornado.” However, Brent McInnes from the Phuket Cruising Yacht Club, who witnessed the event, clarified that this was not the case. Several videos of the water spouts were shared online by onlookers, including staff at the Phuket Tourist Assistance…
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Lost in the woods: Italian tourists rescued on Koh Pha Ngan
Police on Koh Pha Ngan in Surat Thani province successfully located two Italian tourists lost in the forest for over three hours yesterday, April 11. The incident was reported by Police Lieutenant Vinij Bunchit after coordination with the Italian embassy, leading to the activation of local search and rescue teams. The two tourists, Maria Florencia Abaca and Linda Rattero, found…
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Thailand issues summer storm alert amid severe weather
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued its sixth warning about an impending summer storm affecting 45 provinces today, April 12, with severe weather expected in the North and Northeast regions. The public should be cautious of strong winds, hail, and potential lightning strikes from April 12 to 14. The summer storm warning highlights that the upper areas of Thailand…
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Thai tourists flock to China for Songkran deals, beating Japan
The Thai Travel Agents Association (ATTA) revealed that China has surged to the top of the list for Thai travellers heading abroad during this year’s Songkran holiday, from April 12 to 16. According to TTAA advisor Thanapol Chewarattanaporn, the shift is being driven by airlines slashing airfares to China amid a slump in incoming Chinese tourists. “China has become the…
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Pattaya mayor vows transparency in stadium project
During a recent site inspection, Pattaya Mayor Poramet Ngampichet assured residents that the city is working closely with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to ensure transparency and accountability in government-led projects. At the centre of this renewed focus is the long-delayed Eastern Sports Stadium, which has faced criticism for missed deadlines and management hiccups. Mayor Poramet explained that delays in…
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Chinese steel factory raided over Bangkok building collapse
The factory at the centre of Thailand’s latest construction scandal was raided today as investigators ramped up scrutiny into the supplier linked to the catastrophic collapse of the State Audit Office (SAO) building in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district. The Department of Industrial Works’ “Sud Soi” team, under the Industry Ministry, stormed the Xin Ke Yuan (SKY) Steel Ltd facility in Rayong’s…
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Thai man sits on moving car bonnet after argument with wife
A furious Thai man sparked chaos on the roads near Bangkok after a blazing row with his Burmese wife — by leaping onto the bonnet of her moving car in a desperate bid to stop her leaving their home in Nonthaburi. The domestic bust-up reportedly erupted over her son from a previous marriage, leaving stunned drivers watching the drama unfold…
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Bangkok unites in mass prayer for quake victims
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt led a solemn Buddhist chanting ceremony today in memory of the victims of the devastating building collapse in Chatuchak district, which was triggered by the powerful 8.2-magnitude earthquake near Mandalay, Myanmar, on March 28. The collapse of the under-construction SAO building on Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road has left the city shaken. As of today, April 11,…
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American in Thailand admits threatening US senator
A 53 year old American living in Thailand is facing up to 10 years in prison after reportedly admitting to threatening to murder a US senator and his staff, all because of too many political emails. Eric Charles Welton, an American expat residing in Thailand, allegedly pleaded guilty on Wednesday, April 9, to making death threats against US Senator Thom…
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Trash for cash: Bangkok offers bin discount for food waste sorting
Throwing out your leftovers could now save you money! Bangkok’s new sort and save scheme is giving households a reason to separate their scraps, with discounts on the horizon and rubbish fees on the rise. Bangkok residents in six districts are being offered a financial incentive to sort their waste as part of a new food scrap recycling initiative launching…
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Thai girl left blind and disabled after overdose at Bangkok hospital
A nine year old Thai girl visited a hospital in Bangkok for treatment of diarrhoea but disaster struck when the medical team allegedly administered an overdose of medication, resulting in blindness and cerebral palsy (CP). Renowned lawyer Ananchai Chaiyadej shared details of the case on his Facebook account on April 9. He began his post by stating, “#WrongMedicineChangeLife. A doctor…
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Late-night transgender fight shocks tourists on Pattaya Beach (video)
A dramatic altercation between two transgender women broke out on Pattaya Beach in the early hours of yesterday morning drawing the attention of stunned tourists and quickly going viral online. At 2.36am yesterday, April 10, Pattaya Police were alerted to the scene of the fight. Officers rushed to the popular beachfront location but, by the time they arrived, the pair…
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Foreign travellers told to log on 3 days before Thailand arrival
Foreign travellers planning a trip to Thailand are being told to get online and fill in Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) three days before they arrive or risk being turned away at the border, as the country ditches its old-school paper arrival cards in favour of a slick new digital system. From May 1, all international visitors, whether arriving by air,…
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Wanted Russian arrested at Phuket Airport over unpaid wages
Immigration officers at Phuket International Airport swooped to arrest a 29 year old Russian national wanted on a Phuket Provincial Court warrant for allegedly failing to pay employee wages and defying directives issued by labour inspectors. The dramatic takedown took place at approximately 3.30pm on Wednesday, April 9, inside the airport’s international arrivals hall. The arrest was the result of…
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British fighter’s life cut short by drug cocktail in Pattaya, inquest
A British fighter’s dreams ended in heartbreak after he was found dead from a drug overdose in a Pattaya hotel room, an inquest has heard. Joshua Goldstone, from Etchingham, East Sussex, was discovered lifeless in Room 2412 of the Vogue Hotel in Pattaya on October 30. The 21 year old, who had been living and training in Thailand, was reportedly…
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Shipyard foreman dies after drinking herbal liquor in Si Racha
A 50 year old foreman at a well-known ship repair yard in Si Racha, Chon Buri, was found dead at his home yesterday after reportedly consuming herbal liquor. The body was found by his wife, prompting an immediate police investigation into the unexplained death. Police Lieutenant Colonel Natthaphon Boonrachakun of Laem Chabang Police Station was alerted to the incident and,…
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Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang fly high in global airport rankings
Thailand’s major airports are flying high on the global stage, with Suvarnabhumi International Airport breaking into the top 40 of the world’s best airports for 2025 and Don Mueang International Airport landing in the top 10 for low-cost travel hubs. Yesterday, April 10, Airports of Thailand (AOT) Chief Executive Officer Keerati Kitimanawat announced the impressive leap in global rankings, attributing…
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Booze cruise: Patong police nab 6 foreigners in drink-drive blitz
Patong police launched their Songkran road safety crackdown in dramatic style last night, collaring six foreign revellers for drink-driving in the early hours, some more than three times over the legal limit. Officers set up a checkpoint near Loma Circle on Thaweewong Road between 12.30am and 2.30am today, April 11, as part of the nationwide Seven Days road safety campaign,…
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Lottery seekers flock to Ang Thong for tarantula fortune
Excitement is sweeping through Ang Thong province after a mystical encounter with a tarantula at Wat Bot Ratchasattha temple. Locals and tourists flocked to the temple in the Bang Rakam subdistrict, Pho Thong district, hoping to cash in on the unlikely fortune teller. As Songkran celebrations kicked off, visitors gathered at the temple yesterday, April 10, to witness a local…
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Bruises over baht: Pattaya van driver bloodied in beer-fuelled brawl
A late-night squabble over a 300-baht commission exploded into a full-blown street scrap in Pattaya, leaving one van driver bloodied and bystanders bolting for cover as chaos erupted in the early hours. The drama unfolded just after midnight on April 10, when Pattaya police received a call about a violent altercation on Second Road. Officers raced to the scene alongside…
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