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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Teen monk killed in drive-by attack on police escort in Songkhla
In a shocking attack, gunmen opened fire on a police vehicle escorting monks during their morning alms round in Songkhla province. The incident, which took place today, April 22, in the Saba Yoi district, resulted in the death of a 16 year old novice monk and left another injured. Police forces are now on a manhunt for the assailants, but…
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Solar flare-up! US tariffs scorch Thai imports in fiery trade row
A blistering tariff bombshell from Washington has lit a fire under Southeast Asia’s solar imports, with Thailand among the hardest hit, as the United States slaps sky-high duties of up to 3,521% on imports, claiming unfair competition from Asian suppliers. The US has launched a full-scale trade crackdown on solar imports from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia, slapping colossal new…
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Making waves: Illegal jet ski operators sunk in Phuket crackdown
Five jet ski operators have been arrested in a significant operation to clamp down on illegal rentals in Phuket. Officers from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and the Marine Police Division arrested the suspects, who were caught operating unregistered jet skis at Kamala Beach and a pier in Koh Kaew. The arrests highlighted ongoing concerns over unregulated tourist services in…
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Australian caught with loaded gun on Patong’s Bangla Road
An Australian man has been arrested in Patong after being caught with an illegal, loaded firearm in the early hours of yesterday morning. Lachlan James McGahey, 31, was detained by police during a routine patrol on Bangla Road at around 3.40am, yesterday, April 21. Officers discovered that McGahey was carrying a Thai-made .38-calibre handgun, which was loaded with eight rounds…
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17 year old Thai girl fatally shot after glance exchange at restaurant
Police are searching for a gunman who fatally shot a 17 year old girl on Sunday, 20 April, while she was riding a motorcycle. The incident allegedly stemmed from an exchange of glances at a barbecue restaurant in the central province of Pathum Thani. Medical staff at Rangsit Hospital alerted officers from Khu Khot Police Station after the victim, known…
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Rolling the dice: Pheu Thai MPs bet on casino and amnesty bills
Pheu Thai lawmakers have been directed to advocate for the casino-entertainment complex and political amnesty bills within their constituencies during the Parliamentary recess. This effort aims to facilitate the smooth passage of these bills. Pheu Thai spokesperson and Member of Parliament Danuporn Punnakanta stated that Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra advised party MPs to assess public opinion on several issues, including…
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Monk-y business! Thugs bash holy man over debt in Nonthaburi
A violent debt collection incident occurred involving a monk residing at a temple in Mueang district, Nonthaburi. Two men attacked the monk, Phra Phromphong, in his living quarters yesterday, April 21, causing severe injuries, before leaving him by the roadside in the Pak Kret area. A 26 year old woman, Jutatip, and Boontipat Charoenliha, a 48 year old representative of…
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Thai royals to enhance ties with Bhutan in April state visit
King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua and Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana will embark on a state visit to Bhutan from April 25 to 28, as announced by the Royal Household Bureau. The journey follows an invitation from King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan and aims to enhance the friendship and cooperation between Thailand and Bhutan, which are rooted in shared cultural…
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Thailand introduces new cybercrime law to tackle data misuse
A new cybercrime law aims to tackle cybercrime at its roots by preventing the misuse of personal data, as stated by the Personal Data Protection Committee (PDPC). PDPC Secretary General, Police Colonel Surapong Plengkham, announced yesterday, April 21, that the Royal Decree on Measures for the Prevention and Suppression of Cybercrime 2025 has been officially published in the Royal Gazette.…
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Bang Khen police arrest brothers for motorcycle theft
Bang Khen police successfully apprehended two brothers who had been involved in motorcycle theft and dismantling parts for sale. The operation yesterday, April 21, was led by Police Colonel Anan Warasart, with assistance from Deputy Investigation Chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Kosolpiya Sima, Investigation Chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Pornchai Wongprasertkan, and Investigation Inspector Police Captain Yuranan Phetmanee. The suspects, 37 year…
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Thailand video news | Thailand faces hot weather and storms as 28 provinces warned, South Korea finds companies labelled products ‘Made in Korea’ to dodge Trump-Era US tariffs
In today’s Thailand video news, Jay brings viewers the latest headlines from across Thailand and Southeast Asia. From scorching temperatures and summer storms affecting 28 provinces, to a growing online debate over the use of the word “farang,” the region is facing intense social and environmental shifts. Meanwhile, controversy surrounds Thai police after a fatal shooting at a checkpoint, an…
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Thailand’s sarus cranes arrive in Vietnam for conservation
In a monumental step for wildlife conservation, six sarus cranes have arrived in Vietnam as part of an ambitious project to save the endangered species. The cranes, flown in from Thailand, were welcomed at Tram Chim National Park in Dong Thap province, Vietnam, on Sunday, April 20, marking the beginning of a significant reintroduction programme aimed at restoring the species…
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Mum’s pep talk stops runaway gunman after he shot his wife
An armed and dangerous 27 year old man who shot his wife was caught within hours, thanks to rapid coordination between Pattaya and Kanchanaburi police and a well-timed pep talk from his mum. The chaos began around 8.40.m, yesterday, April 21, in Pattaya’s Nongprue area, where police rushed to a rented room after reports of gunfire. There, they found that…
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Pregnant woman fatally attacks mistress at Bangkok love hotel
An eight-month pregnant woman yesterday fatally attacked her husband’s mistress at a love hotel in the Min Buri district of Bangkok. The man later confessed that he was scared of his wife and did not dare to intervene during the assault. Officers from Min Buri Police Station launched an investigation at the resort and interviewed staff who witnessed the incident. The…
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Single mother and children flee harassment by tenant in Nonthaburi
A single mother and her three children faced threats, harassment, and assault from a tenant in their Nonthaburi home, prompting them to flee and relocate for their safety. The incident, shared on social media, occurred on April 18 at 10.24pm near the dormitory in Soi Liang Mueang Nonthaburi 10, Bang Kraso, Mueang Nonthaburi district. The victim, 34 year old Khwanchanok,…
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Red Bull heir at centre of corruption case as verdict nears
A major corruption case involving Red Bull heir Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya reaches its climax today, April 22. The court will deliver a verdict on allegations of evidence tampering in the 2012 hit-and-run that killed a police officer. The case, number 131/2024, sees former Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, Police General Somyot Pumpanmuang, and Net Naksuk, the former Deputy Public…
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Fire destroys wooden house in Phayao, damage over 500,000 baht
In the early hours of this morning a fire engulfed a wooden house located in the Rong Jua area near Wat Sawang Arom in Mueang district, Phayao province, causing extensive damage exceeding 500,000 baht. It took over two hours for firefighters to bring the blaze under control. Police Lieutenant Chatchasiri Jikamwan, deputy inspector at Dok Kham Tai Police Station, received…
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Nude photos at Hat Yai Buddha statue spark outrage
A shocking nude photo scandal has emerged in Hat Yai, with a group of men posting explicit outdoor shots at sacred sites. The photos, which were shared on the popular social media platform X, have caused outrage among locals. The group, known as OutdoorHDY, staged their daring photoshoots in public spaces across Hat Yai Municipality, Songkhla province. One of the…
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Thailand braces for extreme heat and thunderstorms
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) predicts exceptionally hot weather throughout Thailand, with thunderstorms anticipated in 34 provinces today, April 22. Northern regions may see temperatures reaching up to 40°C. Residents across the country are advised to take precautions against the intense heat and potential storms. The TMD highlights that low pressure due to heat is affecting the upper part of…
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Russian teacher urges Thais to drop ‘Farang’ if ‘Ni Hao’ is deemed racist
A Russian language teacher urged Thai people to stop using the word “farang” to refer to foreigners if they view the term “Ni Hao” as racist. The controversy surrounding the phrase “Ni Hao” erupted on Thai social media after a former Thai-Scottish park ranger, Siranudh “Sai” Scott, shared a video about the issue last week. In the video, Sai explained that…
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Summer storm wreaks havoc in Ubon Ratchathani districts
A summer storm battered Ubon Ratchathani yesterday, bringing heavy rain, strong winds, and hail to five districts, with Warin Chamrap and Mueang Ubon Ratchathani suffering significant damage. Over 20 homes and riverside food rafts were damaged. Yesterday, April 20, around 4.05pm, the storm struck Warin Chamrap and Mueang Ubon Ratchathani, causing hailstones the size of small coins to fall during…
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Executives sought in Thailand building collapse probe
Three executives from China Railway No.10 (Thailand) Co. are being sought by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) in connection with the collapse of the State Audit Office building in Bangkok during an earthquake on Friday, March 28, which resulted in the deaths of numerous workers. The DSI revealed the search following the arrest of Zhang Chuanling, a Chinese executive…
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Police hunt suspect in fatal Phuket stabbing
Police are in pursuit of a suspect involved in a stabbing in Phuket, where a 59 year old man was fatally wounded. The incident occurred yesterday, April 20 at 1.30pm in Soi Hon Sai Thong, Mueang Phuket district, Phuket province. The victim had been stabbed under the right rib cage and was discovered seriously injured in the middle of a…
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Thai military intercepts drug traffickers on Thai-Myanmar border
In Chiang Mai, Thai military forces engaged in two operations against drug traffickers along the Thai-Myanmar border, resulting in the deaths of two suspects and the seizure of narcotics. The operations took place yesterday, April 20, as part of a government and army directive aimed at intensifying anti-drug efforts in the region. The military received intelligence about an international drug…
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Arrest warrant issued against Swiss man who kicked Thai doctor
Phuket Kwaeng Court issued an arrest warrant for a Swiss man who allegedly kicked a female Thai doctor in the back outside his luxury villa in Phuket after he failed to appear in court as scheduled. The 27 year old Thai doctor, Tarndao Chandam, filed a lawsuit against 46 year old Swiss national Urs Fehr in February last year. She…
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NARIT invites public to witness Venus at its brightest
NARIT is inviting the public to observe Venus, the brightest celestial body visible to the naked eye in the morning sky in the east. The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT), under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation, encourages stargazing enthusiasts to witness the phenomenon from early morning until sunrise on Thursday, April 24. Supharerk Krihanon,…
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Paetongtarn urges stronger regional ties to tackle shared troubles
Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra called for urgent cross-border cooperation to tackle the world’s shared challenges, from climate change to geopolitical tensions, during the 81st session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). Speaking in the capital today, April 21, the Bangkok-born PM addressed ministers from across Asia and the Pacific, stressing that regional unity…
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Phuket sting operation: man arrested with meth in rubber plantation
A coordinated sting operation led by the Thalang District Administrative Special Operations Unit resulted in the arrest of a man in Thalang, Phuket. Thousands of methamphetamine pills and a significant amount of crystal meth were discovered hidden in a rubber plantation. The arrest was announced during a press conference on April 18. Among those present were Phuket Vice Governor Adul…
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Phuket teen injured after hand stuck in meat grinder
A 15 year old boy in Phuket suffered severe injuries to his right hand after an accident where he got his hand stuck in a meat grinder at a butcher’s shop in Ratsada on Friday afternoon, April 18. Emergency personnel responded swiftly to the scene. Rescue workers from the Kusoldharm Phuket Foundation, along with an advanced EMS unit from Vachira…
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Pope Francis dies at 88 after divine decade at the top
Pope Francis, the first Latin American and Jesuit pontiff in history, has passed away at the age of 88, the Vatican has confirmed. The beloved leader died at 7.35am, today, April 21, sending shockwaves through the Catholic world and triggering the official process to choose his successor. “Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of…
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