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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Air quality worsens, affecting 56 Thai provinces with high PM2.5
Air quality in the Kingdom of Thailand has deteriorated over the past week, impacting 56 provinces with elevated PM2.5 levels, notably affecting the north and northeast. Projections for the week indicate worsening conditions. As of March 27, the Air Pollution Solution Communication Centre released its air quality report. The report highlights that the PM2.5 levels exceed national standards across several…
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‘You park, we arrest’: Pattaya cracks down for order
Pattaya is on a mission to clean up its act—literally and figuratively. With public spaces overrun by private businesses and traffic jams choking its streets, the city is launching bold new initiatives to restore order and improve quality of life for both residents and tourists. Leading the charge is Pattaya City Mayor Poramet Ngampichet, who has rolled out two key…
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Thieves steal Honda Wave 125i motorcycles in Saraburi heist
Three young thieves stole two Honda Wave 125i motorcycles from a dormitory in Nong Khae district, Saraburi province. The theft occurred within three minutes, leaving the owner with only the registration documents. One of the motorcycles was newly purchased just a month ago. Yesterday, March 26, Boonsanong Kamphumi, the 37 year old owner of a white-red Honda Wave 125i, licence…
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Thailand approves mega entertainment complex bill with casino cap
Thailand is going all-in on entertainment—but not just for gamblers. In a landmark move, the Cabinet has approved the draft Integrated Entertainment Business Act and sent it to the House of Representatives for further consideration. While the inclusion of casinos may raise eyebrows, the government insists they’ll be strictly regulated and capped at just 10% of any entertainment complex. “The…
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Suspect in 7.8 million baht gold robbery arrested
The suspect involved in a gold robbery valued at approximately 7.8 million baht has been apprehended. Police, after scrutinising CCTV footage for two days, discovered a suspicious pickup truck used by the suspect to survey the area before committing the crime. A press briefing is scheduled for today. March 27. The incident involved a male suspect who used a firearm…
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Behind bars and under fire: Thailand’s prisons slammed for slow reform
Thailand’s prison system is under fresh international scrutiny, with human rights organisations condemning the country’s slow progress in reforming its outdated and overcrowded facilities. According to last year’s annual report by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Union for Civil Liberty (UCL), Thailand’s efforts to adopt alternative measures to incarceration have been insufficient, and critical changes remain…
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Thai transwoman and boyfriend arrested for killing brother
Police in Pathum Thani arrested a Thai transwoman and her boyfriend after uncovering evidence that they had murdered her younger brother and managed to keep the crime hidden for three months. The victim, a 28 year old Thai man, Jakkarin Charoenpha, went missing in mid-December last year. Jakkarin left his rented room in the Isaan province of Nakhon Ratchasima on…
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Police slam brakes on teen biker gang in Chalong crackdown
A gang of 11 teenagers were arrested early yesterday morning for causing a disturbance and loitering in Chalong, with six motorcycles seized during the operation. The arrests were made yesterday, March 26, under the supervision of Police Colonel Rungrit Rattanaphakdi, Superintendent of Chalong Police Station, after officers were alerted to a gathering of youths causing a nuisance near Soi Chao…
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Stricter safety urged after multiple Rama II construction accidents
Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has called for stringent safety measures in response to recurrent accidents at a major construction project on Rama II Road, resulting in numerous fatalities and injuries. A meeting with Italian-Thai Development (ITD) is scheduled for tomorrow, March 28. The minister has directed the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare (DLPW), alongside the Institute for the Promotion…
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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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Thailand video news | Trump tariff threat hits Thai auto industry, Cambodia rebuilds cathedral destroyed by Khmer rouge
In today’s Thailand video news, Alex and Jay bring key stories from Thailand and Southeast Asia. Thailand’s auto industry faces uncertainty as Trump’s proposed tariff threatens exports. Meanwhile, dramatic incidents unfold in Pattaya, including a hostage standoff involving a Tunisian tourist and a drunk American causing chaos on the road. In Bangkok, plans for a Formula One Grand Prix by…
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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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Chon Buri crackdown on illegal foreign workers intensifies
Labour Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn confirmed the active crackdown on illegal foreign workers in Chon Buri, following reports of illegal employment. Yesterday, March 26, a special task force, Tri-Thai Protectors, was deployed to investigate Chinese businesses in Si Racha district after complaints of illegal foreign workers surfaced. The operation, led by Inspector General Pichet Thongphun and Police Lieutenant Colonel Amnat Chooklin,…
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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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Khon Kaen school janitor accused of assaulting girls
The Sai Mai Must Survive Facebook page urged officials to maintain oversight on a case involving a school janitor accused of sexually assaulting schoolgirls, including a kindergartener, in Khon Kaen. Parents of the victims reached out to the page, expressing concern that the case, which emerged approximately one month ago, might encounter delays or risk being shelved due to diminishing…
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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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Hot weather and thunderstorms expected in upper Thailand
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a weather warning for upper Thailand, predicting hot weather with potential thunderstorms and gusty winds in 28 provinces, including Bangkok. Residents should prepare for a summer storm from March 29 to April 1. As of today, March 27, the department’s 24-hour weather forecast indicates hot to very hot conditions across upper Thailand due…
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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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Man shoots thief in Phuket shrimp pond, police investigate
A shocking incident unfolded in Phuket late yesterday when a man opened fire on a suspected thief who had broken into his shrimp pond. The suspect, later identified as 28 year old Thana Phanthip, was shot in the ankle after allegedly attempting to steal from the property. Police Lieutenant Colonel Niwat Timket of Thalang Police Station received a call at 11.30pm,…
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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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