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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Heated sepak takraw match kicks off late-night brawl
A late-night altercation between neighbours in Nong Prue, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province, involved a dispute over a sepak takraw game. Officers from Nong Prue Police Station reported the incident occurred at 11.06pm, yesterday, March 19. Officers, along with local rescue services, arrived at the scene to find two injured people resulting from a violent confrontation involving knives and…
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PM Paetongtarn defends family time amidst farmers’ protest
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has responded to criticism following her controversial appearance with her children during a farmers’ protest outside Government House. The incident, which took place on Tuesday, March 18, has sparked outrage as farmers from 19 provinces unloaded truckloads of blackchin tilapia near the Government House fence. The farmers were protesting the government’s slow response to eradicating the…
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Israeli defecates in Pattaya taxi, tries to resolve it with 300 baht
An Israeli man in Thailand once again brought shame on his nation by defecating in a taxi and refusing to compensate the Thai driver involved in Pattaya. Police intervened in the matter, which was eventually resolved with 1,500 baht in compensation. The Thai taxi driver, 32 year old Norraphat, called officers from Mueang Pattaya Police Station yesterday, March 19, to…
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Digital boom: Thailand’s tech economy set for electrifying growth
Thailand’s digital economy is poised to skyrocket this year, with GDP expected to rise by a staggering 7.3% to hit 4.85 trillion baht, according to the Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry. This digital surge far exceeds the national GDP growth rate, sitting at 2.8%, totalling 19.2 trillion baht. Digital investment is also on a meteoric rise, predicted to grow…
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Alcohol act revamp: Thailand raises the bar on booze ads
The Thai Cabinet agreed to revise the Alcohol Beverage Control Act, allowing businesses to advertise their alcohol products and enabling the public to share pictures and videos of alcoholic beverages without legal punishment. The draft of the revised Alcohol Beverage Control Act was discussed during the Cabinet meeting yesterday, March 19. At the end of the meeting, 365 Parliament members…
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Credit crunch: Thai economy faces stormy skies
The Bank of Thailand (BoT) is sounding the alarm over slipping asset quality among wealthier borrowers, echoing a worrying trend seen in middle- and low-income groups as the Thai economy slows to a crawl. Minutes from the recent Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting reveal mounting concerns about loan quality deteriorating across the board. This could lead banks to become even…
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Power out: Phuket prepares for outage today
The Phuket branch of the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) has issued a notice about a scheduled power outage today, March 20, due to electrical system improvements. The power cut will take place between 9am and 4.30pm, impacting several key areas across the island. Residents and businesses near the intersection in front of D Condo Kuku, along one side of Ratsadanusorn…
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Indian national found dead in Bangkok townhouse
A housekeeper discovered the unusual death of a 38 year old Indian national, who had rented a townhouse in Thon Buri district, Bangkok, for about two months. His relatives lost contact with him, prompting the house owner to request an inspection. At 2pm yesterday, March 19, Police Lieutenant Satha Duang-Iad, Deputy Inspector at Samre Police Station, responded to a report…
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Bangkok chills as the north blows in, while the south stays soaked
Bangkok is experiencing strong winds and a drop in temperature, which mirrors the cooler conditions in the north and northeast. Meanwhile, heavy rain persists in parts of the south. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasts that a high-pressure system or cool air mass is affecting upper Thailand, leading to cooler temperatures and strong winds, with some thunderstorms expected in the…
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Thai taxi driver hits rock bottom, then throws rocks at Bangkok cab
Police yesterday arrested a Thai taxi driver for throwing rocks at another taxi driver’s car in Samut Prakan province near Bangkok. The suspect claimed he committed the offence out of stress after his business went bankrupt. A 58 year old taxi driver named Pornsawat rushed to Mueang Samut Prakan Police Station in a state of fright on Tuesday, March 18,…
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Man arrested for using fake licence plate in Phang Nga
A man has been arrested by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and Highway Police after being caught with a fake licence plate in a bizarre case of forgery in Phang Nga. The suspect, identified as Nattawut, was taken into custody for the offence of forgery and use of forged official documents after a swift police operation. The case began in…
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Thai food takes Tokyo: Commerce Ministry serves up 2 billion baht export success
The Ministry of Commerce successfully facilitated Thai food exports exceeding 2 billion baht during the FOODEX Japan 2025 event in Tokyo. Sunanta Kangvalkulkij, Director General of the Department of International Trade Promotion, stated that the department collaborated with the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Office of Commercial Affairs in Tokyo to present 59 Thai companies at the event. Held…
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Cambodian monks disrobed in Pattaya for breaching Buddhist rules
Three Cambodian monks were stripped of their saffron robes in Pattaya after locals complained they had broken traditional Buddhist rules. The incident unfolded when the trio was spotted on the notorious Walking Street, a vibrant nightlife hub, late at night, begging for food – a clear violation of Buddhist practice. Buddhist monks are traditionally permitted to ask for food only…
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Thai police seize 4.4 million meth pills worth 90 million baht
Police from Provincial Police Region 1, in collaboration with military forces and the Office of the Narcotics Control Board, apprehended two men in possession of 4.4 million methamphetamine pills valued at 90 million baht. The raid took place in the Khlong Luang district of Pathum Thani province yesterday, March 18, at 2pm. Police Lieutenant General Surapol Prembutr, Commissioner of Provincial…
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PM Paetongtarn asks Thais to don elephant pants for Songkran
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is encouraging all Thais to wear elephant pants from their respective provinces during the upcoming Songkran water festival to promote Thai culture and local identity. The prime minister made the call before chairing the first meeting of the National Soft Power Strategies Committee at Government House. Wearing a pair of blue elephant pants from Kanchanaburi, which featured…
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Mountain B pub owner sentenced to 5 years for deadly fire (video)
The owner of the renowned Mountain B nightclub, faces five years’ imprisonment following the fire in 2022 which claimed 26 lives and injured multiple partygoers and workers. The Mountain B fire was one of the most widely reported incidents of 2022, garnering significant public attention. The incident took place at around 12.45am on August 5 of that year. The blaze…
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Cheers: Thailand national parks uncork plan for booze zones
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) has raised a glass to permit tipples of alcohol in the great outdoors, but only in specific areas, and with a permit from the park’s head honcho. DNP chief Attapol Charoenchansa revealed that after several public hearings, the potential green light for booze has been unveiled as part of revamped…
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Pickup truck crash in Phatthalung kills woman, injures another
A pickup truck lost control and collided with a car before crashing into a fried chicken shop, resulting in the death of an 87 year old woman and injuries to an 80 year old. The driver apologised but, remarkably, refused to explain the incident. Police Lieutenant Kriangkrai Limwongsakul of Mueang Phatthalung Police Station yesterday, March 18, received a report from…
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Thailand Post boosts fruit delivery with EMS service
Thailand Post is offering an EMS express delivery service for summer fruits to support farmers and entrepreneurs across the country. Thailand Post Managing Director Danan Suphattrapan stated that the service aims to meet the diverse needs of consumers and businesses, particularly by assisting agricultural producers in distributing their products more efficiently to the market. The EMS express service boasts an…
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Up in smoke: Nakhon Pathom paper factory fire burns 10m baht
A fire engulfed a paper manufacturing factory today in Nakhon Pathom’s Don Tum district, causing an estimated 10 million baht (US$297,315) in damage. The fire, which started at 3.30am, today, March 19, took more than three hours to control due to the factory’s complex structure and limited access. Police Lieutenant Pratheuang Lueangararm, an investigator at Don Tum Police Station, received…
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Tomboy twins flee Pathum Thani after fatally stabbing Burmese man
Police are searching for Burmese tomboy twins who fatally stabbed a Burmese man outside an apartment in the central province of Pathum Thani on Sunday. The motive for the murder remains unknown. Officers from Lam Luk Ka Police Station investigated the fatal stabbing outside an apartment in the Lam Luk Ka district of Pathum Thani at around 7pm on Sunday,…
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Bad karma: Ex-builder nabbed for 16m baht amulets, gold theft
A former construction worker has been arrested for stealing 107 amulets and 35 baht worth of gold from a renowned amulet trader’s home, resulting in a loss of approximately 16 million baht. The arrest took place after a thorough investigation by the police in Lat Krabang. Today, March 19, at 9am, Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, the Metropolitan Police Chief,…
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Ex-security guard found dead in abandoned Nonthaburi building
The body of a former security guard was discovered in a dilapidated building amidst piles of rubbish. A friend, unable to reach him by phone, found the decomposed body after detecting a foul odour. Officers from the Rattanathibet Police Station in Nonthaburi, along with staff from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation, responded to a report at 10.30am yesterday, March 18, of a…
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Lop Buri’s got a monkey on its back: Officials’ primate crackdown
Lop Buri officials are targeting the capture of 500 to 800 monkeys around Phra Prang Sam Yot, following last year’s rounding up of over 2,400 monkeys. The initiative aims to manage the monkey population, which has caused disturbances in the area. Yesterday, March 18, officials from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), along with Lop Buri municipal…
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Bangkok man arrested for alleged harassment of teen in park
A 28 year old man from Ubon Ratchathani was arrested for allegedly harassing a 17 year old girl in a public park. The incident, which took place at 10pm on March 17, involved the suspect, Max also known as Nantawat, diverting the teenager off her intended route and attempting to assault her in a secluded area. The arrest was made…
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Tractor traction: Uthai Thani cops defend noisy farmer’s arrest
Police in Mueang Lansak district, Uthai Thani province, addressed social media criticism regarding the arrest of a man for modifying his tractor’s exhaust system, creating excessive noise. Residents lodged complaints, prompting police to issue a warning rather than make an arrest, acknowledging the challenges faced by local farmers. On March 16 at 11am, Lieutenant Naruepol Chanthates, a duty officer, alongside patrol…
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Nan’s worst: Thai man arrested for lewd video call blackmail
A 26 year old man from Nan province has been arrested for allegedly luring a young girl into a lewd video call and subsequently blackmailing her. The incident, which occurred in 2024, led to the alleged pervert’s arrest yesterday, March 18, by senior officers including Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom and Police Lieutenant General Napasilp Phulsawat. The suspect, Chanoknan, was…
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No vacation panic: Phuket hoteliers stay cool on visa cut fears
Phuket hoteliers are not overly concerned by the government’s potential move to shorten visa-free stays for tourists, despite concerns that it might impact the local tourism industry. According to Suksit Suvunditkul, Thai Hotels Association’s southern chapter chief, the average length of stay for European guests is only around two weeks, while those seeking longer stays typically opt for condominiums. “If…
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Smoke scare at sea: Pattaya tourist boat evacuates 35 passengers
A tourist boat carrying 35 Russian passengers yesterday narrowly avoided disaster after a massive cloud of black smoke engulfed the vessel near Sak Island. Fortunately, quick-thinking by the captain and emergency services ensured a safe outcome for everyone on board. The Marine Disaster Prevention Radio Center (Marine Rescue) in Pattaya received an urgent report at 10am yesterday, March 18, of…
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Bangkok bust: 191 unit raids luxury home, nabs drug dealer
The 191 police unit conducted a raid on a luxurious residence in the Wang Thonglang district of Bangkok, arresting a man involved in drug possession. The operation, which took place yesterday, March 18 at 10.30am, resulted in the seizure of substantial evidence, including 313 ketamine vape pods, 80 bags of ketamine, 53 ecstasy pills, and 38 disposable e-cigarettes. The operation…
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