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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Phuket reports zero road deaths during Songkran so far
Phuket is defying the odds this Songkran, with zero road deaths reported during Thailand’s notorious Seven Days of Danger, despite dozens of accidents involving both locals and foreign tourists. As the annual road and marine safety campaign nears its end, officials gathered today, April 17, at Phuket Provincial Hall to review the province’s performance. The meeting, chaired by Phuket Vice…
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Lawmakers grill auditor over quake-hit billion-baht building collapse
What started as a natural disaster may have shaken loose something even bigger — the truth behind a billion-baht state building in Bangkok that crumbled under pressure. Thailand’s House Anti-Corruption Committee has summoned Auditor-General Monthien Charoenpol to appear before Parliament on April 30, following the dramatic collapse of the State Audit Office (SAO) building during a powerful earthquake in Myanmar…
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Nestlé fights Thai court ban on Nescafé in bitter legal row
Thailand’s coffee kingpin is caught in a legal grind, and your morning cup of Nescafé could be at risk. Nestlé, the global food and beverage giant behind the iconic brand, is fighting back after a Thai court slapped a temporary ban on the production, sale, and importation of Nescafé products in the country. The high-stakes case pits Nestlé against its…
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Thai influencer apologises after wearing Islamic attire to promote pork
A Thai social media influencer issued an apology after sparking criticism for wearing Islamic attire while promoting grilled pork at his restaurant in the northern province of Phetchabun. The 48 year old influencer, Charoensak “Tony” Phosichai, better known online as Uncle Tony, posted a TikTok video promoting his restaurant, ครัวลุงโทนี่ (Krua Lung Tony which translates to Uncle Tony’s Kitchen). In the…
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Sisters in Thailand win 12 million baht lottery prize
Two sisters from Chaloem Phra Kiat district in Nakhon Ratchasima province have won the first prize in the Thai lottery, each securing a lottery ticket worth 6 million baht, amounting to a total of 12 million baht. They plan to use the windfall to pay off debts and support their children while maintaining their current lifestyle. On April 16, the winning…
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Japan tops the table, but Thailand’s food scene is heating up fast
Thailand is turning up the heat on the global culinary map, climbing the ranks in food tourism, but it still has a bit of catching up to do with Japan. According to the Thailand Culinary Image Assessment and Michelin Guide Thailand 2024 survey by Kenetixs Consulting, Thailand has firmly positioned itself as a global gastronomy hotspot, securing second place just behind Japan…
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Van driver killed in tragic collision with trailer truck in Ayutthaya
In Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, a van driver was tragically killed when a trailer truck collided with his vehicle as he checked an unsecured rear door. The impact was fatal and the trailer driver fled the scene. Police are actively pursuing the suspect. Today, April 17, Police Lieutenant Chaiwat Tipyasot from Bang Pahan District Police Station in Phra Nakhon Si…
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Transgender woman alleges unfair dismissal in Samut Prakan
A 27 year old transwoman alleged unfair dismissal from her job due to her gender identity. She claims that her supervisor’s bias against transgender persons led to her having to resign under duress. The incident occurred at a company in Khlong Dan subdistrict, Bang Bo district, Samut Prakan province, where she worked as a heavy lifting equipment operator. Chatchai explained…
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Myanmar teens busted in Prachuap for no ID during Songkran
A group of Myanmar teens hoping to enjoy Thailand’s wild Songkran festivities got more than they bargained for — ending their water fight with a police escort instead of a party. Yesterday, April 16, police in Prachuap Khiri Khan detained 10 Myanmar nationals, all teenagers and young adults, for entering the city to join the Songkran celebrations without any identification…
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74 year old nun begs for help after rape attempts by teenage novice
Police allegedly ignored a complaint from a 74 year old nun at a temple in the Isaan province of Udon Ratchathani, who was repeatedly subjected to rape attempts by a 19 year old novice. The nun, Thawin, turned to news agencies for help after officers at Mueang Ubon Ratchathani Police Station failed to take action regarding her sexual assault complaint.…
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Blue by Alain Ducasse: Bangkok’s new casual dining spot at ICONSIAM
Blue by Alain Ducasse stirs the pot with a fresh twist on fine dining, unveiling a laid-back, all-day eatery at ICONSIAM that’s set to serve up style with every bite. This new chapter in Bangkok’s foodie scene is anything but “Blue” plate special—it’s casual, chic, and unmistakably Ducasse. Showcasing an exciting new menu of international favourites across 120 square metres…
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Cha-am–Hua Hin highway upgrade to boost travel and tourism
Thailand is paving the way for a smoother ride, literally, as the government pushes forward with a massive upgrade of Highway 37, better known as the Cha-am Bypass, in a project set to ease traffic woes, enhance road safety, and drive tourism and economic growth along the Gulf coast. Spanning 50 kilometres between Cha-am in Phetchaburi and Pranburi in Prachuap…
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Songkran road death toll rises to 200 on sixth day
Thailand’s Songkran celebrations have once again been marred by tragedy, with the road death toll rising to 200, with over 1,300 injured in just six days of road mayhem. The Road Safety Centre reported that from April 11 to 16, the bulk of the annual Seven Dangerous Days campaign, a staggering 1,377 road accidents occurred across the country. The leading culprits? Speeding…
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Angry Swedish man refuses help after crashing pickup in Buriram
A Swedish man refused assistance from a rescue team and expressed anger after crashing his pickup into a streetlight in the Isaan province of Buriram on Tuesday, April 15. The man’s Thai wife told rescue workers not to take her husband’s anger personally, stating he’d had brain surgery. The Hook 31 Rescue Foundation rushed to the accident scene on the Rahan…
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Teen injured in Narathiwat after bomb explodes in hand
An incident involving a young man and a bomb in Narathiwat province has sparked nationwide discussions online. The 18 year old was preparing to throw a ping pong bomb at an adversary during a confrontation in Su-ngai Kolok district on April 15 at 11pm when it exploded, severely injuring his hand. The explosion left his wrist severely damaged, with him…
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AirAsia unveils Phuket–Medan route to spark tourism boom
Thai AirAsia is turning up the heat on regional travel with the launch of a new direct route connecting Phuket to Medan, Indonesia, giving travellers even more reason to escape the ordinary and explore Southeast Asia’s hidden gems. Starting June 27, AirAsia’s new route will operate four times a week, every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, offering a seamless connection…
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Thai-Scottish park ranger resigns after row with racist foreigner
A renowned half-Thai, half-Scottish park ranger announced his resignation following a conflict with an allegedly racist foreigner in the sea off Krabi in southern Thailand. The Thai-Scottish park ranger, 29 year old Siranudh “Sai” Scott, better known on social media as Sai Merman, made headlines in February after an argument with an Italian tourist. The Italian man reportedly violated a national…
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Karaoke worker bins newborn after bathroom birth in Chon Buri
A karaoke bar worker, allegedly unaware of her pregnancy, reportedly gave birth in a bathroom, placing the dead newborn in a plastic bag before discarding it in a rubbish bin. The incident unfolded at 7pm yesterday, April 16, in Chon Buri province, when a scrap collector discovered the baby’s body in a bin in Mueang subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chon…
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Pattaya cracks down on dangerous Songkran water guns
What’s meant to be all fun and games during Songkran has taken a dangerous turn, and Pattaya officials are sounding the alarm. As water fights continue to soak the city, officials have issued a stern warning over the use of high-pressure water guns, which have flooded the streets of Soi 6, Soi Buakhao, and Jomtien. Unlike your typical water blasters,…
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Teen girl gang-raped during Songkran celebration in Kanchanaburi
A 14 year old girl was allegedly deceived by three teenagers to join in extended Songkran festivities, only to be gang-raped and later abandoned at a petrol station. Yesterday, April 16, Athisan Intra, the governor of Kanchanaburi province, assigned Chonthicha Wongutsa, the district chief of Laokhwan, along with Janchira Phattanasiri from the Kanchanaburi Provincial Social Development and Human Security Office…
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Chumphon shop owner attacked, gold necklace stolen
A man was captured on CCTV attacking a 54 year old shop owner in Chumphon province with a beer bottle before fleeing with her gold necklace and a gold-encased amulet. The victim’s brother disclosed that the suspect is a regular customer. Yesterday, April 16, CCTV footage from a shop located along a concrete road in Mueang Chumphon district, Chumphon, showed…
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Thailand rolls out AI police cyborg in Nakhon Pathom
Thailand has unveiled its very own Robocop — and it made its debut at the country’s wildest water fight. The Royal Thai Police (RTP) proudly revealed photos of AI Police Cyborg 1.0, the nation’s first artificial intelligence-powered police robot, as it patrolled the Songkran festivities on Tonson Road in Nakhon Pathom province. Locals and tourists alike were stunned to see…
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Nakhon Phanom stabbing mars Songkran celebrations
In Nakhon Phanom, a 20 year old man was assaulted and stabbed during Songkran festivities on Monday. The incident occurred near Wat Pho Si in Mueang district, where police are now reviewing CCTV footage to identify the attackers. Police Lieutenant Pichanon Ploemsuk and his team, along with emergency services, responded to the scene at the intersection of Si Chiang Mai…
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BMW driver intentionally crashes and forces pickup into barrier
An alleged local political candidate in the central province of Pathum Thani crashed his BMW into a pickup following a road dispute, leaving the pickup driver seriously injured. The victim reportedly apologised to the BMW driver earlier, but the latter ignored the apology. The Facebook page Here on Board (เฮียขับรถ) shared dashcam footage submitted by a follower on April 16,…
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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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Teen shot dead during Songkran in Phichit province
A 16 year old vocational student was shot and killed after stopping his motorcycle to urinate on Khao Tang Road in Phichit province. The incident occurred around 11.30pm, yesterday, April 16, during the final day of Songkran celebrations, leaving his friends in shock. Police Lieutenant Colonel Natthaporn Netyim, Deputy Inspector at Mueang Phichit Police Station, received reports of a seriously…
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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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