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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Malaysian man wanted for 6.9 million baht gold theft in Songkhla
Police are hunting for a Malaysian man who stole gold accessories worth over 6.9 million baht from a shop in the Hat Yai district of the southern province of Songkhla. The thief arrived at the gold shop on Montri 1 Road in Hat Yai district yesterday, April 8, wearing white trousers, a dark blue-grey polo shirt, and a hat. He…
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Ex-Israeli soldier busted for moonlighting as Koh Pha Ngan guide
An ex-Israeli special forces soldier swapped the battlefield for the beaches – but his jungle jaunts with kids have landed him in hot water, after being busted for playing tour guide on Koh Pha Ngan without a permit. Police Lieutenant General Saksira Phueak-am, Commander of the Tourist Police Bureau, yesterday, April 8, ordered a crackdown after receiving a tip-off that…
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Bangkok’s Wat Arun nominated for UNESCO World Heritage status
Thailand’s iconic Wat Arun temple is one step closer to global recognition, as the Cabinet has just approved its nomination for the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List. The move highlights the temple’s rich architectural history and its significance to the Rattanakosin Kingdom. In a pivotal Cabinet meeting yesterday, Culture Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol announced that the Phra Prang of Wat Arun…
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British man plays Russian roulette after gas, grass binge and loses
A British man is fighting for his life after a shocking game of Russian roulette went horribly wrong in a Pattaya condo, following a heavy session involving cannabis and nitrous oxide, better known as laughing gas. Police revealed the incident unfolded in the early hours of yesterday, April 8 at a high-rise flat on Soi Chaiyaphruek 1, Pattaya City, where…
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Foreigner killed in high-speed SUV crash in Rayong (video)
A foreigner drove his SUV at high speed and collided with a six-wheel truck and a motorcycle in the eastern province of Rayong. The foreign driver was killed, while the two Thai nationals involved sustained injuries. Dashcam footage from the six-wheel truck, which was shared on a news Facebook page, showed the black Ford Everest SUV travelling at high speed…
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Chinese steel firm delays Bangkok conference over safety
Chinese steel manufacturer Xin Ke Yuan Steel has decided to postpone its much-anticipated press conference on steel quality, opting to await further clarification from Thailand’s Industry Ministry. The move comes amid growing scrutiny over the company’s involvement in the collapse of the State Audit Office (SAO) building in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district and concerns over the safety of its products. The…
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Thailand and Bhutan sign landmark Free Trade Agreement
Thailand and Bhutan have signed a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA), strengthening economic ties and paving the way for closer trade cooperation. The historic deal was signed during Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay’s visit to Bangkok last week, coinciding with the 6th BIMSTEC Summit. Bilateral trade between the two countries has already surpassed 460 million baht, and Tobgay expressed confidence…
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Pattaya resort worker arrested for rape and burglary
A Pattaya resort employee has been arrested for burglary and the rape of a colleague, which has rocked the seaside resort community. At 10.30am today, April 8, Police Lieutenant Colonel Arun Saphanon, Deputy Director of Investigation at Pattaya City Police Station, along with a team of investigators, served two arrest warrants at the home of 40 year old Samart Nakthong.…
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Pattaya thrives as other Thai destinations struggle this Songkran
As Thailand gears up for the Songkran Festival, Pattaya is making waves while other major tourist destinations struggle to keep up. Amidst a national decline in hotel bookings and a challenging economic landscape, Pattaya has emerged as a beacon of success, defying the odds and seeing a surge in tourism activity. While the overall outlook for Thailand’s tourism industry has…
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2 Thai teenagers drown in Suphan Buri canal while washing hair
Two Thai teenagers drowned in a canal in the central province of Suphan Buri after entering the water with a friend to wash their hair following a dyeing session. A seven year old girl ran from the Jorrakay Samphan Canal back to her community yesterday, April 7, to seek help after her two older friends, 15 year old Kate and…
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Thai Airways expands fleet with 45 Boeing dreamliners
Thai Airways International (THAI) has confirmed that fleet expansion is a key part of its strategy, with the airline set to procure 45 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners as part of a major deal to increase its aircraft numbers and strengthen ties with the United States. In a bold move aimed at both modernising its fleet and supporting Thailand’s trade negotiations with…
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Worker crushed by crane in Sisaket pleads for help
A distressing case emerged from a residence in Suk Sawat subdistrict, Phrai Bueng district, Sisaket province, as a worker claimed negligence following a severe accident. The incident involved a 55 year old man, Somboon, who is now bedridden and requires oxygen support after being crushed by a crane basket during a demolition job. The employer allegedly offered minimal financial assistance…
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Whirlwind devastates Chanthaburi orchard, 50 tonnes of durian lost
A whirlwind storm recently devastated a fruit orchard in Chanthaburi‘s Mueang district, causing over 50 tonnes of durian, nearing harvest, to fall to the ground. The destruction resulted in a financial loss exceeding 8 million baht, with remaining sellable durians fetching only 10 baht per kilogramme. Yesterday, April 7, local journalists visited the fruit orchard in Mueang district, Chanthaburi province,…
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American professor denied bail on Section 112 charges
Paul Chambers, a prominent American academic from Naresuan University, has been denied bail by Phitsanulok Court following his arrest on charges under Section 112, the lese majeste law, sparking widespread outrage over academic freedom and human rights. Dr Chambers, an expert in Southeast Asian military-civilian relations, was apprehended after an arrest warrant was issued by the Phitsanulok Provincial Court. Today,…
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Thai doctor accused of encouraging patient to die after suicide attempt
A Thai woman battling depression and bipolar disorder accused a doctor at a hospital in Udon Thani, Isaan province, of urging her to end her life. This shocking claim surfaced after she was admitted following a suicide attempt on April 3. The 24 year old woman, Chompoo, shared her story with ThaiRath, seeking justice and calling for disciplinary action against…
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New four-lane highway to boost eastern Thailand connectivity
The Songkran holiday season might be chaotic with traffic jams, but a major four-lane highway upgrade in eastern Thailand promises to ease congestion in the future. Highways 3486 and 348 are set to undergo a significant transformation with the construction of a 48-kilometre, 4-lane highway, designed to improve traffic flow and protect local wildlife. The Department of Highways (DOH) has…
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Thailand and Japan unite for Songkran Warm Water Onsen event
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is collaborating with Japan to celebrate the Songkran Warm Water Onsen event, aiming to link the Songkran festival with international tourism promotion. This initiative is expected to boost foreign visits to Thailand. Thapanee Kiatpaiboon, Governor of TAT, announced that this month, TAT will actively promote Thailand’s Songkran festival. For example, from April 5 to…
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Quake leaves 55 Bangkok buildings unusable, inspections continue
The Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning announced the results of building inspections following a recent earthquake. Some 55 buildings have been deemed severely damaged and are prohibited from use. Meanwhile, 6,487 buildings remain operational, and 361 have moderate damage. Yesterday, April 7, the Building Damage Inspection Centre, in collaboration with various engineering bodies including the Council…
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Black leopard wonder: Feline spotted hunting in Kaeng Krachan
Tourists visiting Kaeng Krachan National Park were treated to an extraordinary spectacle when a rare black leopard was spotted preparing to hunt a southern spectacled langur. Mongkol Chaiyaphakdi, Chief of Kaeng Krachan National Park, revealed the stunning image taken along the Khao Phanom Thung route at Kilometre 19. The black leopard, a critically endangered species, was calmly observing its prey…
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Big Joke sends 300 southerners home for Songkran
Former police chief Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn has made Songkran celebrations even sweeter for over 300 southerners by sending them back home with free flights and VIP bus rides, easing the financial burden during tough economic times. At Don Mueang International Airport, Big Joke, President of the Southern Association under Royal Patronage, personally waved off 320 people headed back to…
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Pattaya technician blasted off pole in fiery high-voltage horror
A Pattaya technician was left fighting for his life after being blasted by a high-voltage electric shock and falling from a utility pole in a fiery workplace disaster. The shocking incident occurred at 7.36pm yesterday, April 7, along Phra Tamnak Road near Soi 2 in Pattaya City. The Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Unit’s radio centre received an urgent distress call,…
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Thai PM sues man impersonating her adviser to deceive actress
Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has taken legal action against a man impersonating her advisor to deceive a Thai actress. The 33 year old Thai actress, Rinyarat “Kana” Watchararojsiri, yesterday, April 7, exposed the deceitful behaviour of her ex-boyfriend, identified as Thunyathep “Hot” Sirisubdaechakun, during an interview on Channel 3’s news programme Hone Krasae. Kana explained that Hot had pretended…
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Family feud over inheritance sparks public dispute
A 48 year old woman reached out to the media to present her side of a family dispute after her stepson, appeared on a popular television show. The woman’s stepson, 24 year old Phuwat, known as Joe, accused his step mother, Phattharaporn, step-siblings and the police, of conspiring to frame him with drugs to seize inheritance assets worth over a…
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4 more bodies found in Bangkok building collapse takes toll to 20
Four more bodies have been discovered beneath the debris of the collapsed Zone C of the new State Audit Office (SAO) building in Chatuchak, Bangkok, taking the death toll to 20 with 77 reported missing. These bodies, found crushed by the structure yet intact, were uncovered at approximately 7.45am today, April 8, opposite the collapsed building site. Anuwat Pho-ampai, a…
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Bangkok quake collapse sparks probe into 2.1bn baht project
A 2.1-billion-baht government headquarters crumbled like a house of cards during Bangkok’s recent earthquake and now, investigators are chasing down the company behind it. The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has launched a high-profile probe into the collapse of the new State Audit Office (SAO) building in Chatuchak, which gave way during the 4.1-magnitude quake on March 28. The incident…
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Naked Russian woman falls to death from Pattaya condo
A naked Russian woman plunged to her death from a Pattaya high-rise, sparking police investigation involving a mystery man and a possible lover’s quarrel. At around 4pm on April 7, officers from Bang Lamung Police Station, Pattaya Tourist Police, and rescue workers from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation rushed to a condominium in Soi Naklua 16 after reports of a…
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Stream fright: Chiang Mai tot gets unwelcome leech up her nose
A hospital in Chiang Mai issued a warning to the public to exercise caution when using water from natural sources after a three year old girl was found to have a leech in her nose because she washed her face in a stream. The case was shared by a doctor from Nakhonping Hospital in Mueang District, Chiang Mai, via the…
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Two boys drown in Loei River tragedy in Wang Saphung
A tragic incident unfolded in Wang Saphung district, Loei province when two 13 year old boys drowned in the Loei River. The distressing event occurred around 3.30pm, yesterday, April 7, near the Siri Songkhram Shrine in Wang Saphung municipality. Police Lieutenant Colonel Nattakamon Thaoklang from Wang Saphung Police Station received the report and coordinated with the municipality’s disaster prevention and…
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Bangkok news crew threatened at mall shooting scene
A Bangkok news crew found themselves at the centre of a chilling showdown when alleged bodyguards threatened and detained them while covering a fatal shooting at a mall in the Lat Phrao area. The News Broadcasting Council of Thailand and the Broadcasting Journalists Association of Thailand urged the national police commissioner general to launch an urgent investigation and pursue legal…
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Chinese workers escape Myanmar call centre, enter Thailand illegally
Seven Chinese nationals working for a call centre gang in Myanmar fled to Thailand on foot, crossing a river to escape their unbearably harsh conditions. The escape occurred yesterday, April 7, when the company reduced working hours and cut electricity, making it difficult for workers to live comfortably. The Rachamanu Task Force, along with the Naresuan Rapid Deployment Force, the…
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