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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Phuket charity schools raided amid migrant education crackdown
Raids on charity schools run by the Good Shepherd Foundation continued this week, with officials from the Thalang District Office targeting the BanYa Literacy Centre in Srisoonthorn. Led by Thalang District Chief Siwat Rawangkun, officials including Deputy District Chief for Security Chaiporn Yangchin, village leaders, and other officials conducted an inspection at the centre in Village 6, Srisoonthorn on Tuesday,…
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Man tragically killed by train in Ayutthaya accident
A tragic accident occurred in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya when a 59 year old man was fatally struck by a train while crossing a railway track after work. The incident, which took place at Phachi Railway Station, left the man with multiple fractures and lacerations across his body. Today, March 20, Police Lieutenant Pallop Intharachet of Phachi District Police Station…
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Bangkok chokes its way into world’s top 10 most polluted cities
Bangkok today landed among the world’s most polluted cities, ranking eighth in the latest IQAir report, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 141. The city’s air pollution has once again raised health concerns, especially for vulnerable groups. The AQI scale categorises air quality as follows: 0-50 (Good) 51-100 (Moderate) 101-150 (Unhealthy for sensitive groups) 151-200 (Unhealthy) 201-300 (Very unhealthy) 301+…
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Brief encounter: Chon Buri thief caught with stolen underwear
Officers at Koh Chan Provincial Police Station yesterday apprehended a man for stealing women’s underwear from a government official’s residence. The incident involved 36 year old Pornchai, also known as Kob, who was arrested under a Chon Buri provincial court warrant (No. 171/2568) dated March 18. He faces charges of nighttime burglary using a vehicle to facilitate the crime and…
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Foot the bill: Smelly foreigner limps away from Thai massage tab
A massage shop owner in the northern province of Lampang reported yesterday that a smelly foreigner with a limp leg fled without paying a bill of 700 baht after receiving a two-hour massage. The owner of the Kanthika massage shop, Ann, stated that she was not the first victim, according to information from officers at Mueang Lampang Police Station. Ann…
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Phuket’s alcohol-free Songkran festival returns
Phuket is gearing up for Songkran with a booze-free twist! The Songkran No Alcohol Festival is back for its 11th year, promising cultural charm, live music, and family-friendly fun—without the chaos of drunken revelry. Phuket officials are preparing for another safe and tradition-focused songkran as the island hosts the Songkran No Alcohol Festival Phuket 2025, organised for the 11th consecutive year,…
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Drug trafficker killed, 300,000 meth pills seized in Chiang Mai
Pha Mueang Task Force yesterday engaged with a group of drug traffickers in Mae Ai district, Chiang Mai province, resulting in one suspect’s death and the seizure of 300,000 methamphetamine pills. The officials remained unharmed. The incident, yesterday, March 19, at 8.30am, occurred when the patrol team spotted and attempted to search three to five suspicious people carrying modified backpacks…
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British jumper’s Pattaya video sparks call to shut down site
A chilling video showing the tragic death of a British base jumper in Pattaya has sparked renewed outrage and calls for a notorious website that hosts gruesome death footage to be shut down. The 33 year old victim, Nathan Odinson, tragically died after his parachute failed to open during a jump from a 29-storey tower last year. A Thai friend…
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Philippine couple busted in Thailand over investment scam
Thai Immigration Police arrested a Philippine couple wanted for a large-scale investment fraud that has seen over 150 arrest warrants issued against them. The couple, identified as 46 year old Cerrone and 47 year old Marve, were apprehended in Cha-am, Phetchaburi, following a request for cooperation from the Philippine Embassy in Thailand. Both suspects were subjects of an Interpol Red…
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Sinful: Abbot defrocked, arrested for assaulting boy in Udon Thani
Police apprehended a 24 year old abbot accused of sexually assaulting a 12 year old boy at a temple in Mueang district, Udon Thani province. The boy’s mother, shocked by the incident, had left her son at the temple due to financial difficulties after separating from her husband. Police Colonel Wichan Suthampeng, superintendent of Kumphawapi Police Station, along with Deputy…
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Park life: Thailand eases alcohol rules for officials, not tourists
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) in Thailand has revised regulations to permit alcohol consumption in designated areas within national parks. However, this relaxation applies only to officials and organised groups who obtain permission, while tourists remain prohibited from consuming alcohol. The department, under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), has been gathering public…
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Chinese dating scammer arrested for targeting foreign men in Chiang Mai
Police yesterday arrested a Chinese man at Chiang Mai International Airport for operating scams using a dating app to approach foreign men in the province. Two victims filed complaints with officers at Mueang Chiang Mai Police Station on Sunday, March 16 and March 19, stating that a Chinese man they had met on a dating application stole their valuables and…
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Thai deputy PM Phumtham visits Uyghur community in Xinjiang
Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai recently visited the Uyghur community in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region after a return to their homeland. Phumtham apologised for their prolonged detention of 11 years, emphasising that the government had acted appropriately by reuniting them with their families. Yesterday, March 19, Phumtham, also the defence minister, along with a media contingent, visited a Uyghur…
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Thailand risks losing its smile as happiness ranking slumps
Thailand’s status as the Land of Smiles is under threat as a new global happiness ranking places the nation far from the top, raising concerns about the country’s well-being. In the latest World Happiness Report, Thailand landed at No. 49 worldwide, an improvement of five places from last year, but still trailing behind Singapore and Vietnam in Southeast Asia. At…
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Cannabis vendor found dead with more than 30 stab wounds
Police are hunting for a murderer after a cannabis vendor was found dead with more than 30 stab wounds on his body in a rented room in the northern province of Nakhon Sawan. His roommate was conspicuous by his absence when police descended on the scene. A 25 year old Thai man, Few, was the first person to discover the…
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Bridge collapse in Narathiwat claims one life, injures three
A bridge collapse in Narathiwat province’s Chanae district tragically resulted in one fatality and three injuries as a vehicle and motorcycle were crossing. The collapse was attributed to damage to the underwater support structure caused by last year’s floods, which was still awaiting repair. At 5.45am today, March 19, Phichit Rungprasert, the district chief of Chanae, was informed by the…
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Thai man slapped with jail time for hitting Rayong hospital nurse
The Rayong Kwaeng Court sentenced a Thai man to one month and 15 days in jail for slapping a nurse at a hospital in the eastern province of Rayong last month. The victim’s older sister brought the physical assault at Rayong Hospital to public attention to seek justice. She explained that her sister had warned a patient’s family members not…
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Driver fuels up and bails, gaslighting Bangchak station
A black Mitsubishi sedan was captured on CCTV at a Bangchak petrol station in Mueang Khon Kaen district, Khon Kaen province, refuelling with 1,000 baht of Gasohol 95, before the driver feigned a payment scan and fled without paying. The petrol station is now using social media to seek information about the vehicle. Manothai Thaopia, a 36 year old marketing…
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Tech it to the bank: Thailand’s data boom lures global giants
Thailand is quickly establishing itself as a key player in the global digital landscape, attracting major international data centre investments worth over 100 billion baht. The Board of Investment (BoI) reported that existing giants from the US, China, Japan, and South Korea are eager to expand their operations in the country, which is anticipated to exceed last year’s investment levels.…
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Thailand video news | Belgian MMA fighter fends off four attackers in Pattaya parking brawl, Indonesia’s richest woman loses $3.6 billion in three days
In Thailand video news, Alex and Jay bring viewers the latest headlines from Thailand and Southeast Asia in today’s news roundup. A Belgian MMA fighter in Pattaya fended off four attackers in a parking dispute, while police in Koh Phangan are searching for foreign shoplifters caught on CCTV. In Phuket, two Dutch tourists were fined for provocative dancing on Bangla…
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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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