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Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. The Thaiger delivers the latest national news that matters.
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Songkran crowds pour 1 billion baht into Thai economy
It wasn’t just water flying this Songkran—cash was too. Thailand’s Maha Songkran World Water Festival has soaked the nation in celebration and injected a whopping 1.58 billion baht into the tourism industry, making it one of the most lucrative holiday events in recent memory. According to Government Deputy Spokesperson Anukul Phruksanusak, the five-day spectacle, held from April 11 to 15,…
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Quake-hit Bangkok site turns crime scene as 2 more bodies found
Bangkok’s construction site tragedy has taken a darker turn, as rescue teams recovered two more bodies from the wreckage of the collapsed State Audit Office, nearly three weeks after the building came crashing down in the aftermath of an earthquake in neighbouring Myanmar. With the death toll continuing to rise and serious allegations of corruption and negligence emerging, investigators are…
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Thailand prepares final strategy for Deep South peace
Is peace finally within reach for Thailand’s conflict-hit Deep South? A high-stakes mission next week may mark the turning point in ending decades of unrest in the southern border provinces. Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has announced plans to visit Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat on April 26 and 27, in what could be the final round of consultations before a formal…
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Drunk pickup driver crashes into family and blocks medical aid
A 70 year old drunk Thai man crashed his pickup into a motorcycle carrying a family of four on a road in the southern province of Phatthalung and obstructed rescue workers from providing medical assistance to the injured. The Phatthalung Rescue Foundation responded promptly to the incident, which occurred on Manora Road in the Kuan Maphrao district on the night…
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Rescued pit bull mauls Thai woman who gave dog second chance
A dog lover who opened her heart to a rescue pit bull cross was left fighting for her life after the animal turned on her in a savage attack, just weeks after it broke a monk’s arm. The 40 year old woman is in a serious condition after a pit bull cross she adopted from a shelter viciously mauled her…
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Thai man to sue police after wrongful arrest for attempted murder
A young man from Nakhon Si Thammarat is vowing to sue the police after spending five harrowing nights behind bars for a crime he didn’t commit. Phuris Saitong was released from the Nakhon Si Thammarat Correctional Institution for Young Offenders on Wednesday, April 16, after police admitted they had arrested the wrong man for an attempted murder. The moment he…
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Byte me: Thai online sellers plug into AI revolution to boost cash
Thailand’s e-commerce scene is getting a high-tech makeover as local sellers turn to artificial intelligence (AI) to outsmart the competition and rake in more baht. But while the potential is massive, a new report reveals most sellers still feel left in the digital dust. Thailand’s online shopkeepers are waking up to the AI boom but many say they’re still struggling…
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Chiang Mai hotels thrive during Songkran with strategic pricing
Hotels in Chiang Mai experienced a strong performance during the Songkran holiday, despite offering lower room rates compared to the previous year. The pricing strategy was aimed at attracting last-minute domestic travellers, whose confidence was affected by last month’s earthquake. Paisarn Sukjarean, President of the Thai Hotels Association’s upper northern chapter, indicated that many Thais remained unsettled by the earthquake…
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Bank of Thailand seeks new governor as Sethaput’s term ends
The Ministry of Finance has initiated the process to select a new governor for the Bank of Thailand (BoT), as Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput’s five-year term concludes on September 30. A selection committee, led by former Finance Permanent Secretary Sathit Limpongpan, will soon convene to establish candidate requirements and the application timeline, according to ministry spokesperson Pornchai Thiraveja. Under Thai law, the…
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License to bill: Thailand gives green light to trio of virtual banks
Thailand’s financial future is getting a digital upgrade, with three new virtual banks set to get the green light by June 19, the Finance Ministry has confirmed. In a bold move to modernise banking and boost financial inclusion, the Bank of Thailand has already shortlisted three candidates from a pool of five heavyweight consortiums. The final list of approved operators…
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Malaysian PM meets Myanmar junta boss in Bangkok hotel
In a move shaking up Southeast Asian diplomacy, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has become the first ASEAN chair to meet face-to-face with Myanmar’s military leader — and he did it in a Bangkok hotel. The unannounced one-hour sit-down between Anwar and Senior General Min Aung Hlaing took place yesterday, April 17, during Anwar’s two-day working visit to Thailand. Also…
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Geely does it: Chinese EV giant shifts gears with Thai expansion
A Chinese electric carmaker is ready to spark up Thailand’s electric vehicle (EV) scene, with big plans, bold investments and a battery-powered push to win over local drivers. Geely, one of China’s top EV brands, is plugging into Thailand in a big way, with its local distributor, Thonburi Neustern Co, unveiling ambitious plans to supercharge the brand’s presence in the…
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Bangkok airport security guard strikes gold but gives it back
A female security guard at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok is winning praise nationwide after discovering a bag filled with gold necklaces and pulling off a high-speed mission to return it to its owner, just minutes before his flight back to India. CCTV footage from Gate 8 on the 4th floor of the departure terminal shows the heartwarming moment today,…
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Midnight quakes jolt northern Thailand and Myanmar region
Late-night rumblings rattled parts of northern Thailand and Myanmar today as seven minor earthquakes struck the region in the early hours, sparking concern but causing no reported damage. According to the Thai Meteorological Department’s Earthquake Observation Division, the series of seismic events occurred today, April 18, with magnitudes ranging from 1.4 to 4.1. Most of the tremors were recorded in…
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Dead baby on street: Thai woman claims she mistook labour for urge to urinate
A Thai woman, who gave birth and left her newborn to die on a street in Bangkok during the Songkran festival, claimed she took drugs and mistook the signs of labour for the need to urinate. The 27 year old woman, Piyathida, shocked the public when her newborn daughter’s body was discovered on a street outside a village in Bangkok’s…
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Thailand video news | Parliament investigates collapsed billion-baht building in Bangkok, Thai influencer ‘Uncle Tony’ faces legal heat over pork video
On today’s Thailand video news update, Jay and Alex cover a wide range of critical stories—from a high-profile corruption investigation over a collapsed government building to a legal controversy involving a social media influencer. Other headlines include a temporary Nescafé ban, the debut of AI policing during Songkran, and regional developments involving China, Russia, and ASEAN neighbours. Here’s a…
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Brake-ing news: Officials rebuild trust after German tourist crash
Phang Nga officials are scrambling to restore tourist confidence after a horrific road crash left two German holidaymakers critically injured and their toddler hospitalised. The brutal smash happened around 5pm on Tuesday, April 15, in the Khao Lak area, when a speeding pickup truck slammed into a young family crossing Phetkasem Road at a zebra crossing near the local post…
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Forestry worker dies in Udon Thani forest gun accident
A 53 year old forestry worker and seasoned fireworks maker died from a gunshot wound in a forest in Udon Thani province. The incident occurred yesterday, April 17, with his wife expressing shock as they had spoken just that morning. Police Colonel Sonthaya Hitayaso from Phen District Police Station was notified of the incident, which took place in the forest…
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Reckless BMW driver shifts blame in viral pickup pile-up crash
The aggressive BMW driver captured in a viral video intentionally ramming into a pickup, arrogantly insisted that both he and the injured pickup driver were at fault, the public disagrees. The incident occurred on the Bangkok Outer Ring Road motorway in Pathum Thani and quickly gained public attention after the Facebook page Here on Board (เฮียขับรถ) shared multiple dashcam videos of…
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Thief poses as monk to steal 300k baht from Ubon temple
A thief disguised as a monk targeted the abbot’s quarters at a temple in the Isaan province of Ubon Ratchathani, stealing 300,000 baht. The incident, captured on CCTV, marks the second such theft, leading to a manhunt by local police. The footage, shared by the Warin Chamrap Ban Hao Facebook page, shows a man dressed like a monk leaving the…
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Teen girl’s leg trapped in drainage grate during Songkran festival
What started as a fun-filled Songkran celebration quickly turned into a nightmare for one teenage girl in Chon Buri’s Sattahip district, after her leg got stuck in a drainage grate in the middle of the street. The 14 year old, dressed in traditional Songkran clothing, had been enjoying the water fights in Sattahip market yesterday, April 17, when she accidentally…
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Phuket braces for floods as emergency pumps deployed
Phuket is battening down the hatches as officials race to prevent flash floods and landslides, with a massive emergency response underway across the island. With heavy rainfall already soaking parts of the province, the Phuket governor has issued an urgent directive to all district chiefs, local government leaders, and heads of government agencies to launch immediate preventative action. The warning…
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Baht to the future: Thai currency eyes 33 mark as dollar dives
The Thai baht is flexing its muscles on the global stage, with experts predicting it may surge past the symbolic 33-per-dollar mark in the second quarter, fuelled by trade tensions, a faltering US economy, and sky-high gold prices. According to Kasikorn Research Center (K-Research), the baht has climbed to a six-month high, riding the wave of a weakening US dollar…
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Woman shot dead by boyfriend in Yasothon, northeast Thailand
A tragic incident unfolded in Yasothon province yesterday when a 24 year old woman was fatally shot by her boyfriend following an unsuccessful attempt to reconcile. The woman had previously returned to her home in Samakkhi subdistrict, Loeng Nok Tha district, unable to endure his jealousy-fuelled violence. Officers from Loeng Nok Tha Police Station responded to the scene yesterday, on…
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Ex-councillor wins 90 million baht lottery jackpot in Chumphon
A former local councillor and shrimp farm owner in Chumphon struck lucky this Songkran festival by winning first prize in the lottery, securing a substantial sum of 90 million baht. This remarkable win was publicised by DJ Wongwattana Matchimasatit, a well-known radio host and former secretary to the mayor of Hat Sairee subdistrict. He shared his congratulations on Facebook, celebrating…
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Big splash: Thai swimming coach denies sexually assaulting trainee
A Thai swimming coach denied sexually assaulting a female trainee at a condominium pool in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok and countersued her for allegedly damaging his reputation. The 26 year old Thai woman, whose identity remains undisclosed, filed a complaint against the swimming coach with officers at Bang Sri Mueang Police Station. She alleged that the coach touched her excessively, beyond…
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Bangkok and 46 provinces brace for thunderstorms and heavy rain
Weather forecasts indicate that 47 provinces in Thailand will experience thunderstorms and strong winds, with Bangkok likely to see heavy rainfall from the afternoon into the evening. Residents are advised to remain cautious, especially in southern regions where rain is expected to cover 60% of the area. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) predicts that the upper part of the country…
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Tariff and away! Thailand backs ASEAN in showdown with Trump
Thailand is saddling up with its ASEAN friends for a tariff tussle with the US, as Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra vows to stand firm against Washington’s trade muscle-flexing and back a united front in talks with Donald Trump’s White House. Thailand PM Paetongtarn has thrown her weight behind ASEAN’s united stand against a hike in US import tariffs, declaring the…
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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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