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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Glimmer of hope as phone light found in Bangkok quake rubble
Phetkasem Foundation rescue team is hoping for a miracle after spotting what could be a survivor’s mobile phone light blinking deep beneath the rubble of the collapsed State Audit Office building, two weeks after the deadly earthquake hit Thailand’s capital Bangkok. Rescuers from the Phetkasem Foundation reported a potential breakthrough in the search for survivors after detecting what they believe…
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Thailand Video News | Building collapse death toll, Burger King fire, Lewd Pattaya shoot
In today’s roundup for Friday, April 11, we’re tracking the biggest headlines making waves across Thailand and Southeast Asia. A fire in Phuket damaged a Burger King and several motorbikes, while tragedy strikes in Bangkok as the death toll from a building collapse continues to rise. In Pattaya, a Chinese couple’s explicit photo shoot sparks public outrage and legal consequences.…
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Ayutthaya buffalo trader’s home attacked with grenades, no injuries
A buffalo trader in Ayutthaya was left in shock after unidentified persons threw grenades at his home, causing significant damage. The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, April 9, in Phra Ya Ban Lue subdistrict, Lat Bua Luang district, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province. The attack resulted in three damaged vehicles and frightened livestock, though fortunately, no one…
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New Zealand man caught smuggling cocaine to Phuket in passport
Police arrested a New Zealand man at Phuket International Airport for smuggling cocaine into the country by concealing it inside a passport. Officers at the international arrivals terminal of Phuket Airport yesterday, April 10, discovered a packet of cocaine in the possession of the 24 year old New Zealander, whose identity was not disclosed in the report. According to a…
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Byte-sized bounce: Thai digital sector plugs back into confidence
Thailand’s digital sector has shown signs of life, climbing out of the red and back into confidence territory this year, thanks to artificial intelligence (AI) hype, economic boosters, and a softer policy rate. But insiders warn the rebound could short-circuit if skills shortages and wage hikes aren’t tackled fast. The Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) revealed that its Digital Industry…
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Pheu Thai pushes bill to repeal 23 NCPO orders
Pheu Thai Party list member of Parliament Chaturon Chaisang advocates for a bill to revoke 23 orders issued by the disbanded National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). This proposed legislation is set to be introduced in the forthcoming Parliamentary session. As the chairperson of the Parliamentary committee responsible for reviewing outdated NCPO directives, Chaturon provided an update on the…
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IMF urges Thailand to give baht-up households a helping hand
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned Thailand to boost protections for struggling families or risk keeping millions trapped in a cycle of crushing debt, much of it borrowed just to put food on the table. In a hard-hitting Country Focus report released on April 9, the global financial watchdog highlighted that more than half of Thai workers lack formal…
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Cop killer on the run: Drug suspect flees after deadly shootout
Police are searching for a drug suspect who fatally shot a police officer during an attempted arrest at a rubber plantation in the northeastern province of Loei yesterday. Police Sub-Lieutenant Pairoj Prom-in, along with the drug suppression unit of Mueang Loei Police Station, swooped on the plantation in the Kokdu subdistrict, Mueang district, Loei, at around 12pm yesterday, April 10,…
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Bangkok State Audit Office to be rebuilt but not on the deadly ruins
The Deputy Auditor General has confirmed plans to push ahead with building a new State Audit Office but it will be moved away from the exact spot where tragedy struck when an unfinished government complex came crashing down during a powerful earthquake last month, killing 23 workers and trapping dozens more beneath the rubble. The Auditor General’s Office, still under…
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Who’s a cheeky monkey? Phuket cops go ape over missing orangutan
Police raided the home of a Chinese woman in Phuket after a neighbour spotted an orangutan inside the property last week. However, no monkey was found during the search. The Phuket Info Centre news page reported the raid on the Chinese woman’s residence on Wednesday, April 9. The house is located in Supalai Lake Village on Thep Kasattri Road, in…
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Thailand braces for summer storms during Songkran festival
The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) has warned about summer storms during the Songkran festival. Thunderstorms, strong winds, and potential hail are expected, especially in the upper northeastern and northern regions. From April 10 to 12, increased rainfall is anticipated in the South. Yesterday, April 10, Suchada Sang Thaensap, the secretary to the Minister of the…
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Thailand urged to address rising zero-dollar exports from China
Thailand’s economy is being short-changed by a flood of so-called “zero-dollar” investments and exports from China, with experts warning the government must clamp down, or risk a new wave of growth that benefits everyone but the Thais. Amonthep Chawla, chief economist at CIMB Thai Bank’s Economic Centre, said America’s latest tariff moves, both those aimed broadly and those specifically targeting…
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Chiang Mai aims for fingernail dance world record
In celebration of tradition and unity, Chiang Mai is preparing to break a Guinness World Record next Friday, April 19, with over 20,000 traditional fingernail dancers performing together at the historic Three Kings Monument. The event marks the ancient northern city’s 729th anniversary and promises to be one of the most spectacular cultural displays ever staged in Thailand. Organisers say…
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Phuket police probe Aussie man’s apparent suicide
Just days after a previous suicide scare, a 62 year old Australian man was found dead in a Phuket home. His tragic end sparking renewed concerns about mental health support for expats. The Aussie, from Darlinghurst, Sydney, was found dead in an apparent suicide at a house in Village 2, Rawai, on the afternoon of April 9. Chalong Police were…
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23 dead, 71 missing in Bangkok high-rise collapse
A heartbreaking vigil continues in Bangkok, where the father of a 17 year old girl has stood outside a collapsed high-rise for nearly two weeks — still hoping for a miracle. The death toll from the catastrophic collapse of a 30-storey building in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district has climbed to 23, with 71 people still unaccounted for, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration…
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Thai veterinarian sues fake PM advisor after losing 10 million baht
A Thai veterinarian sued a serial liar posing as an advisor to the prime minister after she lost nearly 10 million baht throughout their four-year relationship. The deceptive behaviour of 32 year old Thunyathep “Hot” or “Pond” Sirisubdaechakun came to light after 33 year old Thai actress Rinyarat “Kana” Watchararojsiri publicly shared her experience and took legal action against him. Kana…
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SAO secretary in Lop Buri attacked, fears for safety
In Lop Buri province, a 55 year old subdistrict administrative organisation (SAO) secretary was assaulted by two people while returning to his vehicle. The attack left him injured, and he was subsequently treated at Somdet Phra Narai Maharat Hospital. Currently, Panapot is considering relocating his workplace due to fear of further attacks after previously receiving threats urging him to leave…
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Man arrested at Bangkok bus terminal with firearm in backpack
Police arrested a 44 year old man after he was found carrying a firearm and ammunition in his backpack inside the Mo Chit Bus Terminal in Bangkok. The incident unfolded at around 11am, yesterday, April 9, after security staff alerted police to a suspicious individual loitering near a metal detector. Police Colonel Sanong Saengmanee, Superintendent of Bang Sue Police Station, quickly…
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Snake handler rescues Satun family from giant king cobras
A renowned snake handler was called to assist a rubber plantation family in Satun province after discovering a pair of giant king cobras had made a nest and laid 29 eggs near their plantation. The presence of these snakes had halted rubber tapping activities for the family residing in Ban Phang Palm 7, Palm Pattana subdistrict, Manang district, since March.…
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Fire torches bikes, damages Burger King sign in Phuket
Early morning flames turned a quiet Phuket street into a fiery scene as a suspected electrical fault sent two motorbikes up in smoke and scorched the sign of a popular Burger King branch. A dramatic blaze believed to have started from a short circuit on a power pole erupted outside the Burger King on Kata Road in Karon at around…
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Thailand ramps up Songkran travel safety efforts
As millions prepare to hit the road for Songkran, the Thai government is pulling out all the stops to stop the carnage, launching a national safety centre, mobilising volunteers and rolling out checkpoints across the country. Thailand has officially launched a national road safety centre to monitor and manage traffic accidents from April 11 to 18, overlapping the Songkran holiday.…
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Police sergeant faces charges for fatal drink-driving crash
Police are set to charge a sergeant with three serious offences after he drove a car while allegedly drunk and collided with a motorcycle, resulting in the deaths of a woman and her three year old son, and leaving her husband critically injured. The tragic incident occurred on April 7 at 8.12pm in Ban Kae Ma, Tanyongmat subdistrict, Ra-ngae district,…
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Thailand tops global cheating chart with 51% infidelity rate
Thailand has been named the most adulterous country on the planet, according to a recent report by the financial news platform Insider Monkey. The eyebrow-raising title places Thailand at the top of the global infidelity rankings, with a jaw-dropping cheating rate of 51%. The figures are linked to the longstanding cultural phenomenon of Mia Noi — meaning “little wife” — where men…
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Thai transwoman dies mysteriously after being found coma in truck
A Thai transwoman in the central province of Saraburi died mysteriously after being found coma in the cabin of a 10-wheel truck. Her family suspects the truck driver may have been involved in her death. The transwoman, identified only as A, was rushed to hospital on March 27 and passed away at 12.45am on March 30. She was discovered in…
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American man found dead in Phuket gas suicide
Neighbours were left horrified after discovering a 73 year old American man dead in his Phuket home in what appears to be a disturbing suicide involving cooking gas and a plastic bag. Police are investigating the bizarre death of a foreigner found lifeless in his Patong residence yesterday, April 9, with evidence pointing to intentional inhalation of gas as the…
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Thai woman arrested for smuggling 8 million meth pills
A 47 year old Thai woman has been arrested for her alleged involvement in a drug trafficking operation smuggling eight million methamphetamine pills across the Mekong River. Police have gathered substantial evidence, including financial transactions and chat messages, which they believe will solidify the case against her. Yesterday, April 9, Police Major General Songklot Krirkkritya, commander of the Anti-Trafficking in…
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Pattaya unveils smart app for public complaints
Pattaya is embracing digital innovation in a bid to transform how locals report and track city issues. Deputy Mayor Wutthisak Rermkijakarn this week welcomed representatives from CTC Managed Services Co., Ltd., who pitched a cutting-edge online complaint management system aimed at revolutionising the way the city interacts with its residents. The proposed platform will allow citizens to submit complaints online,…
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Phuket Airport security questioned after sign hacked
A digital sign inside Phuket International Airport was hacked with a political message condemning Israel’s genocide in Palestine just days before Thailand’s busiest travel period. The incident occurred yesterday, April 9 and was reported to the Airports of Thailand (AoT) Phuket, but officials have yet to provide any response. The compromised sign, located near the baggage scan area, flashed the…
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Uttaradit man charged for setting stepfather on fire after dispute
A serious incident occurred in Lap Lae district, Uttaradit province, where a 43 year old man named Kittisak allegedly attempted to kill his stepfather by pouring petrol and setting him on fire. The police found evidence of drug use in Kittisak’s system, leading to charges of attempted murder. At approximately 7.20pm, yesterday, April 9, Police Lieutenant Prasit Sudasud, deputy inspector…
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Suphan Buri teen killed in hit-and-run, driver flees
Tragedy struck a quiet village in Suphan Buri after a 13 year old boy was killed in a brutal hit-and-run — and now his grieving family can’t afford to bury him. The heartbreaking incident occurred in the Rai Rot subdistrict, Don Chedi district, where a boy identified only as “Aye” lost his life after being hit by a ten-wheeler truck…
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