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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Thailand to train 20,000 masseurs as medicine assistants
The Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine announced an initiative to train 20,000 traditional Thai masseurs as certified Thai traditional doctors’ assistants. This will enable them to address seven specific muscle-related conditions. Doctor Somruek Chungsaman, the department’s chief, highlighted yesterday, April 2, the effectiveness of traditional Thai massage in treating various muscle-related conditions. The upskilling programmes will focus on…
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Poachers kill two wild gaurs in Nakhon Ratchasima
Two wild gaur were found shot dead in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Wang Nam Khiao district, suspected to have been killed by poachers for their meat. Local police are intensifying efforts to track down the perpetrators. Yesterday, April 2, after locals discovered the carcasses of male gaurs at the rear of Yub E Pun village, Wang Mee subdistrict, Som Sak Jotklang, the…
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Phuket parents face charges for children’s illegal street racing
In Phuket, the parents of 14 minors, apprehended during a police operation in Ao Yon, Wichit, on April 1 are facing legal action for permitting their children to partake in illegal street racing. Wichit Police Chief Somsak Thongkliang announced that the parents were brought to Wichit Police Station to be informed of the charges under Section 26(3) of the Child…
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Trump’s tariff tantrum: US slaps huge levies on world as trade war erupts
Donald Trump has thrown the world into economic turmoil, launching a full-scale trade war by slapping sweeping new tariffs on imports, including crippling levies on key allies. Thailand has been caught in the tariff crossfire too, with officials claiming the nation could suffer an US$8 billion hit if the US were to even up levies between the two countries. Semiconductor…
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Young woman dies in Chon Buri motorcycle accident after night out
In the early hours of this morning, a tragic accident occurred involving a young woman who had recently returned from working abroad. After a night out at an entertainment venue, she lost control of her motorcycle and collided with a utility pole, resulting in her death. Police from Don Hua Lo Police Station responded to the incident today, April 3,…
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American nurse’s face shattered in moped crash in Krabi, Thailand
An American woman has become the latest in a long line of road victims after a horrific moped crash while on holiday in Thailand. The crash has left the Massachusetts ICU nurse with severe facial injuries Sierra Fairhurst was enjoying a trip with friends in March when the accident happened. One moment, she was riding a rented moped, then everything…
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Two killed in Phuket motorbike and van collision near airport
A horrific accident on the main road to Phuket International Airport claimed the lives of two people early yesterday morning, April 2. A motorbike with a sidecar collided with a commercial passenger van, leaving both victims with fatal injuries. The tragedy occurred around 9.30am on Route 4026, connecting Thepkrasattri Road to the airport. Emergency services rushed to the scene, where…
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Wet and wild: Heavy rain set to drench Thailand
Weather woes are on the horizon as the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issues an urgent heavy rain warning for April 3. With a deluge expected to sweep across 28 provinces, a staggering 80% of these areas are bracing for severe rainfall. Residents are urged to stay vigilant as strong winds threaten to whip up chaos, alongside the looming danger of…
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Bangkok motor show sees 29% rise in car reservations
The 46th Bangkok International Motor Show has revved up excitement, attracting a wave of car enthusiasts and driving a major spike in vehicle reservations, especially for new xEV (electric) models. With the show now at its midway point, organisers are reporting impressive results, particularly from eco-conscious consumers keen on the future of electric vehicles (EVs). Jaturon Komolmit, deputy chairman and…
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Shaky ground: Thailand in world’s top 60 earthquake-hit countries
Thailand ranks 59th among the top 100 countries with the most earthquakes, recording 59 quakes so far this year, with the strongest reaching a magnitude of 4.9. While the country may not be in the top 10, it still experiences a noticeable number of seismic events. According to earthquakelist.org, which uses data from the US Geological Survey and the European-Mediterranean…
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Gay Pattaya man found dead under bed, gold necklace missing
A Thai bar owner in Pattaya found his LGBTQIA+ friend lying dead under his bed with a blue towel in his mouth, and his gold necklace, worth nearly 250,000 baht, was missing. The owner of a bar in Pattaya, Sakesan, discovered the lifeless body of his friend, 30 year old Nai, in his room on the second floor of a…
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Thailand’s tourism strategy to restore confidence after earthquake
In the wake of the recent earthquake, Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports has called a crucial meeting with government officials and private sector leaders to tackle the impact on the country’s tourism industry. The primary focus? Restoring both domestic and international tourist confidence while ensuring the continued safety of visitors. The meeting, chaired by Minister of Tourism and Sports…
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Dog chooses nap over escape during Bangkok earthquake (video)
While many animals are believed to have a sixth sense for impending natural disasters, one dog in Thailand hilariously defied that notion during the recent Bangkok earthquake. As her owner frantically attempted to evacuate during the quake, Echo, a fluffy Samoyed, had different plans — choosing to nap peacefully instead of fleeing to safety. A TikTok video of the comical…
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Thailand waives toll fees on major roads for Songkran travel
Thailand is easing the burden on travellers this Songkran, with the government announcing that tolls on two major motorways and two expressways will be waived, allowing motorists to travel for free during the long holiday. The toll exemption is part of a plan to reduce congestion as millions of Thais head home to celebrate the Thai New Year with family.…
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Sweeping success: Bangkok road cleaner gets devilish makeover
A leading Thai make-up artist offered a road sweeper in Bangkok, who previously went viral for her photoshoot by a Russian photographer, a new makeover as a character from a famous Thai film, Art of the Devil 2. The Russian photographer, Semyon Rezchikov, shared a video of himself taking a portrait of a road sweeper on Yaowarat Road in Bangkok…
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More than 3,000 Thai govt buildings damaged in earthquake
The powerful 8.2-magnitude earthquake near Mandalay, Myanmar, on March 28 has left a trail of destruction across Thailand, with over 3,000 government buildings affected, according to the Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning (DPT). As of today, April 2, the DPT reported that 3,375 government buildings had been inspected following the quake, with 34 deemed severely damaged…
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Crime doesn’t pray: American nabbed nicking from Pattaya donation box
A shocking robbery unfolded early this morning in Pattaya, when a 62 year old American man was caught stealing from a donation box outside the local police station. The bizarre crime was driven by the man’s claim of desperation after losing his ATM card and being unable to buy food. At around 2.30am today, April 2, Pattaya police received an…
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Thailand to refurbish Japanese diesel trains for suburban services
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) plans to introduce 20 second-hand Japanese KiHa diesel trains for suburban passenger services. A systems test is set for June, before the refurbishment of the KiHa 40 and KiHa 48 trains, with six trains expected to be operational by the end of the year. SRT chief Veeris Ammarapala mentioned that these diesel trains were…
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Motorbike mugger nabbed after late-night bag snatch in Phuket
A late-night ride turned into a nightmare for one Phuket woman after a motorbike-riding thief snatched her shoulder bag in a brazen robbery. But thanks to swift police work, the culprit didn’t get far. At around 10.30pm yesterday, April 1, a 41 year old woman from Village No. 5 in Ratsada subdistrict, Mueang district, was riding pillion on a motorbike…
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Chiang Mai struggles with severe air pollution from wildfires
Chiang Mai is currently grappling with severe air pollution due to ongoing wildfires across various districts, with over 150 hotspots identified. Yesterday, April 1, wildfires persisted in mountainous regions of the northern province, with 150 active hotspots reported in 15 districts. The most affected areas include Hot with 34 hotspots, Chiang Dao with 26, and Phrao with 23. Thick smoke…
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Thai man found dead after leaving home to work in Taiwan
A Thai man told his mother he was going to work in Taiwan but committed suicide instead in the middle of a rice field in the Isaan province of Roi Et. The deceased’s mother was shocked after a relative informed her of the death of her 30 year old son, Pongsakorn Saenkla, yesterday, April 1. Pongsakorn was found hanging from…
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Truck collision on Kanchanaphisek Expressway causes fatality, traffic chaos
A collision between two trucks on the Kanchanaphisek Expressway in Bangkok led to a 10-kilometre traffic jam, resulting in one fatality and one injury. The incident occurred at 5.20am today, April 2, when a trailer truck crashed into the back of a 10-wheel truck, causing severe damage and scattering soybean waste across the road. Officers from Phra Pradaeng Police Station…
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15 dead, 72 missing amidst quake rubble in Bangkok
Rescue teams continue their search for 72 missing workers after a catastrophic building collapse in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district. The under-construction 30-story State Audit Office (SAO) building crumbled last Friday afternoon, March 28, following a powerful 8.2-magnitude earthquake near Mandalay, Myanmar, which was felt across the region, including Thailand’s Mae Hong Son province. As of this morning, April 2, the death…
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Trailer and pickup clash sparks heated dispute in Nonthaburi
A heated argument erupted following a collision between a trailer and a pickup truck in Nonthaburi, resulting in both parties filing complaints with the police. The incident occurred yesterday, April 1, and has led to accusations and physical altercations between the involved parties. Today, it was reported that Chaowarat, a 58 year old bamboo shop owner, filed a complaint with…
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Not in Pattaya: Police deny viral video of dangerous motorcycle riding
Police insisted that the viral video of a couple riding a motorcycle dangerously on a public road did not take place in Pattaya, contrary to rumours. The viral video, which surfaced on Thai social media platforms this week, garnered attention and drew criticism towards officers at Mueang Pattaya Police Station. In the footage, a man, reported to be a Thai…
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Laotian man arrested for illegal motorcycle taxi work in Bangkok
Thai police apprehended a 32 year old Laotian man for illegally working as a motorcycle taxi driver in the Huai Khwang district of Bangkok. The suspect, Leklai, was caught after police devised a plan to have him take them to a police station, where he was then arrested. The arrest followed a tip-off from an informant who reported seeing a foreign-looking…
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Pattaya’s new Bali Hai Pier to boost access to Koh Larn
Pattaya City is making waves with the announcement of a major development, the construction of a new pier at Bali Hai, South Pattaya. Designed to offer a safer and more efficient boarding point for small boats, this new facility promises to enhance access to popular destinations like Koh Larn and other nearby islands just in time for the busy summer…
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Unexpected flooding hits Phatthalung despite no rain
In Phatthalung province, 13 families were astounded when there were awoken during the middle of the night with water flooding through their homes despite no rain in the area. The incident took place today, April 2, when locals were caught off guard by rising waters in Mueang 6, Makok Nuea subdistrict, Khuan Khanun district, prompting a hurried evacuation of belongings…
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Man arrested for indecency and deceiving job seekers in Bangkok
A 29 year old man has been arrested for allegedly deceiving job seekers before committing acts of indecency against four victims in Bangkok’s Lat Phrao district. Police tracked the suspect using CCTV footage, leading to his arrest while he was using the same motorcycle. At 12.30am today, April 2, Phinyoh Wiangkum, Deputy Inspector of Investigation at Chokchai Police Station, along…
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Chinese construction firm raises safety fears at Songkhla Hospital
Concerns have emerged over the safety of a new outpatient building being constructed at Songkhla Hospital, with fears exacerbated by the involvement of a Chinese company previously linked to a collapsed building. The 426 million baht project, managed by China Railway No. 10, is under scrutiny after the firm’s involvement in a tragic incident at the Office of the Auditor…
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