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 9 most common health issues covered by insurance for expats in Thailand
Thailand is a popular destination for expats due to its affordable lifestyle and excellent healthcare system. However, settling in a new country often brings health concerns. To ensure you’re covered for the most common medical needs, understanding what expat health...
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Truck brake failure leads to fatal crash in Chiang Mai
A tragic accident occurred yesterday at 2.45pm in the Hod district of Chiang Mai when a six-wheeled truck’s brakes reportedly failed, causing it to crash into a procession of revellers. The incident resulted in the death of two individuals and serious injuries to two others. The procession was part of a traditional ceremony in which participants were enjoying themselves in…
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Bangkok aims to reduce plastic use with more water refill stations
To combat plastic pollution, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)’s Bottle Free Seas project has proven to be a roaring success, with plans now underway to expand its reach by installing an additional 200 drinking water refill points across the city. Launched last August, this eco-initiative has already made a significant dent in plastic bottle consumption, slashing the usage of a…
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Thailand advances its bid for OECD membership to boost economy
Thailand is forging ahead with its application to become a member of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), a move that is anticipated to significantly enhance the country’s economic growth. The Thai Foreign Affairs Minister, Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, took a proactive step on Tuesday, April 16, by submitting an official letter of intent to Mathias Cormann, the secretary-general of…
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Thailand Post considers becoming virtual banking agent
Thailand Post, the government-owned logistics firm, is examining the possibility of becoming a neutral virtual banking agent to supplement the functions of emerging virtual banks, according to Chief Executive Dhanant Subhadrabandhu. The national organisation plans to use its extensive network of 1,600 branches and a delivery workforce of 25,000 to support this initiative. Serving as a neutral virtual bank agent…
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Bangkok commuters to ride electric trains for just 20 baht
Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit pledged that by September 2025, electric train rides throughout the metropolitan area will cost a mere 20 baht, fulfilling a longstanding promise of the ruling Pheu Thai Party. This initiative, initially implemented on select lines last year, faced scepticism from opposition figures like Surachet Pravinvongvuth of the Move Forward Party. Yet, Suriya remains steadfast, asserting that…
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Suspect identified in Thai woman’s London murder, killer on the run
Local police announced they have successfully identified the suspect in the murder of a 27 year old Thai woman in London but added that the killer may have fled abroad. The dead body of 27 year old Thai woman Kamonnan “Angela” Thiamphanit was found at her luxury mansion on Stanhope Place, on Bayswater Road, near Hyde Park on April 8.…
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Frosty fright: Ammonia leak chills Bang Lamung district
An ice factory in Nong Prue, a tambon of Bang Lamung district, experienced an ammonia leak early this morning, affecting nearly 100 people within its 1-kilometre vicinity. The incident at Banglamung Ice Plant was reported to the district chief, Weekit Manarotekit, shortly before midnight yesterday, April 17. Emergency rescue teams quickly arrived at the scene, discovering that the leaked ammonia…
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Dugongs forced to flee as seagrass vanishes in Thai waters
The warming waters of the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea are wreaking havoc on marine life, leaving dugongs desperate for food. Described as “steamed” grass, the disappearance of seagrass which serves as the primary diet of these gentle mammals, is pushing them out of their natural habitats. According to Dr Thon Thamrongnawasawat, vice dean of the Faculty of…
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Police officer receives brain surgery after Songkran accident
A police officer was transferred to the Police Hospital in Bangkok following a severe traffic collision that left him critically injured. The incident occurred during the mid-Songkran festival traffic duties in Lopburi province when a female driver struck the officer, 39 year old Police Lance Corporal Piyaphan Seesuay, also known as Dab Tao. The medical team, after an immediate CT…
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Politician’s kin held for fatal Songkran assault in Ratchaburi
Local politician descendants, known as the Pee Po gang, have been detained for beating a young man to death during the Songkran festival on April 14, in an incident that left two of the victim’s relatives seriously injured. The attack, claimed as self-defence, stems from an altercation where 29 year old Atit was beaten to death by the gang in…
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British man arrested for begging to buy drugs in Koh Pha Ngan
Thai police arrested a British man after he allegedly begged for money to buy drugs outside a convenience store in Koh Pha Ngan, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani. Locals on Koh Pha Ngan reported to authorities after seeing a foreign man begging outside a 7-Eleven convenience store and using drugs in the area. Officers from the…
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Shinawatra saga: Yingluck’s comeback fuels legal limelight
Former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s potential return from exile sparks intrigue over her legal fate, mirroring her brother Thaksin’s tumultuous history, claims the Shinawatras’ lawyer. Pichit Chuenban, a figure linked to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s Cabinet due to his close allegiance to the Shinawatras, responded to speculation about Yingluck’s comeback. “I really don’t know. I’m only taking care of her…
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Fare fight: Phuket tuk tuk driver attacks Thai woman
A Thai woman took to social media to accuse a tuk tuk driver on Bangla Road in Phuket of overcharging her foreign friend and attacking her after they refused the service. The Thai woman, Kanyasiri Sisuwan, shared the story about the tuk tuk driver on Facebook on April 15. She said she wanted to seek justice for herself and for…
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Sleep-deprived driver’s tragic lapse leads to monk’s death
A tragic accident in Pathum Thani province today resulted in the death of a monk and injuries to two others when a delivery truck driver, who had not slept since midnight, fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into a group of monks on their alms round. The peaceful morning ritual today, April 18, turned into a scene of chaos…
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Three year old girl survives Ferris wheel plunge in Bangkok
In a heart-stopping moment captured on CCTV, a three year old Thai girl found herself dangling from a Ferris wheel gondola after a daring grab for a metal bar sent her on a terrifying ride at Liab Duan Market in Bangkok. With astonishing strength, little Kanchaya Phoyen clung on for dear life as the wheel ascended, eventually dropping a stomach-churning…
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Shell-shocked: Poacher nabbed for selling rare turtle in Chiang Mai
A poacher has been apprehended for hunting protected big-headed turtles in Pha Daeng National Park, with 17 of the creatures discovered in his possession. The suspect confessed to having been commissioned to sell the turtles for 2,400 baht per kilogramme. The head of Pha Daeng National Park, Prakasit Rawiwan, yesterday revealed a successful joint operation with the military’s Chaiyanuphap Task Force.…
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Thai woman steals gold necklace and pretends to help victim
A Thai woman yesterday stole a gold necklace worth 65,000 baht from an 83 year old woman who lived next to her workplace in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok. The thief even had the audacity to pretend to help the victim after committing the crime. The victim, 83 year old Chulee, reported the theft to Rattanathibet Police Station at about 1pm…
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Elderly man drowns in Samut Prakan amid financial woes
Tragedy struck in Samut Prakan when a 63 year old man from Buriram, was found drowned in a water pit near a local road in the early hours of today. Responding to a distress call around 12.30am today, Wanuspong Madha, a deputy investigator from the Mueang Samut Prakan Police Station, arrived at the scene with paramedics from Samut Prakan Hospital…
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NZAero’s mega deal set to soar with Thai aviation giants
NZAero has clinched a monumental multi-million dollar agreement with a major Thai firm. The deal, inked during New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s diplomatic rendezvous in Thailand, promises a lucrative windfall and a plethora of job opportunities for the Kiwi aviation sector. NZAero’s CEO Stephen Burrows sealed the pact destined to bolster Royal Thai Airforce operations. This pivotal agreement spans…
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Thai woman crashes pickup into traffic cop in Lop Buri
A 26 year old Thai woman crashed her pickup into a traffic police officer on Highway No. 21 in the central province of Lop Buri on April 16, causing serious injuries to the officer. The accident occurred at Ban Deelang Intersection on Highway No. 21, also known as Saraburi-Lomsak Road, in the Pattana Nikhom district of Lop Buri province. A…
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Hong Kong man arrested with drugs at Songkran event in Bangkok
Police arrested a man from Hong Kong at the S2O Songkran Music Festival 2024 water fight in the Ratchada area of Bangkok on April 16 for possession of ketamine and happy water. More than 200 officers from Wang Thong Lang Police Station, along with K-9 dogs, screened participants for weapons and drugs at the festival entrance during the three-day event.…
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Thailand Video News | Songkran festival ends with 243 road deaths, Female police save woman from drunk foreigner during Songkran
In their video, Alex and Jay cover the conclusion of Thailand’s Songkran Festival, which was marked by troubling incidents. Nationwide traffic accidents resulted in 243 deaths, overshadowing the celebrations. Reports of violence in Phitsanulok added to the somber atmosphere. In Bangkok, two foreigners faced legal action for public indecency, while a petrol station water splash dispute sparked social media controversy.…
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Sanam Luang Songkran bash smashes records
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) declared the recent Songkran celebrations at Sanam Luang in Bangkok a resounding success, drawing in a staggering 784,000 participants. TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool shared the triumphant news at a press conference, unveiling the splashing success of the Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2024. The vibrant celebrations, spanning from April 11 to 15 on Rajdamnoen Klang…
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Thai AirAsia to resume Bangkok-Hat Yai flights
Thai AirAsia officially announced that it will restart its route between Suvarnabhumi Airport and Hat Yai. Departing at 10.45am from the Thai capital and touching down in the southern Thai province at 12.10pm with flight FD4304, and returning from Hat Yai at 1.40pm, landing back in Suvarnabhumi Airport at 2.15pm with flight FD4305. Scheduled to kick off on July 1,…
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6 Thai men arrested for attacking 2 foreigners during Songkran
Police arrested six Thai men for beating and stabbing two foreign men during the Songkran festival in the Isaan province of Roi Et on April 15. Officers from Mueang Roi Et Police Station investigated the water fight event on Thewa Phiban Road at about 10.30pm on April 15 after receiving reports of a physical altercation. Two injured foreigners were rushed…
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Thailand forges ‘Strategic Partnership’ with New Zealand
Thailand and New Zealand have vowed to embark on a historic “Strategic Partnership” journey by 2026, commemorating seven decades of diplomatic camaraderie, revealed government spokesman Chai Wacharonke yesterday. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin rolled out the red carpet for New Zealand’s Premier Christopher Luxon at Government House, overseeing the signing of two game-changing Memorandums of Understanding. The first pact is a…
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Thailand faces severe weather with strong winds, 42°C heatwave
A severe weather warning has been issued by the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) for 39 provinces today, forecasting thunderstorms, strong winds, and potential hail, especially in the northern and northeastern regions. The country is also experiencing extreme heat, with temperatures soaring to a peak of 42 degrees Celsius. Today’s weather conditions, as predicted by the TMD at 6am, indicate a…
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Security volunteer shot dead at father’s grave in Yala
A fatal shooting incident took a grim turn in Yala when a security volunteer was brutally assassinated while he was reading the Quran at his father’s grave. The 43 year old victim, Ruslee Daleng, was a ranger volunteer who received a fatal headshot at a Muslim graveyard situated in Tambon Than To of Yala’s Than To district. The Than To…
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Revving up: Rever Leasing to drive BYD EV financing in Thailand
Rever Leasing, a vehicle finance subsidiary of Rever Automotive Co, the exclusive distributor for BYD electric vehicles (EVs) in Thailand, is set to launch operations next month. The firm has set a high target to become the top electric vehicle loan provider in Thailand within the next few years. Isara Wongrung, the CEO of Rever Leasing, expressed confidence in the…
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Thai IT service demand surges due to digital transformation and AI
Global managed service provider Kyndryl believes the demand for information technology (IT) services in Thailand is being driven by factors such as digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI), smart cloud, and the modernisation of IT infrastructure. Kyndryl was born out of the spin-off of IBM’s infrastructure service business in 2021. Kittipong Asawapichayon, the managing director of Kyndryl Thailand and Vietnam spoke…
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