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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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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Phuket seeks special local government organisation status
Kongsak Khoopongsakorn, who leads the Phuket Chamber of Commerce, has submitted a proposal urging for Phuket to be designated as a special local government organisation. This occurred during a visit from a Senate subcommittee. The Senate Subcommittee on Decentralisation, Transfer of Missions and Governance for Local Administrative Organisations and Special Forms of Local Administration visited Phuket on April 23 to…
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Man arrested after sword-wielding altercation in Phuket
A man was apprehended in Phuket after wielding a sword during a roadside altercation on Chao Fa Suan Luang Road in Wichit previously on April 25. The incident stemmed from a dispute over a construction contract fee. Video footage widely circulated on social media depicted the victim, 46 year old Chatchai Sae-Ku, leaving his vehicle after it was rear-ended by…
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Thailand launches digital arrival card to replace paper system
Thailand is set to introduce its Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) on May 1, replacing the previous paper-based system for international arrivals. This initiative aims to streamline the arrival process and enhance the screening of transnational criminals, according to immigration officials. The TDAC will be implemented for all international entries via sea, air, or land, as stated by Police Major General…
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Road rage shooting leaves man injured in Prachuap Khiri Khan
A recent road rage incident on Phetkasem Road in Prachuap Khiri Khan province resulted in a 29 year old man being seriously injured after an altercation between two drivers led to gunshots being fired. Police Lieutenant Panom Hongthong from the Khlong Wan Police Station was notified of the shooting at approximately 3am, today, April 27. The incident took place in…
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Smoke on the water: Tour boss caught out in Phi Phi national park
A business operator was fined 10,000 baht for taking foreign tourists to drink beer and smoke cigarettes at sea in the Phi Phi Islands. This incident, captured in a video on social media, showed inappropriate behaviour within the Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park in Krabi province yesterday, April 26. The post was captioned with a scathing message…
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Chiang Rai man detained for claiming to be mythical creature
Police and military forces in Chiang Rai detained a man claiming to be a mythical creature, causing concern among residents in a local village. The incident occurred yesterday, April 26, when the man, reportedly exhibiting signs of mental illness and carrying weapons, was found in a hut at the edge of the village, Moo 9, in Sri Kham subdistrict, Mae…
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Thaksin refutes coalition reshuffle rumours in Thailand
In Chiang Mai, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra dismissed speculation that the Bhumjaithai Party might be removed from the coalition, amidst reports of a possible Cabinet reshuffle. Speaking to the media, Thaksin, father of current Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, emphasised that decisions regarding the Cabinet rest solely with the PM. He further indicated that any Cabinet changes would be comprehensive,…
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SRT extends Thai-Chinese rail project by 201 days
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) Board has approved a 201-day extension for the Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project between Saraburi and Kaeng Khoi due to structural constraints, including land-use permissions from the Royal Irrigation Department. SRT Governor Veeris Ammarapala announced the board’s approval for the extension of the contract for the high-speed rail system connecting Bangkok and Nong Khai, a…
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Democrat Party leader calls for change amidst crisis before anniversary
Chalermchai Sri-on, leader of the Democrat Party, underscored the importance of embracing change amidst a significant crisis as the party approaches its 80th anniversary. During the annual general meeting at the Miracle Grand Hotel yesterday, April 26, Chalermchai, who also holds the position of Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, highlighted that the party is in a serious predicament, with…
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Collapsed Bangkok building death toll rises to 60
Rescue teams in Bangkok have uncovered three more bodies from the rubble of a 30-story building that collapsed last month, bringing the death toll to a devastating 60. The bodies were found in the fire escape stairwell area of the under-construction State Audit Office (SAO) building in Chatuchak district. Officials fear that more victims may be discovered as search and…
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8-year-old girl drowns in Buriram’s Mun River, mother distraught
An eight year old girl tragically drowned after a boat capsized in the Mun River in Buriram province. Her 45 year old mother was left distraught. Survivors recounted the incident, highlighting attempts to bail water from the boat and the rescue efforts by a seven year old boy. Yesterday, April 25, Phasakorn Phokham, a Police Lieutenant Colonel at Phutthaisong Police…
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Youths throw pétanque balls at boxing leader’s Chon Buri home
In a bizarre and frightening incident in Chon Buri, a group of youths targeted the home of a boxing camp leader, throwing pétanque balls at his house in the early hours yesterday, April 25. The attack, which narrowly missed his six year old daughter, left the family car and house windows damaged, leaving the family shaken and fearful. The incident…
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2 Thai men confess to killing dog for sun-dried meat in Sa Kaeo
Two Thai men have sparked outrage after confessing to shooting their neighbour’s dog and using its remains to make sun-dried meat. The chilling incident, which occurred in Aranyaprathet district, Sa Kaeo province, has left the local community in disbelief. The suspects, identified as 68 year old Sawaeng and 56 year old Prasit, were arrested after a complaint was filed by…
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Pattaya’s new drainage system ready for rainy season
Pattaya City is gearing up for the rainy season with a major new upgrade to its drainage system, designed to combat flooding in central areas. On Thursday, April 24, Pattaya Mayor Poramet Ngampichet inspected and tested the newly completed Phase 1 of the Eastern Railway Parallel Road Drainage System, ensuring it’s ready for heavy rainfall. The drainage project, part of…
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Phuket road rage leads to livestreamed assault, man arrested
Shocking footage has surfaced of a violent road rage incident on the streets of Phuket, leading to the arrest of a 34 year old man who brutally assaulted a 46 year old driver. The disturbing altercation unfolded yesterday, April 25, on Chao Fah Suan Luang Road, when Nattapol, known as Pa Joke Wat Thep, chased down Chatchai’s vehicle, crashed into…
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Police arrest restaurant murder suspect in Kanchanaburi
Police have apprehended a 25 year old suspect in connection with the fatal shooting of a 17 year old girl, following his attempt to evade capture in the western province of Kanchanaburi. The incident occurred on a road in Lam Sam Kaew subdistrict, Lam Luk Ka district, Pathum Thani province, where the victim was shot and later died in hospital.…
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Thai Airways partners with KMC to convert Boeing 777-300ERs
Thai Airways has signed a Memorandum of Inderstanding (MOU) with Kansas Modification Center, LLC (KMC) to establish a joint venture for converting Boeing 777-300ER passenger aircraft into freighters. The agreement, signed yesterday, April 25, by Thai Airways CEO Chai Eamsiri and KMC CEO James Allen Gibbs at Thai Airways’ headquarters on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, marks a significant milestone for both…
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Thai-Australian police unite to combat transnational crime networks
Thai and Australian police have initiated a collaborative operation to dismantle transnational criminal networks. This joint effort targets crimes like narcotics, child exploitation, and cryptocurrency-based money laundering, aiming to tackle complex issues that cross international borders. Earlier this month, Police Lieutenant General Jirabhop Bhuridej, Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police’s Central Investigation Bureau, led a delegation to Australia for discussions…
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Phuket police bust Russian woman in prostitution crackdown
Police in Phuket have arrested a Russian national involved in a prostitution ring in a latest crackdown. On Thursday, April 24, officers working under the command of Police Lieutenant General Saksira Pueak-am, Commander of the Tourist Police, arrested a 28 year old Russian woman at a hotel in Phuket Town. The arrest was made under the Prevention and Suppression of…
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PM Paetongtarn leaves hospital after fever recovery
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was discharged from hospital after recovering from a high fever, according to government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub yesterday, April 25. The 38 year old PM was admitted to hospital on Thursday evening, April 24, following her return from a two-day official visit to Cambodia. After a medical examination yesterday, doctors found her condition had improved and…
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6 police officers honoured after Hua Hin aircraft crash
Following a tragic small aircraft accident involving a police air unit, six police officers’ bodies have been transported from Hua Hin Hospital to the Police General Hospital’s forensic institute. The accident, which occurred near Bo Fai Airport in Hua Hin district, Prachuap Khiri Khan province, resulted in the deaths of five officers and critically injured one, who later succumbed to…
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New liquid and gel rules enforced at Thailand airports
Thailand has introduced new rules governing how liquids, gels, and aerosols (LGAs) can be carried in hand luggage, tightening security measures at airports nationwide. The new regulations, which came into effect on Tuesday, April 22, were published in the Royal Gazette and supersede those introduced in 2019. “These updated rules, issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), aim…
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Man killed in high-speed crash into parked truck in Phuket
A 55 year old man was killed in a horrifying crash early this morning when his sedan slammed into a stationary trailer truck on the bypass road in Phuket. The tragic accident unfolded at around 1.50am today, April 25, in front of the Kee Hin outlet. “At the scene, officers found a 22-wheeled trailer truck, registered in Chumphon, parked on…
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French fugitive busted at Phuket Airport over assault charge
A wanted French national thought he could slip into Thailand unnoticed but Phuket’s sharp-eyed immigration and police officers had other plans. In a dramatic early morning arrest, a 31 year old Frenchman was apprehended at Phuket International Airport yesterday, April 24 at around 7.40am. The arrest was made inside the international arrivals hall, where officers were waiting to intercept him…
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Thai police bust Ayutthaya factory making addictive syrup
In a dramatic crackdown, police raided a major counterfeit cough syrup factory in Ayutthaya, uncovering a disturbing network responsible for mixing the syrup with addictive substances to create the illicit 4×100 drink. The operation, conducted today, April 25, involved officials from the Consumer Protection Police Division and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), who targeted two warehouses in Uthai district.…
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Train slams pickup as driver ignores barrier in Sattahip
A 69 year old man is lucky to be alive after a shocking collision with a freight train in Sattahip that left his pickup truck mangled and his body seriously injured. At 9.50am yesterday, April 24, Sattahip Police were alerted to a dramatic accident at a railway crossing near Ban Noen Samakkhi in Chon Buri province. The crash involved a…
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Pattaya lifts out of order after Wan Lai water chaos
The aftermath of Pattaya’s wild Wan Lai water festival has left more than just soaked streets, some public elevators are out of order, causing frustration and major accessibility issues across the city. As the celebrations fade, the Cleanliness Control Division of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment has launched a deep-cleaning operation, targeting lifts in public areas hit hardest…
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Phuket seafront restaurant busted for land grab
A popular Phuket restaurant with stunning sea views is under fire after police swooped in and seized over 4 rai of land, citing illegal forest encroachment and unlicensed construction. The high-profile raid has rocked the east side of Phuket Town, exposing serious environmental violations hidden behind a picturesque dining experience. Yesterday, April 24, officials from the Phuket Provincial Forestry Office,…
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Baht slump could boost Pattaya tourism in low season
As Pattaya gears up for its traditional low season, a silver lining has emerged, Thailand’s weakening baht could bring a welcome surge in foreign visitors. With the Thai currency slipping to 33.57 baht per US dollar yesterday, April 24, down from 33.39 the day before, analysts suggest the trend may continue, offering tourists more bang for their buck. “Foreign travellers…
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Tour de theft: Israeli’s bike swiped in Bangkok, found on Facebook
A cheeky thief tried to cash in on a stolen bike belonging to an Israeli tourist by flogging it on Facebook but got caught peddling his crime to an undercover cop. Bangkok police nabbed the suspect who allegedly nicked a pricey bike from a visiting tourist in Yaowarat, Chinatown’s bustling food and shopping district, before listing it online for a…
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