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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Student brawl in Nonthaburi leaves female injured, vehicles damaged
A violent altercation occurred between rival student groups from the same university in Nonthaburi, resulting in injuries to a female student and severe damage to parked vehicles. The incident took place yesterday, March 19, at 8pm outside a convenience store on Nonthaburi 14 Road, Bang Kraso subdistrict, Mueang district. Officers from Rattanathibet Police Station were alerted to the brawl involving…
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Alcohol act revamp: Thailand raises the bar on booze ads
The Thai Cabinet agreed to revise the Alcohol Beverage Control Act, allowing businesses to advertise their alcohol products and enabling the public to share pictures and videos of alcoholic beverages without legal punishment. The draft of the revised Alcohol Beverage Control Act was discussed during the Cabinet meeting yesterday, March 19. At the end of the meeting, 365 Parliament members…
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Credit crunch: Thai economy faces stormy skies
The Bank of Thailand (BoT) is sounding the alarm over slipping asset quality among wealthier borrowers, echoing a worrying trend seen in middle- and low-income groups as the Thai economy slows to a crawl. Minutes from the recent Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting reveal mounting concerns about loan quality deteriorating across the board. This could lead banks to become even…
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Power out: Phuket prepares for outage today
The Phuket branch of the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) has issued a notice about a scheduled power outage today, March 20, due to electrical system improvements. The power cut will take place between 9am and 4.30pm, impacting several key areas across the island. Residents and businesses near the intersection in front of D Condo Kuku, along one side of Ratsadanusorn…
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MG shifts gears as Thai pickup production hits the brakes amid slowdown
SAIC Motor-CP has hit the brakes on its Thai pickup truck production. The pause by the Chinese-Thai collaboration producing MG vehicles, comes as the domestic car market takes a downturn, although there’s hope for a reboot once conditions steady. While MG Sales (Thailand) hasn’t disclosed specific production figures for diesel pickups, company Vice-President Pongsak Lertruedeewattanavong reassures consumers. “Pickups aren’t our…
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Bangkok chills as the north blows in, while the south stays soaked
Bangkok is experiencing strong winds and a drop in temperature, which mirrors the cooler conditions in the north and northeast. Meanwhile, heavy rain persists in parts of the south. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasts that a high-pressure system or cool air mass is affecting upper Thailand, leading to cooler temperatures and strong winds, with some thunderstorms expected in the…
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Thai taxi driver hits rock bottom, then throws rocks at Bangkok cab
Police yesterday arrested a Thai taxi driver for throwing rocks at another taxi driver’s car in Samut Prakan province near Bangkok. The suspect claimed he committed the offence out of stress after his business went bankrupt. A 58 year old taxi driver named Pornsawat rushed to Mueang Samut Prakan Police Station in a state of fright on Tuesday, March 18,…
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Man arrested for using fake licence plate in Phang Nga
A man has been arrested by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and Highway Police after being caught with a fake licence plate in a bizarre case of forgery in Phang Nga. The suspect, identified as Nattawut, was taken into custody for the offence of forgery and use of forged official documents after a swift police operation. The case began in…
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Severe storm in Chiang Rai causes major damage and injuries
A severe summer storm struck Chiang Rai, affecting five subdistricts with intense winds causing significant damage to temples, schools, and hospitals. Four people sustained injuries, with two in critical condition. The governor has ordered immediate assistance and damage assessments. The storm affected several areas in Chiang Rai province yesterday, March 18. According to the Chiang Rai Department of Disaster Prevention…
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Cambodian monks disrobed in Pattaya for breaching Buddhist rules
Three Cambodian monks were stripped of their saffron robes in Pattaya after locals complained they had broken traditional Buddhist rules. The incident unfolded when the trio was spotted on the notorious Walking Street, a vibrant nightlife hub, late at night, begging for food – a clear violation of Buddhist practice. Buddhist monks are traditionally permitted to ask for food only…
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Thai police seize 4.4 million meth pills worth 90 million baht
Police from Provincial Police Region 1, in collaboration with military forces and the Office of the Narcotics Control Board, apprehended two men in possession of 4.4 million methamphetamine pills valued at 90 million baht. The raid took place in the Khlong Luang district of Pathum Thani province yesterday, March 18, at 2pm. Police Lieutenant General Surapol Prembutr, Commissioner of Provincial…
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PM Paetongtarn asks Thais to don elephant pants for Songkran
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is encouraging all Thais to wear elephant pants from their respective provinces during the upcoming Songkran water festival to promote Thai culture and local identity. The prime minister made the call before chairing the first meeting of the National Soft Power Strategies Committee at Government House. Wearing a pair of blue elephant pants from Kanchanaburi, which featured…
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Dutch tourists fined for provocative dancing on Bangla Road, Phuket
Two Dutch tourists have been slapped with a fine after being caught dancing provocatively in the middle of Patong’s infamous Bangla Road, Phuket, late last night, in a display that left many onlookers stunned. At around 10.20pm yesterday, March 18, the two women were filmed dancing near Soi Sea Dragon, with the video quickly circulating on the LINE application. The…
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Cheers: Thailand national parks uncork plan for booze zones
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) has raised a glass to permit tipples of alcohol in the great outdoors, but only in specific areas, and with a permit from the park’s head honcho. DNP chief Attapol Charoenchansa revealed that after several public hearings, the potential green light for booze has been unveiled as part of revamped…
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Pickup truck crash in Phatthalung kills woman, injures another
A pickup truck lost control and collided with a car before crashing into a fried chicken shop, resulting in the death of an 87 year old woman and injuries to an 80 year old. The driver apologised but, remarkably, refused to explain the incident. Police Lieutenant Kriangkrai Limwongsakul of Mueang Phatthalung Police Station yesterday, March 18, received a report from…
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Thailand Post boosts fruit delivery with EMS service
Thailand Post is offering an EMS express delivery service for summer fruits to support farmers and entrepreneurs across the country. Thailand Post Managing Director Danan Suphattrapan stated that the service aims to meet the diverse needs of consumers and businesses, particularly by assisting agricultural producers in distributing their products more efficiently to the market. The EMS express service boasts an…
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Zero baht, zero excuses: VietJet Thailand unveils sky-high savings
Budget travellers, get ready! VietJet Thailand is rolling out a jaw-dropping promotion with flight tickets starting from 0 baht (excluding taxes and fees), giving passengers the chance to travel across Thailand and beyond for next to nothing. But act fast—the deal is only available for bookings from March 18 to 22, covering travel between April 20 and October 25 (excluding…
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Tomboy twins flee Pathum Thani after fatally stabbing Burmese man
Police are searching for Burmese tomboy twins who fatally stabbed a Burmese man outside an apartment in the central province of Pathum Thani on Sunday. The motive for the murder remains unknown. Officers from Lam Luk Ka Police Station investigated the fatal stabbing outside an apartment in the Lam Luk Ka district of Pathum Thani at around 7pm on Sunday,…
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Bad karma: Ex-builder nabbed for 16m baht amulets, gold theft
A former construction worker has been arrested for stealing 107 amulets and 35 baht worth of gold from a renowned amulet trader’s home, resulting in a loss of approximately 16 million baht. The arrest took place after a thorough investigation by the police in Lat Krabang. Today, March 19, at 9am, Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, the Metropolitan Police Chief,…
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Ex-security guard found dead in abandoned Nonthaburi building
The body of a former security guard was discovered in a dilapidated building amidst piles of rubbish. A friend, unable to reach him by phone, found the decomposed body after detecting a foul odour. Officers from the Rattanathibet Police Station in Nonthaburi, along with staff from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation, responded to a report at 10.30am yesterday, March 18, of a…
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Love at first swipe: Thai man loses motorcycle in dating app scam
Another dating application scam occurred in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok at the weekend when a Thai man lost his motorcycle to a woman he met online. The victim, 24 year old Phitchakorn Khamtan, sought help from his followers on Facebook after his red Yamaha Grand Filano went missing on Saturday, March 15. He shared pictures and a video of his…
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Bangkok man arrested for alleged harassment of teen in park
A 28 year old man from Ubon Ratchathani was arrested for allegedly harassing a 17 year old girl in a public park. The incident, which took place at 10pm on March 17, involved the suspect, Max also known as Nantawat, diverting the teenager off her intended route and attempting to assault her in a secluded area. The arrest was made…
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Tractor traction: Uthai Thani cops defend noisy farmer’s arrest
Police in Mueang Lansak district, Uthai Thani province, addressed social media criticism regarding the arrest of a man for modifying his tractor’s exhaust system, creating excessive noise. Residents lodged complaints, prompting police to issue a warning rather than make an arrest, acknowledging the challenges faced by local farmers. On March 16 at 11am, Lieutenant Naruepol Chanthates, a duty officer, alongside patrol…
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Nan’s worst: Thai man arrested for lewd video call blackmail
A 26 year old man from Nan province has been arrested for allegedly luring a young girl into a lewd video call and subsequently blackmailing her. The incident, which occurred in 2024, led to the alleged pervert’s arrest yesterday, March 18, by senior officers including Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom and Police Lieutenant General Napasilp Phulsawat. The suspect, Chanoknan, was…
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Thai officer transferred for hitting the stage instead of the beat
A Thai police officer is under scrutiny for singing on stage while on duty at an entertainment venue in the central province of Ayutthaya. Thai netizens’ opinions are divided. Several partygoers shared videos last week of a policeman singing in his uniform on stage with the house band. He performed the song 191 by the Thai pop rock trio Labanoon,…
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Smoke scare at sea: Pattaya tourist boat evacuates 35 passengers
A tourist boat carrying 35 Russian passengers yesterday narrowly avoided disaster after a massive cloud of black smoke engulfed the vessel near Sak Island. Fortunately, quick-thinking by the captain and emergency services ensured a safe outcome for everyone on board. The Marine Disaster Prevention Radio Center (Marine Rescue) in Pattaya received an urgent report at 10am yesterday, March 18, of…
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Bangkok bust: 191 unit raids luxury home, nabs drug dealer
The 191 police unit conducted a raid on a luxurious residence in the Wang Thonglang district of Bangkok, arresting a man involved in drug possession. The operation, which took place yesterday, March 18 at 10.30am, resulted in the seizure of substantial evidence, including 313 ketamine vape pods, 80 bags of ketamine, 53 ecstasy pills, and 38 disposable e-cigarettes. The operation…
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Fire at Mae Sot customs warehouse destroys over 50 vehicles
A raging fire has torn through a customs warehouse in Mae Sot, Tak province, destroying more than 50 confiscated vehicles. The fire, which broke out yesterday, March 18, around 8pm, remains uncontrollable despite the tireless efforts of local fire services. The blaze started behind the new customs checkpoint, near the second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge in Tha Sai Luat subdistrict, Mae…
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Suspect arrested after fatal roadside stabbing near Lop Buri
A suspect has been arrested following the fatal stabbing of a man who escaped from a hospital and was later found dead near a roadside pavilion. The suspect claims self-defence, stating the victim attacked him while he was asleep. The police apprehended the suspect at his residence. Police from Phatthana Nikhom district in Lop Buri province discovered the body of…
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Thai-speed ahead: PM revs up talks for F1 grand prix in Thailand
Could Thailand be the next country to host a glamorous Formula One (F1) Grand Prix? Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has opened the door to this exciting possibility, holding high-level talks with Stefano Domenicali, the CEO of the Formula One Group, about bringing the iconic motorsport event to the kingdom. Yesterday, March 18, Thai government spokesperson Jirayu Huangsab confirmed that the…
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