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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Accident or foul play? Thai woman killed by husband’s pickup
A Thai woman lost her life at her home in Bangkok today after her husband crashed his pickup into her. The husband insisted it was an accident. A 61 year old Thai man, Thianchai, today, March 27, called officers from Bang Sue Police Station and rescue workers to investigate the death of his wife, 61 year old Phummaree, at around…
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Phuket goes high-tech with new heart care innovations
Phuket is stepping up as a global medical hub, this time with a focus on matters of the heart. On Tuesday, March 25, Bangkok Hospital Phuket officially launched a suite of high-tech innovations aimed at transforming cardiac care in Thailand, positioning itself as a leader in the advanced diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. The launch event, held at the…
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Sacred ritual at Wat Thep Sorn Thamaram draws notable crowd
A significant event unfolded at Wat Thep Sorn Thamaram in Pathum Thani yesterday, where revered monk Phra Ratchawatra Thammasophon, also known as Luang Pu Sila Sirichanto, led a sacred ritual. The ceremony, yesterday, March 26, aimed at consecrating revered amulets from Wat Luang Pu Suang, drew a notable crowd, including artists, celebrities, and high-ranking officials. Some 11 renowned monks, alongside…
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Big Brother boost: Pattaya invests 2.1 million baht in CCTV
Pattaya is getting serious about surveillance—with a multi-million-baht tech upgrade designed to keep a closer eye on streets, storms, and suspicious activity. To bolster public safety and modernise city management, the Pattaya City Council has approved a 2.1 million baht budget to enhance its real-time CCTV system. The decision was made during a recent council meeting at Taksin Hall, where…
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ChatGPT update sparks fake Bangkok Bank slip warning
A tech-savvy warning has sent shockwaves through the online financial world: ChatGPT can now fake bank transfer slips with near-flawless accuracy—watermarks and all. In a recent post, technology blogger Kafaak raised the alarm about the powerful capabilities of ChatGPT’s latest update, which reportedly allows users to generate eerily realistic bank transfer receipts. The development has sparked serious fraud concerns, especially for small…
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Bangkok delivery rider accuses customer for locking him up
A Thai food delivery rider accused a customer of locking him inside her house in Bangkok for nearly 30 minutes for reasons he could not determine. Other riders shared similar experiences with this particular customer. A LINE Man delivery rider posted a video of himself attempting to leave the customer’s home on his TikTok account, @ice_23648, on Monday, March 24.…
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Fiery inferno: Phuket car audio shop blaze torches vehicles
A car audio shop went up in flames in Phuket this morning, sending thick smoke billowing into the air and reducing several vehicles to charred wrecks in a fiery inferno that brought Thepkrasattri Road to a standstill. The blaze broke out at Sound Technics Sapam, located opposite the Krungsri Bank branch in Ratsada, just after 8.20am today, March 27. Firefighters battled…
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61 billion baht Motorway 8 project to begin in 2027
The initial phase of the Motorway 8 (M8) project, designed to connect Nakhon Pathom to Ratchaburi, is set to start in 2027, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit. This month, the Department of Highways is poised to submit a proposal for the first phase of the M8 project, valued at 61 billion baht (US$1.78 million). This…
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Rape-accused Bangkok MP denies vote-for-favour claims
Scandal-hit MP Chaiyamparwaan Manpianjit is fighting back against explosive claims that he supported the government in exchange for help with his ongoing rape case. The Thai Progress Party lawmaker, who represents Bangkok’s Bang Khuntien district, insists there was no political deal behind his surprise vote for Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra during Wednesday’s no-confidence debate. “This issue [the rape case] has…
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Funeral woe turns to joy as Thai parents realise ‘dead’ son is alive
Thai parents held a three-day funeral for their son before discovering that he was still alive and undergoing treatment at a hospital in the southern province of Phatthalung. Amarawadee Datekhao shared the case of mistaken identity that her family experienced with ThaiRath yesterday, March 26. She explained that her 17 year old son, Pongsaphak Thaneerat, and his friend were rushed…
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Renowned Thai abbot dies from heatstroke amid soaring temperatures
A renowned abbot from a well-known temple passed away unexpectedly yesterday after suffering from heatstroke in a bathroom. The 66 year old Phra Khru Kampeera Siddhikun, abbot of Wat Burapha Ban Khae and head monk of Phak Phang subdistrict, was discovered by fellow monks and rushed to a hospital. Despite medical efforts, he was pronounced dead at 6.30pm, yesterday, March…
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PM Paetongtarn heads to Phuket to boost sustainable tourism
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is bringing her soft power message to the golden sands of Phuket in a bold bid to reshape the future of Thai tourism. The 38 year old Thai premier is set to jet off to the southern island tomorrow, March 28, as part of her push to position Thailand as a global leader in sustainable travel.…
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‘You park, we arrest’: Pattaya cracks down for order
Pattaya is on a mission to clean up its act—literally and figuratively. With public spaces overrun by private businesses and traffic jams choking its streets, the city is launching bold new initiatives to restore order and improve quality of life for both residents and tourists. Leading the charge is Pattaya City Mayor Poramet Ngampichet, who has rolled out two key…
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Thieves steal Honda Wave 125i motorcycles in Saraburi heist
Three young thieves stole two Honda Wave 125i motorcycles from a dormitory in Nong Khae district, Saraburi province. The theft occurred within three minutes, leaving the owner with only the registration documents. One of the motorcycles was newly purchased just a month ago. Yesterday, March 26, Boonsanong Kamphumi, the 37 year old owner of a white-red Honda Wave 125i, licence…
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Thailand approves mega entertainment complex bill with casino cap
Thailand is going all-in on entertainment—but not just for gamblers. In a landmark move, the Cabinet has approved the draft Integrated Entertainment Business Act and sent it to the House of Representatives for further consideration. While the inclusion of casinos may raise eyebrows, the government insists they’ll be strictly regulated and capped at just 10% of any entertainment complex. “The…
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Pattaya lifeguards and foreigner rescue man from suicide (video)
Two Thai lifeguards and a foreigner yesterday successfully rescued a man who attempted to commit suicide in the sea off Pattaya. Two Thai lifeguards and a foreign man who witnessed the incident yesterday, March 26, pulled the Thai man, later identified as Pisit, out of the sea. Pisit reportedly choked on seawater and was exhausted, as the sea had very…
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Behind bars and under fire: Thailand’s prisons slammed for slow reform
Thailand’s prison system is under fresh international scrutiny, with human rights organisations condemning the country’s slow progress in reforming its outdated and overcrowded facilities. According to last year’s annual report by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Union for Civil Liberty (UCL), Thailand’s efforts to adopt alternative measures to incarceration have been insufficient, and critical changes remain…
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Thai transwoman and boyfriend arrested for killing brother
Police in Pathum Thani arrested a Thai transwoman and her boyfriend after uncovering evidence that they had murdered her younger brother and managed to keep the crime hidden for three months. The victim, a 28 year old Thai man, Jakkarin Charoenpha, went missing in mid-December last year. Jakkarin left his rented room in the Isaan province of Nakhon Ratchasima on…
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Police slam brakes on teen biker gang in Chalong crackdown
A gang of 11 teenagers were arrested early yesterday morning for causing a disturbance and loitering in Chalong, with six motorcycles seized during the operation. The arrests were made yesterday, March 26, under the supervision of Police Colonel Rungrit Rattanaphakdi, Superintendent of Chalong Police Station, after officers were alerted to a gathering of youths causing a nuisance near Soi Chao…
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Thai man found dead in car after unusual online order
A 29 year old man was discovered dead in his vehicle after ordering items online, raising suspicions among family members who had noticed his unusual behaviour three to four days before his death. Yesterday, March 26, at 7.30pm, Police Lieutenant Colonel Jaresak Suwannasont, Deputy Inspector of Bang Nam Priao Police Station, was informed about a death inside a car parked in…
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Toddler drowns in Wang River, northern Thailand
A two year old boy tragically drowned in the Wang River in Lampang province after wandering away from his grandmother’s house. The incident occurred yesterday, March 26, at 5pm, and police, along with rescue teams, responded to the scene. The Lampang Rescue Association, in collaboration with local hospital emergency staff and police, searched and found the boy’s body in the…
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Thai food fight: Restaurant industry left starving as spending drops 40%
Thailand’s restaurant industry is in turmoil, with purchasing power dropping by over 40% in the first quarter of 2025, according to Thanivarn Kulmongkol, President of the Thai Restaurant Association. The sluggish economic recovery and stagnant incomes have left consumers tightening their belts, opting for savings rather than spending, especially ahead of major festivals like Songkran. This downturn is affecting all…
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Russian man’s Phuket cannabis empire goes up in smoke
Police in Phuket yesterday arrested a Russian man for illegally distributing dried cannabis flowers and vapes, seizing illegal items worth nearly 1 million baht from his accommodation. Local police officers, in collaboration with administrative officials, launched a crackdown on the illegal sale and use of cannabis and e-cigarettes in Phuket between 21 and 30 March. The arrest of the 24…
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Lottery tips and stories fuel excitement for April 1 draw
Lottery enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating the draw on April 1. Various sources have shared their predictions for this upcoming event. Here are some notable lottery tips and stories circulating. Renowned lottery predictor Mae Nam Nueng revealed her picks for April 1. She highlights the number 4 and suggests combinations such as 4176. For a three-digit finish, she proposes 417 and…
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Thai police arrest Chinese duo for counterfeit cosmetics trade
Thai police arrested a 40 year old Chinese national who had obtained Thai citizenship and a 36 year old Chinese woman for allegedly selling counterfeit cosmetics and medicines. They rented two houses in Bangkok, where over 8,200 illegal items were seized. Yesterday, March 26, Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, alongside other senior officers, directed a team, including officials from the Food…
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Illegal condo rentals exposed in Pattaya crackdown
The Thai government has launched a major crackdown on illegal daily condominium rentals, with a focus on three prime locations in Pattaya. Foreign investors, particularly Chinese nationals, have been accused of turning multiple condominium units into de facto hotels, violating the Hotel Act. These illegal operations have sparked outrage among locals and led to direct intervention by the Ministry of…
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Frenchman wanted for fatal prison break arrested in Phuket
Phuket police officers yesterday arrested a Frenchman wanted for aiding a prisoner’s escape and killing prison guards in France last year. The BBC reported last year that the French prisoner, 30 year old Mohamed Amra, also known as “The Fly,” managed to escape from custody while being transported back to prison after attending a court hearing. Amra had been arrested on…
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Phuket rolls out EV buses to boost tourism and reduce pollution
Phuket is set to introduce two new 18-seat open-top electric buses to enhance its tourism appeal. These environmentally friendly vehicles aim to tackle pollution and PM2.5 dust issues while serving as promotional tools for tourism, according to Saroj Angkanapilas, Mayor of Phuket municipality. The buses are adorned with illustrations of the area’s distinctive Sino-European architecture, highlighting the Old Town’s cultural…
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MP banned for 10 years over vote-buying in Thailand election
The Supreme Court has ruled that Mukdawan Luengsinil, a Bhumjaithai Party MP representing Nakhon Si Thammarat, is barred from contesting or voting in elections for the next 10 years due to an election law violation. This decision follows a petition from the Election Commission (EC), which found evidence of her involvement in vote-buying during the 2023 General Election in Constituency…
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British widow’s Thailand dream turns to heartbreak
A British woman paid tribute to her “kind, compassionate” husband, who died after suffering a heart attack on a flight home from their dream holiday in Thailand. The couple’s flight was diverted to India when he took ill and eventually died in a Delhi hospital. The dead man’s British wife, Gill Dunn, then had the ignominy of bringing her husband’s…
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