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Thailand hot news, breaking stories, crime, politics, tourism, and business—stay updated with in-depth reports and exclusive interviews on the latest events across the country. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Thailand news source.

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    Long-term life in Thailand? 5 reasons private health insurance pays off in the long run

    Thailand is a great place for expats and retirees, offering a warm climate, affordable living, and rich culture. However, healthcare can be tricky for foreigners since they aren’t eligible for public health coverage, and private care can be expensive. Private...

  • Phuket faces water crisis as reservoirs run dry

    Phuket faces water crisis as reservoirs run dry

    Warning bells are ringing in Phuket as reservoir levels plunge and fears of severe drought grip the island. Officials scramble to prevent a looming water crisis before the taps run dry. Phuket chief Sophon Suwannarat and top provincial officials joined a high-level video conference on April 8 to strategise urgent drought mitigation measures. The session, chaired by Minister of Interior…

  • Malaysian armed robber arrested in Bangkok after gold heist

    Malaysian armed robber arrested in Bangkok after gold heist

    A notorious on-the-run Malaysian armed robber who stole gold accessories worth over 6.9 million baht from a shop in the southern province of Songkhla was arrested at a Bangkok bus terminal. The Malaysian national, 61 year old Yee Boon Long, stole 57 gold items from the Thai Udom Gold store on Montri 1 Road in Hat Yai district, Songkhla province,…

  • US academic granted bail but remains behind bars

    US academic granted bail but remains behind bars

    An American academic accused of royal defamation remains locked up despite a court granting him bail, as Thai Immigration drags its feet on his release. Dr Paul Chambers, a lecturer at Naresuan University’s ASEAN Community Studies Institute, was granted bail by the Court of Appeals Region 6. But the saga is far from over. His lawyer must convince the Immigration…

  • Decomposed dugong found in Phuket likely died of natural causes

    Decomposed dugong found in Phuket likely died of natural causes

    Marine officials reported that a dugong found ashore at Ban Ko En in Mai Khao, Phuket likely succumbed to natural causes linked to a chronic illness. The exact cause remains uncertain due to the advanced decomposition of the carcass. The female dugong, measuring 251 centimetres and weighing around 130 kilogrammes, was discovered on April 8, as confirmed by the Andaman…

  • Brace for a wild Thai-m: Storms set to reign over 45 provinces

    Brace for a wild Thai-m: Storms set to reign over 45 provinces

    The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued its first warning of summer storm forecast, predicting thunderstorms and strong winds affecting 45 provinces, including Bangkok. The weather conditions are expected to intensify from April 12 to April 14. Over the next 24 hours, upper Thailand will experience hot weather, with particularly high temperatures in the north and central regions. Thunderstorms and gusty winds…

  • The hottest month in Thailand 2025

    The hottest month in Thailand 2025

    Thailand is known for its year-round warmth, but it also has significant temperature fluctuations depending on the region, time of year, and even day-to-day weather patterns. If you’re an expat living here, understanding the country’s climate can make a big difference in how you plan your activities, especially during the hottest months. Here’s a breakdown of Thailand’s temperatures by region…

  • PM Paetongtarn defends entertainment complex bill amid casino claims

    PM Paetongtarn defends entertainment complex bill amid casino claims

    Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has hit back at critics who claim the Entertainment Complex Bill is a thinly veiled attempt to turn Thailand into a casino destination. She’s made it clear: the bill isn’t about casinos, but about creating economic opportunities and boosting tourism. The 38 year old PM addressed the growing controversy surrounding the Entertainment Complex Bill, dismissing claims…

  • Thai commuters must register for 20-baht electric rail fare in August

    Thai commuters must register for 20-baht electric rail fare in August

    Big news for Bangkok commuters! Starting September 30, Thai residents will be able to travel on the electric rail system for just 20 baht per trip. But don’t expect to pay cash or get the discount if you’re a tourist—here’s what you need to know. Thai commuters in Bangkok and surrounding provinces will soon be able to enjoy a massive…

  • Phuket launches gateway project to boost tourism and conservation

    Phuket launches gateway project to boost tourism and conservation

    Phuket unveiled a new initiative designed to boost local tourism, support community businesses, and protect the island’s environment. The Phuket Gateway project, launched by the Governor of Phuket, aims to connect tourists with authentic local experiences while focusing on ecological sustainability. Naraphat Plodthong, the Governor of Phuket, presided over the official launch of the Phuket Gateway ceremony, marking the beginning…

  • Miss Universe and Miss Grand to star in Pattaya’s Wan Lai Festival (video)

    Miss Universe and Miss Grand to star in Pattaya’s Wan Lai Festival (video)

    Pattaya is all set to celebrate its vibrant Wan Lai tradition with an exciting lineup of events, including star-studded parades and sacred ceremonies. Three major cable TV stations have teamed up to promote the festivities, ensuring that locals and tourists can enjoy a safe and spectacular celebration. Today, April 9, at Pattaya City Hall, representatives from three major cable TV…

  • Soaked and secure: Phuket gears up for a safe splash this Songkran

    Soaked and secure: Phuket gears up for a safe splash this Songkran

    With Songkran just around the corner, Phuket is ramping up its efforts to ensure safety during the festival. A major new operation centre has been launched to prevent road and marine accidents, as the island prepares for an influx of tourists and local festivities. Today, April 9, at 9.30am, Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat officially opened the Road and Marine Accident…

  • Woman found unconscious in Pattaya with gold and cash

    Woman found unconscious in Pattaya with gold and cash

    A glamorous night out took a worrying turn in Pattaya when a well-dressed woman was found unconscious and heavily intoxicated at a restaurant, surrounded by valuables. Police had to step in to protect her, and her jewellery, from potential danger. Police Lieutenant Colonel Suchart Dusadee, Inspector at Pattaya City Police Station, told reporters that he received a call from a…

  • American lecturer’s Thai visa revoked over lese majeste charge

    American lecturer’s Thai visa revoked over lese majeste charge

    The American lecturer facing up to 15 years behind bars if convicted for defaming the Thai royal family, today had his visa revoked. Paul Chambers, an academic based at Naresuan University’s ASEAN Community Studies Institute, was officially arrested yesterday, April 8 at Phitsanulok City Police Station. Accompanied by officials from the US Embassy in Thailand, interpreters, and lawyers from the…

  • Pattaya construction site sees arrest of illegal Chinese worker

    Pattaya construction site sees arrest of illegal Chinese worker

    In a crackdown on illegal foreign workers, Na Jomtien Police arrested a 50 year old Chinese national who was caught overseeing a construction site without a valid work permit. The arrest comes as officials continue to tighten regulations on foreign workers in Thailand. Na Jomtien Police, in collaboration with Immigration Division 3, arrested Chen Gaofeng, a 50 year old Chinese…

  • Lovesick Thai man fabricates shooting on tanker to meet girlfriend

    Lovesick Thai man fabricates shooting on tanker to meet girlfriend

    A Thai man fabricated a shooting and injuries on an oil tanker floating in the sea off Chon Buri on Monday, causing chaos for police officers, simply because he wanted to return home to see his girlfriend. More than 20 officers from Laem Chabang Police Station, Sri Racha Marine Police, and the Sawang Prateep Sri Racha Rescue Foundation rushed to…

  • Newborn abandoned in pickup truck in Phuket, rescued

    Newborn abandoned in pickup truck in Phuket, rescued

    A chilling discovery in Phuket has left locals shaken after a newborn baby was found abandoned in the back of a pickup truck. The infant, still with the umbilical cord attached, was miraculously alive and is now in hospital receiving care. Today, April 9 at 10.30am, Police Lieutenant Colonel Khajornkiat Khamwichairat, Deputy Inspector of Investigation at Cherng Talay Police Station,…

  • Pattaya contractor fined after cement spill causes hazard

    Pattaya contractor fined after cement spill causes hazard

    A contractor has been slapped with a 10,000 baht fine after cement spilled onto the busy streets of Pattaya, causing a major hazard for both pedestrians and motorists. The incident sparked a wave of public outrage, with many demanding stricter enforcement and accountability for construction trucks. The contractor was recently fined 10,000 baht after loose cement spilled from a truck…

  • Bets off: Phuket residents roll the dice against casino plan

    Bets off: Phuket residents roll the dice against casino plan

    A group of Phuket locals has rallied against the controversial casino bill, urging the government to halt its progress. Dressed in white shirts, they gathered at Phuket Provincial Hall to submit a petition that firmly rejects the push for casinos in the popular tourist destination. A group of concerned residents, entrepreneurs, and members of the Phuket State Enterprise Labor Relations Confederation…

  • Widow loses 620,000 baht to call centre scam in Thailand

    Widow loses 620,000 baht to call centre scam in Thailand

    A widow with twin daughters sought help from the Pavena Foundation, claiming she was deceived into transferring over 620,000 baht by the Poipet Company. She had intended to save her late husband’s life insurance money for her daughters’ education. Yesterday, April 8, at the Pavena Foundation in Thanyaburi district, Pathum Thani province, a 44 year old woman, referred to as…

  • Couple arrested in Bangkok for selling drug-laced vape liquids

    Couple arrested in Bangkok for selling drug-laced vape liquids

    Police arrested a couple caught selling electronic cigarettes mixed with illicit drugs from their residence. The operation yesterday, April 8, led by Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom and his team, uncovered a significant quantity of drugs and related items at their home in Sai Mai, Bangkok. The arrested suspects, 35 year old Theeraporn and 33 year old Tawiphop, were found…

  • Pattaya mayor tackles water shortages with major projects

    Pattaya mayor tackles water shortages with major projects

    Pattaya Mayor Poramet Ngampichet is taking bold steps to tackle the city’s water supply issues. With 12 major projects underway, residents can expect improved water distribution and transparency in the coming months. Mayor Poramet has ordered relevant agencies to gather detailed information on 12 ongoing water supply extension projects within Pattaya. The goal is to submit the information to the…

  • Quantum Lightborn: A solo exhibition by Tat Nattee at Siam Paragon

    Quantum Lightborn: A solo exhibition by Tat Nattee at Siam Paragon

    In a world where rarity is often equated with value, Quantum Lightborn invites us to reconsider: What if the rarest among us were seen as the most extraordinary? This exhibition presents the latest series of paintings by Tat Nattee, reimagining Albino children not as anomalies, but as Lightborn: beings of the future, whose uniqueness becomes their power. The inspiration for…

  • Ale’s well that ends well: Drunk foreigner trips up in Phuket scuffle

    Ale’s well that ends well: Drunk foreigner trips up in Phuket scuffle

    An allegedly drunk foreigner chased a Thai man and attempted to attack him in Phuket. The victim fortunately escaped unharmed when the foreign man stumbled to the ground. The Thai victim shared videos of the incident with the Phuket Times, today, April 9. The incident reportedly took place on the road leading to Rang Hill, a popular viewpoint in Phuket,…

  • Luxury village theft ring busted, assets worth 5 million baht seized

    Luxury village theft ring busted, assets worth 5 million baht seized

    Four foreign nationals from Colombia and Peru were apprehended for orchestrating a theft ring targeting luxury villages without security guards, stealing assets worth 5 million baht. Police suspect an organised operation with possible accomplices behind the scenes. The arrest took place at 7pm yesterday, April 8 at the Mueang Pathum Thani Police Station. Police Lieutenant General Surapol Prembutra, Police Major…

  • How to find English-speaking doctors and hospitals in Thailand

    How to find English-speaking doctors and hospitals in Thailand

    One minute, you’re wading through the thick heat of Bangkok, Phuket, or Chiang Mai. The next, you’re woozy from food poisoning or a motorbike mishap. Suddenly, you realise that you are in a country that does not speak your language, in a place where the words for hospital and doctor and help do not slip easily off your tongue. And…

  • Drunk police officer kills mother and child in Narathiwat crash

    Drunk police officer kills mother and child in Narathiwat crash

    A police officer driving under the influence collided with a motorcycle carrying a family of three, resulting in the deaths of a mother and her child, while the father was injured. The officer’s blood alcohol content was found to be 177 milligrammes per cent, significantly above the legal limit. Yesterday, April 8, Police Colonel Suphachai Yiwangkon, the superintendent of Rangae…

  • Phuket immigration busts 5 Indians in crackdown on illegal workers

    Phuket immigration busts 5 Indians in crackdown on illegal workers

    Phuket Immigration officers, in collaboration with Region 8 Police, arrested five Indian nationals and a Thai woman involved in illegal employment. The operation, led by senior officers, highlights the province’s ongoing efforts to combat unlawful foreign workers and ensure the safety of residents and tourists. In a coordinated effort led by Police Colonel Kriangkrai Ariyaying, Superintendent of Phuket Immigration, along…

  • Dog rescued from cruel owner who dragged pooch along road

    Dog rescued from cruel owner who dragged pooch along road

    A Thai woman rescued a dog from its cruel owner, who dragged the animal along the road in the Isaan province of Nakhon Ratchasima, leading to injuries to its legs and body. The witness, Charuwan Phuangkham, shared the videos of an argument between the dog owner and a woman who rescued the animal on her Facebook account yesterday. April 8.…

  • Thai army commanders face action over conscript abuse

    Thai army commanders face action over conscript abuse

    Commanders of army units where trainers are found guilty of conscript abuse will face disciplinary measures for neglecting their responsibilities, Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai stated yesterday. Phumtham yesterday, April 8, made these remarks during a visit to a conscript selection and recruitment unit at the Directorate of Joint Communications under the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters in Don Mueang district,…

  • Miracle rescue: Young girl pulled from deep sewer in Bangkok

    Miracle rescue: Young girl pulled from deep sewer in Bangkok

    A young girl is lucky to be alive after falling into a deep sewer near Soi Sahakarnpramoon in Bangkok. The dramatic rescue unfolded yesterday, April 8, as emergency teams rushed to save her from the perilous depths. At 5.49pm yesterday, emergency services received a distress call via hotline 199 reporting a girl trapped in a sewer near Soi Sahakarnpramoon, located…