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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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    Why health insurance costs more each year and how expats in Thailand can save more money

    Each year, many expats living in Thailand see their health insurance premiums go up and often without a clear reason. This can be frustrating, especially when you're trying to plan your budget. But by understanding why prices rise and learning...

  • Dating scam: Thai tomboy arrested for stealing pickup and phone | Thaiger

    Dating scam: Thai tomboy arrested for stealing pickup and phone

    Police arrested a Thai tomboy in the southern province of Chum Phon for operating a romance scam, stealing a pickup and mobile phone from a woman she met on a dating application. The victim, identified only as Kuy, filed a complaint at the Chulalongkorn Pratunam Police Station on Friday, December 13, after losing her grey Toyota Vigo pickup truck and…

  • Thai customs intercept over 300 drug cases so far in December | Thaiger

    Thai customs intercept over 300 drug cases so far in December

    The Thai Customs Department announced the seizure of heroin, methamphetamine, cannabis, and counterfeit goods at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in a coordinated effort with the Royal Thai Police (RTP), Immigration Bureau, and the Australian Border Force (ABF). The announcement was made at a press briefing at the Customs Department headquarters in Bangkok, today, December 16. Yesterday, customs officials intercepted two passengers…

  • Hooked: Thai sailors jailed by Myanmar court for illegal fishing | Thaiger

    Hooked: Thai sailors jailed by Myanmar court for illegal fishing

    In a legal ruling that’s sent shockwaves throughout the fishing community in Thailand, a Myanmar court has thrown the book at four Thai sailors, sentencing them to between four and six years in prison for fishing offences and illegal entry into the country. Sources from Kawthaung district broke the news today, December 16, revealing the fate of the Thai crew…

  • Grain gains: Thai farmers to receive 1,000 baht per rai support | Thaiger

    Grain gains: Thai farmers to receive 1,000 baht per rai support

    The Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) has initiated a comprehensive financial support programme, transferring 1,000 baht per rai to Thai rice farmers across the country. Deputy Finance Minister Jullapan Amornvivat presided over the first day of payments, aimed at providing relief and encouraging agricultural productivity. The support programme targets 4.61 million farming households, with total funding reaching 37.4…

  • Living the Thai life: Kingdom rolls out red carpet for big spenders | Thaiger

    Living the Thai life: Kingdom rolls out red carpet for big spenders

    Thailand is upping the ante in its tourism game, spotlighting the allure of luxury and high-spending travellers to power up the economy post-pandemic. Known for its warm hospitality, stunning landscapes, and world-class attractions, the nation is seeing a surge in plush hotels and branded properties to cater to this elite crowd. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) set its sights…

  • Motorcycle crash with 18-wheeler claims life in Ayutthaya | Thaiger

    Motorcycle crash with 18-wheeler claims life in Ayutthaya

    A tragic accident unfolded when a young man and his girlfriend, riding a motorcycle, were involved in a collision with an 18-wheeler truck in Ayutthaya. The incident resulted in the death of the young woman. Police officers and rescue teams were promptly dispatched to the location on Rojana Road in Bang Pa-in District after receiving reports of the accident. The…

  • Start 2025 right with a relaxing New Year’s escape to Novotel Koh Si Chang | Thaiger

    Start 2025 right with a relaxing New Year’s escape to Novotel Koh Si Chang

    As the end of the year approaches, the search for the perfect New Year’s celebration begins. If you want to forget the busy city crowds, why not head to Novotel Koh Si Chang instead? Koh Si Chang is a little island just a quick trip from Bangkok, but it feels like a world away. It offers peace, natural beauty, and…

  • Siblings flee drug-addicted father only to be targeted by rapist | Thaiger

    Siblings flee drug-addicted father only to be targeted by rapist

    Four siblings escaped their drug-addicted father in the central province of Chai Nat only to encounter a man posing as a saint who offered help and later attempted to rape the eldest girl. They were eventually rescued by police in Chon Buri. Officers from Nong Yai Police Station shared the siblings’ story with the media. They are now safe and…

  • Police seize 483kg of crystal meth in major Pathum Thani raid | Thaiger

    Police seize 483kg of crystal meth in major Pathum Thani raid

    Thai police recently arrested two suspects in Pathum Thani and seized 483 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine in the process. The pair, a man and a woman, confessed to planning to transport the drugs across borders, revealing a lucrative payment for their involvement. The operation was part of a broader government initiative to eradicate drug trafficking in Thailand, spearheaded by the Royal…

  • 7 year old Thai boy killed in car accident while flying kite in Buriram | Thaiger

    7 year old Thai boy killed in car accident while flying kite in Buriram

    A seven year old Thai boy tragically lost his life after crossing a road while flying a kite in the Isaan province of Buriram yesterday, December 15. The fatal accident occurred on a rural road in the Nong Ki district of Buriram and was reported to the Nong Ki Police Station. Police officers and rescuers from the Nong Ki Foundation…

  • Relentless flooding in Nakhon Si Thammarat plunges city | Thaiger

    Relentless flooding in Nakhon Si Thammarat plunges city

    Severe flooding has devastated Nakhon Si Thammarat as relentless rain continues to batter the province, submerging key city areas and causing another fatality, bringing the death toll to four. Residents have been urged to stay alert as the situation worsens. Heavy rain has persistently hit Nakhon Si Thammarat for several days. Although there was a brief reprieve yesterday morning, December…

  • Grilling the corrupt: Pattaya vows to clean up squid scandal | Thaiger

    Grilling the corrupt: Pattaya vows to clean up squid scandal

    In a sizzling showdown, the Pattaya deputy mayor has sworn to weed out corruption among city officials extorting grilled squid vendors, promising severe consequences for those found guilty. At the crack of dawn today, December 16, Pattaya City Special Affairs officers swooped in on a group of street vendors illegally peddling their goods on Soi Pattaya Tai 15, right by…

  • Holy smokes! Runaway monks in love go from robes to rogues | Thaiger

    Holy smokes! Runaway monks in love go from robes to rogues

    Police arrested two former monks fleeing from a temple in the Isaan province of Khon Kaen to the central province of Ratchaburi after their secret relationship was exposed and were implicated in operating an embezzlement scheme and a mule account. Locals in the Ban Haet district of Khon Kaen contacted highway police and reported that two monks, 24 year old…

  • Swiss man’s peaceful Pattaya night shattered by youth attack | Thaiger

    Swiss man’s peaceful Pattaya night shattered by youth attack

    A peaceful evening in Pattaya turned into a night of chaos for a 66 year old Swiss man as he faced a brutal assault by local youths, leaving him injured and his car in tatters. Manoutcher Kamel Kamai, a Swiss national, yesterday, December 15, stumbled into the Pattaya City Police Station, visibly shaken and wounded, seeking justice for the unprovoked…

  • Thai driver flees after crashing into old man, dragging body 10km | Thaiger

    Thai driver flees after crashing into old man, dragging body 10km

    A Thai man claimed he fled in shock after crashing into an 84 year old man and dragging the lifeless body for 10 kilometres from the scene of the incident in the central province of Ratchaburi. Officers from Photharam Police Station were alerted to the discovery of a corpse on a road alongside a railway track in the Photharam district…

  • Rain havoc: Four southern provinces swamped by floods (video) | Thaiger

    Rain havoc: Four southern provinces swamped by floods (video)

    Four southern Thai provinces are battling major flooding after a deluge that’s thrown daily life into chaos and knocked out key transport links, leaving thousands of families high and dry. Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Ranong, and Surat Thani are bearing the brunt of relentless rain, with deluges forcing a halt to many bus and train services. Pasakorn Boonyalak, Director General…

  • Paetongtarn Shinawatra 29th on Forbes’ 2024 Power Women list | Thaiger

    Paetongtarn Shinawatra 29th on Forbes’ 2024 Power Women list

    Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been named among Forbes Magazine’s 100 World’s Most Powerful Women 2024, securing the 29th position globally and ranking third in Asia. This prestigious recognition places her among influential figures such as Sandy Ran Xu, CEO of China’s JD.com, and Nirmala Sitharaman, India’s Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, who hold the 27th and 28th positions,…

  • Prachin Buri police raid five sites in mafia crackdown | Thaiger

    Prachin Buri police raid five sites in mafia crackdown

    It’s showdown time in Prachin Buri as police launch a full-scale blitz against organised crime, swooping on five locations tied to the shocking case of Soonthorn Vilawan, the alleged mastermind behind his adopted son’s murder. In a dramatic turn, over 100 police officers from the Crime Suppression Division and local forces descended upon the province yesterday, December 15, part of…

  • Senate to vote on divisive referendum double-majority rule | Thaiger

    Senate to vote on divisive referendum double-majority rule

    The Senate is set to convene tomorrow, December 17, to cast votes on a contentious referendum bill concerning constitutional amendments. The majority of senators are anticipated to uphold the divisive double-majority requirement, a decision that has sparked significant debate. Following a vote by a joint MP-Senate committee, the double-majority rule, necessary for passing a charter rewrite referendum, has been endorsed.…

  • Bangkok’s Purple Line extension nears halfway mark | Thaiger

    Bangkok’s Purple Line extension nears halfway mark

    The construction of the Purple Line’s southern extension, a crucial link between Tao Poon in the Bang Sue district and Rat Burana in southern Bangkok, is making significant progress. The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) reported that the project is nearly halfway finished. During an inspection conducted yesterday, December 15, Montri Dechasakulsom, alongside board members and executives, assessed…

  • Rama II Road reopens after crane accident caused fatalities (video) | Thaiger

    Rama II Road reopens after crane accident caused fatalities (video)

    Commuters can breathe a sigh of relief as traffic resumes on Rama II Road following a harrowing crane accident that claimed six lives and injured nine, leaving a trail of disruption in its wake. The nightmare began in the small hours of November 29 when a crane buckled under the weight of a concrete beam at the Ekkachai-Ban Phaeo Intercity…

  • Severe storms and flash floods threaten 12 Thai provinces | Thaiger

    Severe storms and flash floods threaten 12 Thai provinces

    The Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a weather warning predicting severe storms in 12 provinces, with heavy rain expected to cover 70% of the area. This could lead to flash floods and severe weather conditions, with temperatures dropping. The northeast monsoon, which is currently quite strong, is affecting the Gulf of Thailand and the southern region. A low-pressure system also covers…

  • Thai and mighty: Tourism takes off with a Bangkok load of visitors | Thaiger

    Thai and mighty: Tourism takes off with a Bangkok load of visitors

    Thailand’s back on the world’s travel map with a record-breaking wave of tourists flooding its shores, boosting the nation’s coffers and setting sights on even sunnier outcomes. In a spectacular show of popularity, more than 37.72 million globe-trotters have flocked to the Land of Smiles between January 1 and December 8 this year, according to Government Spokesperson Jirayu Huangsap. This…

  • Police arrest loan shark gang at Ministry of Culture | Thaiger

    Police arrest loan shark gang at Ministry of Culture

    A dramatic arrest unfolded at the Ministry of Culture when police apprehended members of a loan shark gang accused of charging extortionate interest rates and intimidating debtors. The operation, led by Montri Teshakun, targeted 30 year old Veeraphat, and 23 year old Meentada, who were charged with operating an unauthorised personal loan business and lending money at rates exceeding legal…

  • Intoxicated driver wreaks havoc in Pattaya, crashes into sidecar | Thaiger

    Intoxicated driver wreaks havoc in Pattaya, crashes into sidecar

    A heavily intoxicated driver caused chaos in Pattaya today when he crashed a minivan into a motorcycle sidecar selling fresh vegetables. The incident unfolded on Pattaya Beach Road, near Soi 13/3, Nong Prue, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province. An attempt to flee the scene led to further collisions with several parked vehicles, resulting in additional injuries to two individuals.…

  • Grenade attack at Tak fair leaves three dead and 48 injured | Thaiger

    Grenade attack at Tak fair leaves three dead and 48 injured

    A grenade attack disrupted the Amazing Highland Land Fair in Umphang district, Tak province, late yesterday evening, resulting in three fatalities and 48 injuries. The explosion took place around 11.30pm near a retro dance stage where over 8,000 people were enjoying live music. As panic swept through the crowd, emergency responders rushed to aid the injured and transport them to…

  • Heavy rains and strong winds expected in 19 Thai provinces | Thaiger

    Heavy rains and strong winds expected in 19 Thai provinces

    The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a weather warning, predicting heavy rains across 19 provinces with rainfall affecting 80% of the area. The Gulf of Thailand is expected to experience waves over 3 metres high, and temperatures are set to drop by 3 degrees Celsius with strong winds. The strong northeast monsoon sweeping through the Gulf of Thailand and the…

  • Hua Hin Airport to gain international status by next year | Thaiger

    Hua Hin Airport to gain international status by next year

    The Transport Ministry announced plans to elevate Hua Hin Airport to international status by next year, marking a significant step in enhancing regional connectivity. Transport Deputy Minister Manaporn Charoensri revealed this initiative yesterday, directing the Department of Airports, Aeronautical Radio of Thailand, and other relevant agencies to develop Hua Hin’s operations and secure the necessary international airport certification. Heightened passenger…

  • Myanmar boat seized in Thailand for shrimp smuggling | Thaiger

    Myanmar boat seized in Thailand for shrimp smuggling

    A Myanmar fishing boat has been seized, and its six crew members arrested for smuggling in Ranong, southern Thailand. The incident occurred after officials discovered a significant quantity of salt-fermented shrimp aboard the vessel. Thailand Maritime Enforcement Command Centre Region 3 reported that naval officers were dispatched to Waithong pier in tambon Pak Nam, Ranong, at 9pm yesterday, December 14.…

  • Motorcyclist dragged 800 metres in Phuket hit-and-run | Thaiger

    Motorcyclist dragged 800 metres in Phuket hit-and-run

    A white saloon car collided with a motorcycle in Thalang district, Phuket, early this morning, dragging the rider’s lifeless body for 800 metres before fleeing the scene. Police have identified the vehicle’s owner and are preparing to launch an investigation. A white saloon car, with an unregistered number plate, was reported to have left Bang Jo Alley and turned right…