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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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    9 most common health issues covered by insurance for expats in Thailand

    Thailand is a popular destination for expats due to its affordable lifestyle and excellent healthcare system. However, settling in a new country often brings health concerns. To ensure you’re covered for the most common medical needs, understanding what expat health...

  • Illegal elephant pants from China seized at Bangkok warehouse

    Illegal elephant pants from China seized at Bangkok warehouse

    Economic Crime Suppression Division officers swooped on a warehouse in the Bang Khun Thian district of Bangkok and seized 30,000 elephant pants valued at over 6 million baht. The pants were imported from China without paying taxes. Acting on a tip-off regarding the tax evasion associated with the imported elephant pants from China, officers conducted the raid on the warehouse…

  • American arrested for violating Foreign Business Act in Thailand

    American arrested for violating Foreign Business Act in Thailand

    An American citizen was apprehended by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) for violating the Foreign Business Act. The arrest occurred following allegations of illegal profit redirection from a luxury villa estate developer. The individual in question, referred to as David, was taken into custody at the entrance of Jomtien Hospital in Chon Buri, around 11am last Thursday, as per…

  • Thai Teen surrenders, confesses to Phuket petrol station murder

    Thai Teen surrenders, confesses to Phuket petrol station murder

    The teenager suspected of murdering another Thai man at a Phuket petrol station voluntarily surrendered to the Cherng Talay Police Station yesterday. Kiattisak “Gus” Thawornphon was immediately apprehended and questioned by the police. The 18 year old was the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the Phuket Provincial Court for the alleged murder of 21 year old Teerapat Suksrimuang,…

  • Golden getaway: Thai woman swipes Chinese man’s credit cards in Pattaya

    Golden getaway: Thai woman swipes Chinese man’s credit cards in Pattaya

    A Thai woman is on the run after stealing credit cards from a Chinese man to buy two gold necklaces valued at about 33,000 baht from a gold shop in Pattaya. Bang Lamung Police Station told Channel 8 that the 33 year old Chinese man, Dihui Wu Dihui, reported the theft of his credit cards to the police via a…

  • Virtual banks to revolutionise Thailand’s financial landscape

    Virtual banks to revolutionise Thailand’s financial landscape

    The Royal Gazette announced that virtual banks are set to become a reality in Thailand, with the Bank of Thailand (BoT) accepting applications from March 20 to September 19 this year. The aim is to stimulate competition and ensure the stability of the financial system, without limiting the number of licences available. Virtual banks are expected to cater to customers…

  • Russian demands 100,000 baht from Thai woman for alleged assault (video)

    Russian demands 100,000 baht from Thai woman for alleged assault (video)

    A Russian man accused a Thai woman of physically assaulting him at a house in the Isaan province of Buriram last month, demanding the woman pay him 100,000 baht in compensation. The accused woman denied the allegation and told a different side of the story to a new agency. The Russian man filed a complaint against 42 year old Sommai…

  • Rising crypto prices invite hackers, Thai Digital Asset Association warns

    Rising crypto prices invite hackers, Thai Digital Asset Association warns

    The Thai Digital Asset Association (TDAA) warned of an increased threat from hackers targeting cryptocurrencies, as soaring prices are attracting both investors and fraudsters to the market. The alarm comes after digital assets in Thailand suffered a staggering US$24.2 billion loss to hackers in the previous year. Suppakrit Boonsat, a founder of Bitcast, a digital asset education firm, and the…

  • New Zealanders in hot water after assaulting Thai officer in Phuket

    New Zealanders in hot water after assaulting Thai officer in Phuket

    Two New Zealanders, who physically assaulted a Thai police officer on Chao Fah East Road in Phuket on Saturday were charged with five offences and face a lifetime ban from entering Thailand. The incident occurred when a traffic officer from the Chalong Police Station, Somsak Noo-iad, asked two foreign men, later identified as 36 year old Hamish Day and 38…

  • Violence erupts as group attacks volunteer at Bangkok gas station

    Violence erupts as group attacks volunteer at Bangkok gas station

    Violence erupted at a Sai Mai district gas station in Bangkok when a group of over 30 people assaulted a volunteer from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation. The incident, which occurred just past midnight today, March 18, left the victim with serious head injuries after being knocked to the ground and repeatedly kicked. In the dead of night, the Sai Mai neighbourhood…

  • Severe summer storm to hit Thailand with hail and strong winds

    Severe summer storm to hit Thailand with hail and strong winds

    The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) issued a severe weather alert for the upcoming summer storm, set to impact various provinces with heavy rain, thunderstorms, strong winds, and potential hail on March 19-20, following a drop in temperature today, March 18. The summer storm, initially striking in the upper part of Thailand, is a result of a moderate high-pressure system…

  • House Committee’s Myanmar crisis plan for stability

    House Committee’s Myanmar crisis plan for stability

    The Committee on Foreign Affairs in the House has proposed a strategic four-point plan aimed at mitigating the crisis in Myanmar. The chairman of the committee and representative of the Pheu Thai Party, Noppadon Pattama, revealed that the committee supports all initiatives to bring an end to the Myanmar crisis, and has been closely observing the developments there. A special…

  • Thai berry seekers left hanging: Labour Ministry plans visa harvest solution

    Thai berry seekers left hanging: Labour Ministry plans visa harvest solution

    The Labour Ministry of Thailand plans to solve the suspension of visa applications for Thais seeking wild-berry picking jobs in Finland by the 2025 harvest season, as disclosed by Somchai Morakotsriwan, the director-general of the Department of Employment. The ministry, in collaboration with other state agencies including those from the Foreign Affairs Ministry, is working towards a solution following Finland’s…

  • Thai military officer’s road rage prompts armed forces investigation

    Thai military officer’s road rage prompts armed forces investigation

    A road rage incident involving armed military personnel has prompted an investigation by the Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTAF) Headquarters. The episode, captured on video, featured a uniformed military man, armed with a pistol, confronting a pickup truck driver at a toll plaza over his driving behaviour. The incident came to light when the truck driver filmed the confrontation on…

  • Family calls for accountability after tragic crash takes mother’s life

    Family calls for accountability after tragic crash takes mother’s life

    A tragic road accident claimed the life of a beloved mother when a truck collided with her vehicle on March 11. The bereaved family, heartbroken and seeking solace, calls for the trucking company owner, who is also a secretary to a government minister, to demonstrate responsibility by paying respects to the deceased. On the day following the accident, March 12,…

  • Patong prepares for Songkran Music Festival on the Beach 2024

    Patong prepares for Songkran Music Festival on the Beach 2024

    Patong is gearing up for the annual Songkran Festival celebrations, with a press conference in place on March 15. The conference was held at Bangla Plaza, Patong Beach, at 5pm, to discuss the upcoming Songkran Music Festival On The Beach 2024, scheduled for April 12 to April 14. The Phuket Governor, Sophon Suwannarat, led the press conference and was accompanied…

  • Fatal crash in Udon Thani as driver fatigue leads to tragedy

    Fatal crash in Udon Thani as driver fatigue leads to tragedy

    A tragic road accident occurred yesterday at 7.50am when a pickup truck veered off course and collided with a streetlight before plunging into the central ditch of Mittraphap Road in Udon Thani, Thailand. The driver, a 56 year old man from Udon Thani, was pronounced dead at the scene, while his wife, in her 50s, sustained injuries. Witthaya Panlao, Chief…

  • Air force serviceman opens fire in Samut Prakan, injures one

    Air force serviceman opens fire in Samut Prakan, injures one

    A 26 year old man was injured when a Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) soldier opened fire in a residential area in Samut Prakan province yesterday, following disputes over noise from a group of teenagers. The gunman, identified as an RTAF serviceman, later surrendered to the police. The incident, which took place in the Bang Phli housing estate, has shaken…

  • Thailand gears up for severe summer storms with hail risk

    Thailand gears up for severe summer storms with hail risk

    The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a warning about the impending summer storms, marked by thunderstorms, strong winds, and possible hail in some areas, followed by a drop in temperatures. Residents are advised to brace for the turbulent weather slated to strike from March 19 to March 20. As Thailand braces for a spell of severe weather, the TMD alerted…

  • Government considers corn import ban to combat PM2.5 dust pollution

    Government considers corn import ban to combat PM2.5 dust pollution

    A potential ban on corn imports from neighbouring countries next year is being considered by the government to tackle the escalating issue of PM2.5 fine dust pollution in the northern regions. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin recently visited Chiang Mai to assess the preventive actions and updates provided by government agencies regarding wildfire and haze prevention measures. The prime minister has…

  • Thai government tackles rise in nationals overstaying Japan visas

    Thai government tackles rise in nationals overstaying Japan visas

    The Thai government pledged to tackle the increasing number of Thai nationals overstaying their 15-day visas in Japan, following a sharp rise in such incidents over recent years. This commitment was confirmed by Jakkapong Sangmanee, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, who recently held discussions with a senior official from the Japanese embassy. The public expressed concerns over the potential…

  • Krungsri Research predicts growth for Thai construction

    Krungsri Research predicts growth for Thai construction

    Krungsri Research unveiled the dynamic trajectory of Thailand’s construction sector for the next two years. According to the report, the construction industry is poised for a meteoric rise, with an anticipated annual growth rate of 3% to 4%. This surge aligns seamlessly with the overall investment value in construction, heralding a golden era of development on the horizon. The state…

  • Five dead in pickup crash near Sing Buri

    Five dead in pickup crash near Sing Buri

    A collision in Sing Buri Province resulted in five fatalities, including a child, when a pickup truck crashed into a sedan, sending the vehicle plunging into a nearby waterway. The incident occurred near the 86-kilometre marker on the road heading towards Nakhon Sawan Province today. Emergency services, upon receiving the distress call, coordinated with local rescue teams to investigate the…

  • Srettha pledges to address Thai civil servant debt issue

    Srettha pledges to address Thai civil servant debt issue

    Addressing the debt crisis affecting nearly three million Thai civil servants, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin pledged to address the issue accordingly. The government’s focus is on reducing interest rates to alleviate the financial burden. PM Srettha spoke of the positive progress made in the last two months following a meeting with 11 state agency chiefs who are working towards solving…

  • Thailand consumer council pushes for AI regulation

    Thailand consumer council pushes for AI regulation

    The Thailand Consumer Council (TCC) is pushing for the modernisation of the Consumer Protection Act 1979, in order to accommodate the emerging trends in technology, particularly the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). This call for change comes in tandem with the TCC’s latest campaign, Responsible and Fair AI for Consumers, which was launched on World Consumer Rights Day. The campaign…

  • Thai teacher arrested after blackmailing student with her explicit videos

    Thai teacher arrested after blackmailing student with her explicit videos

    A Thai mother sought help from the Investigation Division of the Metropolitan Police Bureau (IDMB) after her 18 year old daughter attempted to commit suicide, saying her teacher was blackmailing her by posting her explicit videos on several online platforms. The mother told the IDMB that her 18 year old daughter had undergone a change. She appeared distressed and expressed…

  • PM Srettha joins dinner with Thaksin and Somchai in Chiang Mai

    PM Srettha joins dinner with Thaksin and Somchai in Chiang Mai

    In an extraordinary meeting, Srettha Thavisin, Thaksin Shinawatra and Somchai Wongsawat gathered for dinner last night in Chiang Mai. The trio, led by current PM Srettha, are set to gather as Thaksin, on parole, returns to his hometown for various engagements, including paying homage to his late parents. Thailand’s 23rd prime minister, Thaksin, despite a corruption conviction, barely tasted prison…

  • Thai entrepreneurs make record-breaking sales at Japan food expo

    Thai entrepreneurs make record-breaking sales at Japan food expo

    Fifty Thai entrepreneurs showcased their culinary prowess at the Foodex Japan 2024 exhibition held in Tokyo from March 5 to 8. The Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) revealed that the response from Japanese buyers was so overwhelming that sales soared to nearly 2.5 billion baht. Chanthapat Panjamanond, Thailand’s commercial attaché in Tokyo revealed that orders for Thai food products…

  • Car crash fire claims driver’s life near Pattaya

    Car crash fire claims driver’s life near Pattaya

    A car careened into a street barrier on the Bangkok-Map Ta Phut Motorway near Pattaya before erupting into fire, leaving the driver trapped and ultimately perishing in the blaze. The incident took place around 5.40am yesterday close to kilometre marker 120+700 in the Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province. Swift responses from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Pattaya…

  • Microsoft CEO halts Southeast Asia trip including Bangkok

    Microsoft CEO halts Southeast Asia trip including Bangkok

    Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella delayed his visit to Thailand and neighbouring Southeast Asian nations, as announced yesterday. The eagerly awaited Microsoft Build: AI Day event slated for March 21 in Bangkok now hangs in limbo indefinitely, Microsoft revealed on Friday. “We are doing our utmost in preparing to reschedule the event and will inform you of the details as soon as…

  • Concerns over readiness of Thailand’s secondary cities for tourism

    Concerns over readiness of Thailand’s secondary cities for tourism

    The private sector has expressed concerns over the readiness of Thailand’s secondary cities for a major tourism boost, despite Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s declaration that 2024 will be “the greatest year for Thai tourism in history.” These concerns were voiced during a recent tourism workshop at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, where the 62 year old Thai PM outlined…