Hot News

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.

  • Sponsored

    Thinking of retiring in Thailand long-term? Here’s your health checklist before the move

    Thinking of retiring in Thailand long-term? Thailand is a popular choice for retirees because of its beautiful landscapes, warm climate, and affordable living. Cities like Chiang Mai and coastal areas offer a relaxed lifestyle with friendly communities. The country also...

  • French woman dies riding bicycle in central Thailand

    French woman dies riding bicycle in central Thailand

    A young French woman was killed in a road accident in Ayutthaya province in central Thailand yesterday evening. The 26 year old tourist got confused at an intersection when a green and red light shone at the same time, leading her to drive into oncoming traffic. A man driving a sedan through the green light couldn’t break in time, striking…

  • Things looking up in Phuket following return of international tourism

    Things looking up in Phuket following return of international tourism

    Provincial officials on the southern island of Phuket say the return of tourists has raised income levels and created more jobs. According to a Bangkok Post report, the return of international tourists has started to revive the island’s economy and reduced unemployment across Phuket. Data shared by Phuket governor, Narong Wunciew, reveals that since the launch of the Phuket sandbox…

  • Pattaya officials say Walking Street should be repaired by August

    Pattaya officials say Walking Street should be repaired by August

    After Pattaya’s famous Walking Street welcomed back visitors last month for the first time since Covid-19 broke out, the city’s officials have put in a big budget to give the street a ‘makeover‘. Pattaya city officials announced yesterday that the city has now spent 13 million baht on road repairs for the street, and these repairs are expected to be…

  • American cruise company looking for 1,000 Thai service staff

    American cruise company looking for 1,000 Thai service staff

    All aboard! The American cruise company that owns the Princess Cruise, Holland America Line, has visited Thailand’s Department of Employment seeking Thai staff to work onboard. The company says they have more than 1,000 positions available for Thai people saying that the famous Thai smile is perfect for the hospitality industry. The Director-General of the Employment Department, Pirot Choticsathian, welcomed…

  • UPDATE:Teenage gunman goes on rampage killing 19 children and 2 adults at a Texas primary school

    UPDATE:Teenage gunman goes on rampage killing 19 children and 2 adults at a Texas primary school

    UPDATE New information has come to light revealing that minutes before the attack at Robb Elementary School, which killed 19 pupils and two teachers, gunman, Salvador Ramos, texted a girl in Frankfurt, Germany, about his plans. Screenshots of messages show the suspect complaining to the German girl about his grandmother complaing about his mobile phone usage. “It’s annoying,” he texted,…

  • Former Thai PM issues death penalty warning to coup-makers

    Former Thai PM issues death penalty warning to coup-makers

    Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra last night fired a warning to the nation’s coup-makers that they could still face the death sentence in the future. Thaksin, who also turned his ire on current PM Prayut Chan-o-cha labelling him “a dictator” and someone “increasingly disconnected from reality,” says he hopes he will receive justice for the wrongs against him and punishment…

  • Thailand exempts cryptocurrency transfer VAT until 2023

    Thailand exempts cryptocurrency transfer VAT until 2023

    The Royal Thai Government Gazette has formally announced a VAT exemption for transferring cryptocurrency from now until the end of 2023. The cabinet had approved the exemption of the value added tax, or VAT, for transferring cryptocurrency or digital tokens in March. Yesterday, the decision was passed into Thai law and will be in effect from yesterday until December 31,…

  • As fuel prices climb, Thailand’s delivery workers struggle

    As fuel prices climb, Thailand’s delivery workers struggle

    As Thailand’s fuel prices climb, some delivery drivers are saying the country’s attempts at subsidies aren’t helping them much. One motorcycle taxi driver told Thai PBS World that, even though the government offers a 250 baht discount per month on benzene or gasohol, it’s not worth it when he has to travel a long distance for it. The driver added that…

  • Former air force officer murders ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend in Bangkok

    Former air force officer murders ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend in Bangkok

    A former Royal Thai Air Force officer murdered his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend at a house in Ratchathewi district in Bangkok yesterday morning. The perpetrator broke into the couple’s home and shot dead 24 year old Fah and 25 year old Korakot before fleeing the house. Fah was shot twice in the head and body and Korakot was shot…

  • Large banana plantation near Bangkok goes viral, Thai netizens say owner wants to avoid land tax

    Large banana plantation near Bangkok goes viral, Thai netizens say owner wants to avoid land tax

    One of the biggest exhibition centres and event venues, Impact Arena, in the central province of Nonthaburi, basically just north of Bangkok, is showing off its large banana plantation on their official Facebook page. The page claims the CEO desires to increase green spaces for people, but Thai netizens have figured out it’s just a way the controlling company is…

  • Phuket police search for kidnapper and young girl he abducted months ago

    Phuket police search for kidnapper and young girl he abducted months ago

    Police are still on the hunt for a man who kidnapped a young girl on Rawai Beach in the main city district of Phuket in February. The girl’s mother reported the kidnapping on February 9, saying that a 33 year old man named only as ‘Camp’ abducted her 13-year-old daughter while the girl was selling flowers on Rawai Beach in…

  • Thai nurse arrested for conning the public out of millions of baht in flu vaccine scam

    Thai nurse arrested for conning the public out of millions of baht in flu vaccine scam

    A Thai nurse has been arrested, accused of defrauding the public in a flu vaccine scam that netted millions of baht. According to media reports, 38-year-old Thonglim Jitpeng was arrested in the Bang Na district of Bangkok. She has denied the charges against her. According to reports, Thonglim ran a business selling hand sanitiser during the pandemic, which enabled her…

  • Government says PM listening to concerns over draft law on public gatherings, NGO funding

    Government says PM listening to concerns over draft law on public gatherings, NGO funding

    The Thai PM is paying attention to, and welcomes, the opinions of those opposed to a draft law on NGO funding and public gatherings. So says deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam, according to a report in the Bangkok Post today. Wissanu says Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered the Social Development and Human Security Ministry to compile a list of objections to the…

  • Tesla registers as a company in Thailand

    Tesla registers as a company in Thailand

    Tesla Company (Thailand) Ltd is now a registered company in Thailand, according to information found on the Department of Business Development’s website. The company registered today, on May 25, with an initial registration capital of 3 million baht. The primary purpose of Tesla in Thailand is to sell electric vehicles, or EVs. The company will also install and sell energy…

  • Teenage gunman goes on rampage killing 19 children and 2 adults at a Texas primary school

    Teenage gunman goes on rampage killing 19 children and 2 adults at a Texas primary school

    Nineteen children and 2 adults have been shot dead at a Texas elementary school. The 18 year old gunman burst into the Robb Elementary School in the city of Uvalde just before noon on Tuesday, Texas time, and opened fire on students aged between 5 and 11, fatally shooting 19 victims before making his escape. The alleged shooter, identified by Texas…

  • Phuket officials announce plans for 2 big tourism events next month

    Phuket officials announce plans for 2 big tourism events next month

    Phuket’s Deputy Governor Pichet has announced yesterday that the island province will host 2 major tourism events in June, which will each host hundreds of guests. One event is the Thailand Tourism Congress 2022, which will be held at Beyond Resort Kata from June 6-8. The other event is Thailand Travel Mart Plus 2022, which will be held at Angsana…

  • Chadchart’s victory is a triumph for democracy says former PM

    Chadchart’s victory is a triumph for democracy says former PM

    Thailand’s former PM Thaksin Shinawatra says Chadchart Sittipunt’s landslide victory in the Bangkok governor election was a result of pro democracy followers voting for him, and declared the result will be mirrored in the kingdom’s next national election, in an interview with The Room 44. Move Forward’s candidate, Wiroj Lakhanaadisorn, was predicted to win the popular vote but electors chose…

  • Scams are on the rise with over 1 billion baht stolen

    Scams are on the rise with over 1 billion baht stolen

    Thailand suffered losses of over 1 billion baht as a consequence of growing online scams. Last year, around 1,600 people were targets of fake call centres, and almost 50,000 complaints were lodged, more than double the number of the same time last year. More than 6 million scam calls were made, nearly 300% up while there were 60% more bogus…

  • AirAsia plane lands on wrong runway in Bangkok

    AirAsia plane lands on wrong runway in Bangkok

    Today, Thailand’s Civil Aviation Authority – or CAAT – reported a “serious incident” which took place earlier this month. On May 4, an AirAsia Airbus A320-200 landed on the wrong runway at Bangkok’s Don Muang Airport. The Thai AirAsia aircraft departed Ranong city at 12:43 and landed on Don Muang’s unassigned 21L runway at 13:36, instead of the 21R runway…

  • Thailand defends human trafficking record

    Thailand defends human trafficking record

    Thailand yesterday defended its human trafficking record and hit back at US accusations that the illegal transportation of people is a critical national problem. A Thai delegation, led by Chettaphan Maksamphan, director-general of the Department of American and South Pacific Affairs, met with US Department of State officials in Washington last week to discuss the matter ahead of the 2022…

  • 5,000 prisoners in Thailand are suffering from mental health illness

    5,000 prisoners in Thailand are suffering from mental health illness

    There are 260,000 prisoners across 143 jails in Thailand, and around 5,000 convicts are dealing with mental health problems. Psychologists have revealed reports of anxiety and depression that is most common among prisoners sentenced for drug-related offences. A large number of offenders already suffer from mental illness before arrest while others deteriorate once they are jailed, according to the Corrections…

  • Cruise ships set to return to Phuket for first time since pandemic

    Cruise ships set to return to Phuket for first time since pandemic

    All aboard! The southern Thai island of Phuket is set to welcome back the cruise ships, for the first time since the start of the Covid pandemic. According to a Bangkok Post report, the Spectrum of the Seas will dock in Phuket next month. Pichet Songtan from the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre Region 3 says officials have given the…

  • Thai tourism officials aiming for 50% hotel occupancy rate this year

    Thai tourism officials aiming for 50% hotel occupancy rate this year

    Tourism officials in Thailand have set a target of 50% hotel occupancy this year, in order to revive the tourism sector, following a further easing of restrictions from June 1. According to Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, hotel occupancy dropped to 29% during 2020 and then plunged to 14% in 2021. It needs to climb back…

  • “Eat Out with Marriott Bonvoy”: enjoy food discounts all the way

    “Eat Out with Marriott Bonvoy”: enjoy food discounts all the way

    Sponsored Foodies, rejoice! This May and June, Marriott Bonvoy is celebrating the timeless pleasures of good company and excellent gastronomy in Thailand with the launch of “Eat Out with Marriott Bonvoy”. But, what is “Eat Out with Marriott Bonvoy”? It is a nationwide food festival that promises Marriott Bonvoy members a series of rewarding dining discounts at nearly 40 hotels…

  • Thai Airways to auction off Boeing 737-400 Airframe via Facebook Live

    Thai Airways to auction off Boeing 737-400 Airframe via Facebook Live

    After reporting a net loss of nearly 3.4 billion baht on revenue in Q1, cash-strapped Thai Airways are continuing their online yard sale in a bid to make some extra money. This time, the airline is auctioning off an entire Boeing 737-400 airframe via Facebook Live on their page TG Warehouse Sale this Wednesday, May 25, at 3pm. A TG…

  • PM Prayut congratulates Chadchart on becoming governor

    PM Prayut congratulates Chadchart on becoming governor

    Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha congratulated Chadchart Sittipunt, who is expected to be confirmed as Bangkok’s new governor following Sunday’s elections, and promised to back his tenure in charge. The Thai PM says his government will provide Chadchart’s office with all the support they need to continue the growth and development of Bangkok. “The prime minister has made it clear that…

  • Landslide victory for elected Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt

    Landslide victory for elected Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt

    Yesterday, Bangkok held its first governor election in eight years. Independent candidate Chadchart Sittipunt won the vote by a landslide, gaining almost 1.4 million votes, breaking the record for the highest number of votes ever in a Bangkok gubernatorial election. Of the 4.36 million people eligible to vote in the election, a total of 2,635,283 people voted yesterday, or 60.48%.…

  • Flooding situation worsening in Chiang Rai, waters recede in Chiang Mai

    Flooding situation worsening in Chiang Rai, waters recede in Chiang Mai

    The flooding situation in easing in the northern province of Chiang Mai, but getting worse in neighbouring Chiang Rai. That’s according to a Thai PBS World report, which says the levels in several Chiang Rai waterways have been rising steadily since yesterday, as a result of heavy rain on Saturday. The Chan River has burst its banks in Chiang Rai’s…

  • Thailand tourism authorities expect 1 million arrivals per month starting June

    Thailand tourism authorities expect 1 million arrivals per month starting June

    Thailand’s tourism authorities say their goal for the number of foreign arrivals in Thailand is expected to happen earlier than they predicted it would. The Tourism Authority of Thailand previously said it expected 1 million tourists per month to arrive in Thailand between October and December, leading up to the high season. But now, the TAT says Thailand should reach…

  • Krabi yacht capsizes in storm

    Krabi yacht capsizes in storm

    A yacht capsized in stormy waters in Thailand’s southern province of Krabi early this morning. Thailand’s marine authorities got a phone call from the yach’ts 3 passengers, who said they had gotten onto a dinghy boat after the yacht sunk. They said the yacht capsized between the islands of Koh Ha and Koh Lanta. They said the dinghy was drifting…