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    Do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?

    Thailand’s healthcare system is well-regarded across Southeast Asia, with options ranging from public hospitals to world-class private facilities. But when it comes to foreign residents or tourists, healthcare access isn’t as straightforward. So, do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?...

  • Pattaya cannabis shop vandalised by American tourist | Thaiger

    Pattaya cannabis shop vandalised by American tourist

    A late-night visit to a Pattaya cannabis shop turned ugly when an American tourist allegedly smashed a glass window, sparking a furious brawl and a police investigation. At 11.36pm yesterday, May 27, Police Lieutenant Wuttinan Kongdee from Pattaya City Police Station received reports of a fight and property damage at the SWEET69 cannabis shop in Soi Honey. Police patrol officers…

  • Indian thief performs wai before fleeing with 93,000 baht | Thaiger

    Indian thief performs wai before fleeing with 93,000 baht

    An Indian man robbed nearly 100,000 baht from a currency exchange shop in the Bangrak district of Bangkok on Monday and performed a wai before fleeing the scene. He was ultimately arrested yesterday, May 27. Officers from Bangrak Police Station received complaints from two currency exchange shops in the area: X-ONE Currency Exchange Centre on Surawong Road and WISE Exchange…

  • Takin’ the mic! Thaksin pops up to preach on drugs | Thaiger

    Takin’ the mic! Thaksin pops up to preach on drugs

    Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has emerged from the shadows once again, this time turning up at the country’s top anti-narcotics office to lecture on drugs, all while dodging fresh rumours he’s planning another great escape. The former Thai premier rocked up at the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) in Bangkok yesterday, May 27, brushing aside speculation…

  • Rainy wreck: Wild crash smashes noodle shop in Chon Buri | Thaiger

    Rainy wreck: Wild crash smashes noodle shop in Chon Buri

    What started as a rainy afternoon bowl of noodles turned into a high-speed horror show when a sedan slammed into a roadside shop in Chon Buri, sending bowls, broth, and chairs flying in every direction. The chaos unfolded at around 3pm yesterday, May 27, on Highway 331 in Khao Mai Kaew, heading towards Bowin. Officers from Huay Yai Police Station…

  • Fisherman rescued from Chon Buri rock after ignoring warnings | Thaiger

    Fisherman rescued from Chon Buri rock after ignoring warnings

    A dramatic rescue unfolded off the coast of Bang Saen in Chon Buri after a fisherman found himself trapped on a rocky outcrop, surrounded by rising tides and pounding waves, all because he refused to abandon his fishing gear. The man, believed to be around 50 years old, was spotted stranded about 150 metres from the shore around 6.30pm on…

  • Thailand braces for more rainfall, TMD warns of flash floods | Thaiger

    Thailand braces for more rainfall, TMD warns of flash floods

    Weather conditions in Thailand are set to bring heavy rainfall across 48 provinces, including the north, northeast, Bangkok, and eastern Thailand. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) warns of potential flash floods in some areas due to a 70-80% chance of rain. Residents in these regions should be cautious of heavy rainfall and accumulated precipitation, which may lead to flash floods,…

  • Top 5 kid-friendly experiences on Koh Samui | Thaiger

    Top 5 kid-friendly experiences on Koh Samui

    Experiencing Koh Samui with kids may just offer an adventure of a lifetime. The award-winning island, located in the Gulf of Thailand, features many educational activities set against the backdrop of a tropical paradise, Ann Carter writes. The island’s kid-friendly establishments focus on educational opportunities that blend a sense of community, nature-themed activities, and creative outlets. Koh Samui is where…

  • Phuket transwoman arrested for pickpocketing Turkish tourist | Thaiger

    Phuket transwoman arrested for pickpocketing Turkish tourist

    Police arrested a Thai transwoman for pickpocketing a Turkish tourist in the Patong neighbourhood of Phuket in the early hours of this morning. Stolen cash amounting to 4,000 baht was recovered. The 38 year old Turkish tourist filed a complaint with officers at Patong Police Station at 4am today, May 27. He suspected a transwoman of stealing 4,000 baht in cash…

  • Elephants find freedom and healing at Thailand’s Samui sanctuary | Thaiger

    Elephants find freedom and healing at Thailand’s Samui sanctuary

    In the lush greenery of Koh Samui’s Bo Phut district, two elephants have discovered the ultimate way to beat the sizzling May heat: cooling off in a pool and rolling in mud at the Samui Elephant Sanctuary. Kaew Ta and Kham Phean, both in their mid-60s, enjoy this peaceful retirement after years of harsh labour in logging and tourism. The…

  • Thai woman mysteriously falls to death at Pattaya luxury condo | Thaiger

    Thai woman mysteriously falls to death at Pattaya luxury condo

    A Thai woman mysteriously fell to her death at a luxury condominium in Pattaya today, May 27. Police officers are investigating the cause of the fatal fall. The death of the Thai woman, whose identity has yet to be confirmed, was reported this afternoon at a 59-storey condominium on Jomtien 2 Road in the Bang Lamung district. Officers from Mueang…

  • False alarm: No volcano threat in Isaan’s Buriram | Thaiger

    False alarm: No volcano threat in Isaan’s Buriram

    A mysterious rumbling heard by mushroom pickers near a long-dormant volcano outside Buriram city sparked local fears of an eruption, but officials have now confirmed it was merely the sound of underground water. Last Thursday, May 22, villagers collecting wild mushrooms at the base of Khao Kradong in Mueang district recorded eerie rumbling noises on their phones. One man shared…

  • Phuket anti-corruption chief slams dropped appeal in graft case | Thaiger

    Phuket anti-corruption chief slams dropped appeal in graft case

    Phuket’s top anti-corruption official has sharply criticised the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) for declining to appeal the overturned conviction of MaAnn Samran, a former local official convicted of corruption but later acquitted on appeal. MaAnn, once the powerful Chief of the Cherng Talay Tambon Administration Organisation (OrBorTor) overseeing Phuket’s prized beach areas, including Bang Tao, was sentenced in…

  • Bangkok condo raid uncovers 6,596 illegal e-cigarettes | Thaiger

    Bangkok condo raid uncovers 6,596 illegal e-cigarettes

    A man and a woman employed to sell e-cigarettes were apprehended in a Bang Kapi district condominium, with police seizing over 6,596 pieces of disposable e-cigarettes. The operation occurred yesterday, May 26, when officers from the Special Tools and News Analysis Division, under the Metropolitan Police Bureau, executed a search warrant at a condo in Bangkok. Anan, a 40 year…

  • Bangkok taxi crackdown nets 76 drivers for cheating and refusals | Thaiger

    Bangkok taxi crackdown nets 76 drivers for cheating and refusals

    Bangkok’s tourist police are cracking down hard on taxi drivers who cheat tourists by refusing rides, avoiding meters, or blocking traffic. In a major enforcement sweep, 76 drivers were arrested for violating the law in the city’s busy tourist areas. Today, May 27, Police Lieutenant General Saksira Pueak-am, Commander-in-Chief of the Tourist Police Bureau, ordered strict action to ensure taxi…

  • Female university students fall victim to secret sexually harassing chat group | Thaiger

    Female university students fall victim to secret sexually harassing chat group

    Students at Thammasat University are calling for action to be taken against an instructor, male students, and alumni involved in a secret group chat used to share images of female students accompanied by sexually harassing comments. Rumours circulated within an online community of Thammasat students and alumni about the existence of a private chat group where male members allegedly exchanged…

  • Police officer dismissed over 7,000 baht extortion in Chiang Mai | Thaiger

    Police officer dismissed over 7,000 baht extortion in Chiang Mai

    A police officer has been dismissed after allegedly extorting 7,000 baht from a 21 year old man who was urinating by the roadside, claiming it was a fee to clear a drunk driving charge. The incident took place on the Hod-Doi Tao Road in Chiang Mai province. The accused, posing as a police officer, reportedly intimidated the victim with a…

  • Fatal collision in Suphan Buri claims two lives | Thaiger

    Fatal collision in Suphan Buri claims two lives

    A tragic accident occurred yesterday, May 26, when a car collided with a motorcycle, resulting in the deaths of two people. The incident took place at a U-turn in front of Sam Chuk Temple, on Highway 340 heading towards Suphan Buri, in Sam Chuk district, Suphan Buri province. The Samerkan Rescue Foundation reported the incident, prompting coordination with Sam Chuk…

  • 3 dead, dog electrocuted in storm-hit garage in Ayutthaya | Thaiger

    3 dead, dog electrocuted in storm-hit garage in Ayutthaya

    In Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, three people and a dog were found dead, believed to have been electrocuted during a storm this morning. The victims were discovered in a garage of a home in Samphao Lom district around 6.30am. Police Captain Samart Raksasak, a sub-inspector, revealed that the bodies were found lying near two parked cars inside a metal-framed lean-to…

  • Pedestrian killed in Pathum Thani accident due to poor lighting | Thaiger

    Pedestrian killed in Pathum Thani accident due to poor lighting

    A 25 year old man driving a car in Pathum Thani, Thailand, struck and killed a 41 year old pedestrian due to inadequate street lighting. The accident occurred on Chiang Rak-Bang Khan Road near a dormitory in Khlong Luang district. Police Lieutenant Thanapuvapass Si Suai from Khlong Luang Police Station was informed of the fatal accident. Emergency services, including traffic…

  • Thai billionaire passes empire torch to next generation | Thaiger

    Thai billionaire passes empire torch to next generation

    Thailand’s second-richest man, Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, is handing over the reins of his sprawling business empire to his five children as he steps back from day-to-day management. The 81 year old billionaire has transferred ownership of two major listed companies to his offspring, signalling a major shift in the country’s corporate landscape. According to filings made late yesterday, May 26, by…

  • Thailand’s helmet crackdown kicks off June 1 with hefty fines | Thaiger

    Thailand’s helmet crackdown kicks off June 1 with hefty fines

    Thailand’s police are ramping up efforts to curb traffic accidents with a nationwide Road Safety Project launching on this Sunday, June 1, targeting drivers and passengers who refuse to wear helmets. The crackdown comes with hefty penalties: fines of up to 2,000 baht, doubled if a motorcyclist’s passenger isn’t helmeted. Today, May 27, Police Lieutenant General Nitithorn Jintakanon, Commander of…

  • Pattaya’s new glow keeps tourists coming despite low season | Thaiger

    Pattaya’s new glow keeps tourists coming despite low season

    Pattaya is proving that even the so-called low season cannot dim its vibrant appeal. With fresh urban upgrades and the ever-popular nearby island of Koh Larn continuing to attract visitors, this bustling city remains a favourite destination for both Thai and international travellers year-round. On Sunday, May 25, reporters visited Khao Phra Tamnak, also known as Naval Radio Station Hill,…

  • Foreign woman arrested for failing to pay bill at Phuket bar | Thaiger

    Foreign woman arrested for failing to pay bill at Phuket bar

    Police arrested a foreign woman at the weekend after she failed to pay a bill at a bar in Phuket and allegedly insulted Thai people. A Thai TikTok user, @tunroychannel, shared a video of the incident on on Sunday, May 25, with a caption that read, “Free visa tourist insults Thai people. She came to travel but did not have…

  • High-flyers grounded: British couple’s cannabis holiday smoked | Thaiger

    High-flyers grounded: British couple’s cannabis holiday smoked

    A British couple’s sun, sea and suitcase full of skunk getaway came crashing down at Valencia Airport after Spanish police found more than 33 kilogrammes of cannabis stuffed in their bags, with not a pair of flip flops or suncream in sight. The pair, who claimed to be tourists flying in from Thailand via France, were nabbed by eagle-eyed officers who…

  • Shop owner in Khlong Luang arrested for selling e-cigarettes to students | Thaiger

    Shop owner in Khlong Luang arrested for selling e-cigarettes to students

    Officials in Khlong Luang apprehended a shop owner who was allegedly using her grocery store as a front to sell e-cigarettes to students. The arrest followed complaints from parents yesterday, May 26. Apisara Kesinth, the district chief of Khlong Luang, directed Amornritthiphon Kheawrungruphet, the district security officer, along with volunteers from the Territorial Defence Volunteers, to investigate the allegations after…

  • Thai woman jumps from second floor after brutal boyfriend abuse | Thaiger

    Thai woman jumps from second floor after brutal boyfriend abuse

    A Thai woman jumped from the second floor of an apartment in the Isaan province of Udon Thani to seek help after enduring brutal abuse at the hands of her boyfriend on Saturday, May 24. The victim’s mother, 47 year old Supinya Aukkadee, shared details of the assault with several news agencies to draw attention to the case and secure…

  • Brace yourself: Fake dentist nabbed in Saraburi smile sting | Thaiger

    Brace yourself: Fake dentist nabbed in Saraburi smile sting

    Police in Saraburi province raided an illegal dental and fashion braces operation yesterday, uncovering unsanitary conditions. Police discovered a package sorting worker moonlighting as a fashion braces technician to earn extra income. Police Colonel Suriya Sudkankawan, the superintendent of Mueang Saraburi Police Station, directed Deputy Superintendent Police Lieutenant Colonel Sethhanan Sethapakorn, along with an investigative police team and Saraburi public…

  • Teen gun and firecracker attacks spark Phuket crackdown | Thaiger

    Teen gun and firecracker attacks spark Phuket crackdown

    Seven people have been arrested for the gun attack on Saturday. Last weekend, a group of teenagers unleashed gunfire and massive firecrackers in Phuket, injuring two people. The trouble began late on Saturday night, May 24, in Soi Bang Thong 3, Kathu, when a gang of teenagers opened fire and hurled explosives. A 15 year old boy, Athinan Ruangsantidamrong, was…

  • SSO approves 900 baht refund for flood-hit Thai provinces | Thaiger

    SSO approves 900 baht refund for flood-hit Thai provinces

    The Royal Gazette has announced new regulations from the Social Security Office (SSO) regarding a 900 baht refund for those insured in 55 affected provinces. This measure, effective today, May 27, aims to alleviate impacts from storms and floods between October 2024 and March 2025. The Ministry of Labour and the SSO have implemented measures to support businesses and insured…

  • Chiang Rai drug bust uncovers 500,000 methamphetamine pills | Thaiger

    Chiang Rai drug bust uncovers 500,000 methamphetamine pills

    The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) in Din Daeng announced the arrest of two suspects and the seizure of 500,000 methamphetamine pills in Chiang Rai province. The suspects are linked to a drug trafficking network led by a former convict who had previously served 17 years in prison. Police Lieutenant General Phanurat Lakboon, ONCB Secretary-General, yesterday, May 26,…