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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?...

  • Cyberattack: Thai cybercrime suspects arrested for 77 million baht luxury vintage car scam | Thaiger

    Cyberattack: Thai cybercrime suspects arrested for 77 million baht luxury vintage car scam

    The suspects thought to be behind the cyberattack on the Department of Land Transport (DLT) were yesterday taken into custody. The breach caused damages estimated at a colossal sum of 77.35 million baht. The two suspects, 38 year old Satian and 44 year old Sarisorn, are expected to face charges for introducing false information into the computer system and unlawfully…

  • Thaksin Shinawatra’s return to Thailand delayed amid prime ministerial vote postponement | Thaiger

    Thaksin Shinawatra’s return to Thailand delayed amid prime ministerial vote postponement

    The return of Thaksin Shinawatra, former prime minister of Thailand and reputed de facto head of the Pheu Thai Party, has been delayed. The strategy appears aimed at facilitating his smooth return, once a government led by his party comes into play, disclosed an unnamed source within Pheu Thai yesterday. The initial return plan for Thaksin was for Thursday, August…

  • Heavy rain probable across Thailand due to southwesterly monsoon influence | Thaiger

    Heavy rain probable across Thailand due to southwesterly monsoon influence

    The latest weather update indicates a 60% chance of heavy rain in the northern, northeastern, and eastern regions, and Bangkok today. The southwesterly monsoon blowing across the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand is the cause, according to the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecast for the next 24 hours. The monsoon, accompanied by a low-pressure area near the coast…

  • Thai tourism stays firm amid debt rise, 200 million domestic trips targeted | Thaiger

    Thai tourism stays firm amid debt rise, 200 million domestic trips targeted

    Despite a backdrop of tepid consumption, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) remains steadfast in its pursuit of 200 million domestic tourism trips within the current year. Data from a survey conducted by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce paints a rather gloomy picture of increased household debt levels, up by 11.5% this year from last year. It…

  • Tobacco smuggling: Thai task force apprehends smuggler in 2 million baht contraband case | Thaiger

    Tobacco smuggling: Thai task force apprehends smuggler in 2 million baht contraband case

    In a determined pursuit, Thailand’s anti-smuggling task force apprehended a significant fugitive from the south involved in a tobacco smuggling case. The arrest came after they confiscated 19 crates of smuggled cigarettes worth approximately 2 million baht. Police Major General Montri Thetkhan yesterday led the operation along with the team, intercepting a 43 years old suspect named Tiwa, implicated in…

  • Body parts of a foreign man found in trash bag on Koh Pha Ngan | Thaiger

    Body parts of a foreign man found in trash bag on Koh Pha Ngan

    A garbage truck driver today stumbled upon some human body parts in a trash bag at a waste yard on Koh Pha Ngan, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani. It is believed the body parts belong to a foreign man because the shape and size of the body are different from Thai people. Koh Pha Ngan Police…

  • Big Joke acknowledges corrupt police officers linked to firework warehouse explosion | Thaiger

    Big Joke acknowledges corrupt police officers linked to firework warehouse explosion

    The Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police (RTP), Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, acknowledged the presence of corrupt police officers within the force. He ensured to investigate the public’s concern over corruption allegations linked to the firework warehouse explosion. Move Forward Party (MFP) MP Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn stepped forward to expose the corruption within the RTP that may have played a role…

  • Parliament’s prime delay: PM selection meeting postponed as Constitution Court weighs Pita renomination | Thaiger

    Parliament’s prime delay: PM selection meeting postponed as Constitution Court weighs Pita renomination

    Parliament President Wan Muhamad Nor Matha (Wan Nor) officially announced today that the prime minister selection meeting, scheduled for tomorrow, is postponed until further notice. The delay is a result of the postponement of the Constitution Court to decide on the renomination of Pita Limjaroenrat as a PM candidate. The Thai Ombudsman last week requested the Constitution Court to determine…

  • Terror in Pattaya: Burmese ‘gangsters’ nabbed for gun roleplay with Kuwaiti tourists | Thaiger

    Terror in Pattaya: Burmese ‘gangsters’ nabbed for gun roleplay with Kuwaiti tourists

    Police apprehended two Burmese men following the emergence of a video of a foreign man holding a gun to the head of a Kuwaiti tourist and threatening about 10 of his fellow countrymen in Pattaya. The suspects admitted their involvement but insisted they were only playing a gangster role in response to the tourists’ request. The incident was brought to…

  • Crime-cracking capers: ECD raids warehouse, nabs Chinese owner, seizes 100,000 tax avoided treasures in Bangkok | Thaiger

    Crime-cracking capers: ECD raids warehouse, nabs Chinese owner, seizes 100,000 tax avoided treasures in Bangkok

    Police officers from the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD) raided a warehouse in Samut Prakarn province near Bangkok, resulting in the arrest of its Chinese owner and the seizure of over 100,000 items of tax-avoided goods worth more than 10 million baht. The ECD received a tip-off regarding the importation of tax-avoided and pirated goods from abroad, specifically stored in…

  • Unseen gunman in Phuket hotel shooting leaves two wounded, police intensify search | Thaiger

    Unseen gunman in Phuket hotel shooting leaves two wounded, police intensify search

    In the early hours of today, a terrifying gun attack unfolded outside a well-known hotel in Patong, Phuket, leaving two young men wounded. The unknown assailant, who drove a dark sedan, fled the scene immediately, igniting an urgent police search. At 4am today, the unchecked violence broke the tranquillity of residents in Phuket. Upon receiving reports of a shooting, Police…

  • Boozy pickup crash: 56 year old drunk’s collision with 18-wheel lorry in central Thailand | Thaiger

    Boozy pickup crash: 56 year old drunk’s collision with 18-wheel lorry in central Thailand

    A heavy-drinking 56 year old man lost control of his pickup truck and crashed into an 18-wheel lorry parked on the side of the road in Chachoengsao Province, central Thailand. The truck was heavily damaged, and officials quickly responded, providing emergency assistance and transportation to the hospital. Somprasong Sai-in, an investigative officer at Bang Pakong Police Station, today revealed that…

  • Pouring woes: Heavy rainfall unleashes havoc, claiming one life with landslides and flash floods in northern Thailand | Thaiger

    Pouring woes: Heavy rainfall unleashes havoc, claiming one life with landslides and flash floods in northern Thailand

    Continuous heavy rainfall has triggered devastating landslides and flash floods, resulting in one death in the Sop Moei district, located in the province of Mae Hong Son, northern Thailand. According to the district chief, Pongphipat Mebenjamat, today’s report confirms that 12 residential structures have suffered severe damage, and tragically, one resident has lost their life. The heart of Sop Moei,…

  • Indian man steals money from Thai vendors near Bangkok | Thaiger

    Indian man steals money from Thai vendors near Bangkok

    A cunning serial thief stole 950 baht from a Thai vendor in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok. The Indian man in question reportedly stole money from many other shops using the same smoke and mirror trick. The victim, Kanticha, revealed to the media that the incident occurred on July 31 at her noodles shop in the Bang Bua Thong district of…

  • Nitric acid leak prompts emergency response in Bangkok: Investigation underway | Thaiger

    Nitric acid leak prompts emergency response in Bangkok: Investigation underway

    A chemical emergency has struck the Prawet district, in Bangkok following a leak of nitric acid. Authorities, including a specialised team from the Lat Yao Fire Station, swiftly arrived at the scene to prevent further spread. The property owner, who utilises the chemical acid for stainless steel work, possesses the correct permit, but authorities will conduct further investigation to ensure…

  • New flower species discovered in Thai wildlife sanctuary by researchers | Thaiger

    New flower species discovered in Thai wildlife sanctuary by researchers

    In the lush Hala Bala Wildlife Sanctuary, situated in the Betong district of Yala province, researchers have made a remarkable discovery, two new species of flowers, belonging to the Annonaceae family – which hosts the well-known custard apple – have been identified by a team from Prince of Songkla University (PSU). The finding was announced this week by Charan Leeratiwong,…

  • Notorious bike theft gang behind 10 million baht of stolen Honda motorcycles nabbed by Thai police | Thaiger

    Notorious bike theft gang behind 10 million baht of stolen Honda motorcycles nabbed by Thai police

    In a relentless pursuit, the law enforcement authorities of Region 4 Crime Suppression Division apprehended the key suspect of a notorious motorcycle theft syndicate. The gang mainly targeted the popular Honda PCX model, smuggling over 60 of these stolen bikes to neighbouring countries and amassing over 10 million baht. The capture took place yesterday, when police officers, led by Captain…

  • Thai couple arrested for child abuse leading to blindness: Mother confesses | Thaiger

    Thai couple arrested for child abuse leading to blindness: Mother confesses

    Police yesterday arrested a 30 year old woman, and her 36 year old husband in connection with the continued inflicted child abuse on a five year old girl leading to her near blindness, in West Thailand. Relatives of the girl had appealed for help after realising that her blindness was due to prolonged cruelty. Her biological mother, Kesorn, and stepfather, Atthaphon,…

  • Thief caught stealing to finance motorcycle payments in Ratchaburi housing scheme | Thaiger

    Thief caught stealing to finance motorcycle payments in Ratchaburi housing scheme

    Residents of a housing development caught a thief who had been stealing electrical cables and water pumps to fund payments for his newly purchased motorcycle. The man was detained yesterday around 4pm at the Thungpo housing project in Mueang Ratchaburi, western Thailand. Attending the scene were police led by Police Colonel Worrasak Khlongngam, Deputy Investigative Officer of Mueang Ratchaburi Police.…

  • Caught in the drama: Foreign Thai soap opera fan’s secret kissing clip leads to blackmail attempt | Thaiger

    Caught in the drama: Foreign Thai soap opera fan’s secret kissing clip leads to blackmail attempt

    An unnamed foreign Thai soap opera fan tried to blackmail two actors after secretly filming them kissing in one of their apartments, believed to be in Bangkok, Thailand. The two Thai soap opera stars caught in the embrace were Sarocha “Freen” Chankimha and Wichai “Seng” Saefarn. Both actors star in the television series GAP The Series, which is popular among…

  • Gunman on the loose: Police scramble to find foreign suspect intimidating sightseers in Pattaya (video) | Thaiger

    Gunman on the loose: Police scramble to find foreign suspect intimidating sightseers in Pattaya (video)

    Police officers are frantically searching for an unidentified foreign gunman caught on tape intimidating a group of international sightseers with a pistol at a popular scenic viewpoint in Pattaya. The threatening incident has created a stir, leading Pattaya’s chief of police, Police Colonel Thanapong Phothi, and investigators to accelerate efforts to apprehend the at-large suspect. The concerning footage, which took around…

  • Tragic twist: High-ranking officer’s fatal collision with tree leaves Sisaket mourning | Thaiger

    Tragic twist: High-ranking officer’s fatal collision with tree leaves Sisaket mourning

    A tragic accident took the life of a high-ranking Nam Kliang Police Station officer when his vehicle collided with a tree resulting in fatal injuries in Sisaket province in northeastern Thailand. The driver of the car survived but suffered severe injuries and was rushed for medical treatment. In the early hours of 3.30am today, local police received an alert about…

  • Move forward, lese divide: Thai election winner MFP sparks coalition clash over lese majeste law revision | Thaiger

    Move forward, lese divide: Thai election winner MFP sparks coalition clash over lese majeste law revision

    Thai General Election winner the Move Forward Party (MFP) is refusing to abandon its ideology, insisting it will revise the lese majeste law, leading to a division among the Pheu Thai Party and the eight coalition parties. As a consequence, the Pheu Thai Party insisted that they cannot work with the MFP and announced they will form a government with…

  • Warning waves: Portuguese Man o’ War sighted at Lanta Island raises alarm in Krabi | Thaiger

    Warning waves: Portuguese Man o’ War sighted at Lanta Island raises alarm in Krabi

    An alarm has been raised over a hazardous marine creature, a Portuguese Man o’ War, spotted at Lanta Island in Krabi. Holiday-goers to the sea are advised against using bare hands to touch the creature where they stumble upon it. A tourist from Bangkok came across the creature during her recent vacation to Lanta Island’s hotel located in Moo 2,…

  • Tisco ESU advises focus shift to debt instruments amid market instability | Thaiger

    Tisco ESU advises focus shift to debt instruments amid market instability

    Amid global stock market turbulence, financial analysts at Tisco’s Economic Strategy Unit (Tisco ESU) are advocating that investors pivot their focus towards debt instruments for potential high-yield returns. The ongoing pressures from elevated bond yields, coupled with the weakening economies in the US and Europe, are some of the contributing factors exerting pressure on the financial markets. The ongoing macroeconomic…

  • Blue pee surprise: Thai Highway Police bust narcotics ring in Bangkok | Thaiger

    Blue pee surprise: Thai Highway Police bust narcotics ring in Bangkok

    The Thai Highway Police today busted a narcotics ring and its leader who produced blue pee after taking a urine drug test in Bangkok. The gang employed an unconventional smuggling tactic to transport a massive haul of 400,000 methamphetamine pills. Their plan involved transporting the illicit drugs from Bangkok to Surat Thani. The police successfully carried out the operation, culminating in…

  • Maya Bay closed until September 30 for nature restoration and tourist safety | Thaiger

    Maya Bay closed until September 30 for nature restoration and tourist safety

    Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Koh Phi Phi Nationa Park authorities, located in the southern province of Krabi, announced they will close Maya Bay and Loh Sama Bay from August 1 to September 30. The move aims to preserve nature and prioritise tourist safety during the monsoon season. Ratchanok Parenoi, the national park director, pointed out that Thailand experiences the monsoon season…

  • Songkhla man nabbed smuggling 14 undocumented Burmese for 30,000 baht | Thaiger

    Songkhla man nabbed smuggling 14 undocumented Burmese for 30,000 baht

    A 31 year old man from Hat Yai, Songkhla, has been arrested by highway police in Surat Thani for allegedly smuggling 14 Burmese immigrants into Thailand. The arrest took place on Phetkasem Road within Thachang, where he, after an initial attempt to flee, was apprehended with his Toyota Revo pickup truck, registration number ผผ7620 Songkhla. The man, Rusdee, was found…

  • Water shortages: Thai govt mulls halting Central Plains rice farming amid anticipated drought | Thaiger

    Water shortages: Thai govt mulls halting Central Plains rice farming amid anticipated drought

    In a bid to counteract the effects of a potential drought, the central government of Thailand is contemplating the suspension of rice cultivation in the Central Plains region. This proposal comes alongside the potential establishment of a command centre to combat reduced rainfall and water shortages. The Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) initiated this conversation, citing apprehensions about…

  • Drunk shoots neighbour in ongoing feud in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand | Thaiger

    Drunk shoots neighbour in ongoing feud in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand

    A severe case of neighbourhood conflict escalated drastically yesterday when a drunk man shot his neighbour with a shotgun in northern Thailand. Local police dashed to the scene to investigate the incident with an emergency rescue unit in Chiang Mai. The perpetrator was arrested and charged. The 66 year old offender, Manu, was found in a severe state of inebriation…