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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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    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?...

  • What to do in Bangkok this week (August 23 to 27)

    What to do in Bangkok this week (August 23 to 27)

    This weekend and the upcoming weekdays are packed with exciting activities in Bangkok! If your schedule is still wide open, let us help you out. From catching a game at a sports bar to enjoying some barbecue to listening to Chappell Roan’s music, here’s a list of the top things to do in Bangkok from August 23 to 27. Things…

  • Massive oil slick threatens Sattahip’s pristine shores

    Massive oil slick threatens Sattahip’s pristine shores

    A massive oil slick has been discovered just 4 nautical miles from Bang Saray Beach, sending shockwaves through the local community and environmental groups. The slick, stretching over 2 kilometres, was first reported in the afternoon, igniting fears of its devastating impact on marine life and the booming tourism industry. Bang Saray Community Enterprise for Tourism and Sports chairperson Udom…

  • Efforts underway to prevent oil spill from reaching Chon Buri beach

    Efforts underway to prevent oil spill from reaching Chon Buri beach

    Local officials in the Sattahip district of Chon Buri province are battling to prevent an oil spill in Bang Saray Bay from reaching the coast. The source of the oil remains undisclosed. Locals and tourists spotted lines of oil, approximately 3-to-4 kilometres offshore in Bang Saray Bay in the Sattahip district of Chon Buri, yesterday, August 22. The spill was…

  • Thai-Myanmar gates reopen after sudden closure

    Thai-Myanmar gates reopen after sudden closure

    The Burmese border town of Phayathonzu, straddling Thailand and Myanmar, was thrown into chaos when its gates were abruptly shut on August 16. The gates, crucial for the movement of goods and people, left locals in a lurch. However, on August 20, relief came as the gates were reopened, much to the delight of residents and traders, one Phayathonzu local…

  • A euphoric night with the ‘Thaiger Top Shelf’ awards at Royal Queen Seeds

    A euphoric night with the ‘Thaiger Top Shelf’ awards at Royal Queen Seeds

    Get your buzz on at the Thaiger Top Shelf event, set to light up Royal Queen Seeds Bangkok on Wednesday, August 28, from 7pm to 9pm! This high-profile shindig is the ultimate meet-up for cannabis aficionados, industry insiders, and anyone curious about Thailand’s thriving weed scene. Royal Queen Seeds Bangkok isn’t just about top-notch cannabis products—they’re rolling out the red…

  • Thailand Department of Rice aids northern farmers after floods

    Thailand Department of Rice aids northern farmers after floods

    Thailand’s Department of Rice, in collaboration with three rice associations, has donated survival bags and over 50 tonnes of rice to assist northern farmers affected by recent floods. Recent floods have ravaged the northern provinces of Phayao, Nan, Chiang Rai, and Phrae, leading to extensive damage to homes and farmlands. This disaster has severely impacted the agricultural sector in these…

  • Thailand unveils National Cyber Academy to enhance cybersecurity

    Thailand unveils National Cyber Academy to enhance cybersecurity

    The National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) has introduced the Thailand National Cyber Academy in a bid to enhance cybersecurity literacy across the nation. Caretaker Digital Economy and Society Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong emphasised that the academy will significantly contribute to the development of IT professionals at all age levels, thereby bolstering national cybersecurity. This initiative is part of the second phase…

  • Southern Thailand call centre scam gang jailed for 20 years

    Southern Thailand call centre scam gang jailed for 20 years

    A notorious call centre scam operation has been dismantled by Thai police, leading to severe prison sentences for those involved. The criminal court handed a 20-year prison sentence to 14 members of the gang for deceiving a former doctor in Chumphon province, causing financial losses of 101 million baht. Additionally, those who provided mule accounts to the gang received nine-year…

  • Baby elephant cries as mother swept away in Thai floods (video)

    Baby elephant cries as mother swept away in Thai floods (video)

    A baby elephant’s fearful calls echoed as its mother was swept away by powerful floodwaters in northern Thailand. Torrential rains overnight led to severe flooding in several northern provinces, including Phayao, Nan, Chiang Rai, and Phrae, causing widespread damage to homes and agricultural lands. The dramatic incident unfolded when a large mother elephant was caught in the fierce currents, struggling…

  • Indian man attacked by fellow countrymen in Pattaya (video)

    Indian man attacked by fellow countrymen in Pattaya (video)

    An Indian man lost consciousness on a footpath along Pattaya Tai Road after being attacked by a gang of fellow countrymen in the early hours of yesterday. A video of the physical assault went viral on Thai social media yesterday, August 22. The footage showed the Indian victim running away from a group of fellow countrymen along Pattaya Tai Road…

  • Egg-spect another price hike as duck eggs ‘crack’ up to 5.10 baht

    Egg-spect another price hike as duck eggs ‘crack’ up to 5.10 baht

    The Egg Duck Association announced a price increase for farm-fresh duck eggs by 10 satang, raising the price to 5.10 baht per egg, effective from yesterday. This marks the fifth price hike this year. The Egg Duck Association yesterday, August 22, informed its members about the new farm gate prices for duck eggs. The price per egg has been increased…

  • Pattaya fruit vendor pleads for police help after repeated thefts

    Pattaya fruit vendor pleads for police help after repeated thefts

    A fruit vendor in Pattaya seeks urgent police intervention after experiencing two thefts at her shop. Somporn Phetnak, a 39 year old fruit vendor operating in Naklua Soi 16, shared CCTV footage on Wednesday with local news outlets. The footage captures the moment a thief stole money from her shop. Somporn explained that she has been selling fruit in Naklua…

  • Thaksin denies political deal on return from exile

    Thaksin denies political deal on return from exile

    Thaksin Shinawatra firmly stated yesterday that no political arrangement was crafted with his conservative adversaries to facilitate his return from a 15-year exile last year. The former Thai premier made the statement during an on-stage interview at a forum organised by a local media group. “There is no deal, no one dare do a deal with me.” The 75 year…

  • 3 Chinese men arrested in online gambling and call centre scam

    3 Chinese men arrested in online gambling and call centre scam

    Immigration Bureau officers arrested three Chinese men in Chon Buri for operating a multinational online gambling and call centre scam with over 5.5 billion baht in circulation. The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China requested cooperation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand to arrest the Chinese suspect, 47 year old Su, for fraud and operating a casino.…

  • Thailand concludes major anti-terrorism drill

    Thailand concludes major anti-terrorism drill

    The Counter Terrorist Operations Centre under the Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTAF) Headquarters is wrapping up a five-day anti-terrorism drill today in Chiang Rai. The Crisis Management Exercise 2024 (C-MEX24) at Chiang Rai Rajabhat University saw participation from over 500 individuals representing 60 agencies. This comprehensive exercise included officers from the army, navy, air force, and police, aiming to assess their…

  • 1 killed and 4 injured in flash flood and landslide in Phuket (video)

    1 killed and 4 injured in flash flood and landslide in Phuket (video)

    A devastating flash flood and landslide struck the popular holiday resort of Phuket near Kata Temple in the Mueang district, killing one person and injuring four others. Thai government officials made it known that people were reported missing but their identities have not yet been made public. Prachachat news agency reported that heavy rain hit many areas of Phuket at…

  • No need to panic, flood’s just a ‘ripple’ in northern Thailand

    No need to panic, flood’s just a ‘ripple’ in northern Thailand

    The Government of Thailand urged residents not to panic after the recent deluge in the north of the country, adding it won’t flood Bangkok or its neighbouring provinces. Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai declared that the caretaker administration has everything under control. With waters wreaking havoc in Chiang Rai, Phrae, Nan, Phayao, and Sukhothai, the emergency services are stepping up…

  • Mystical turtle discovered at Chon Buri temple

    Mystical turtle discovered at Chon Buri temple

    A rare turtle species was discovered at the Wang Sam Sien Chinese Temple on Big Buddha Hill, Khao Phra Tamnak in Chon Buri province. A concerned local, who believed they stumbled upon something extraordinary, alerted local officials after spotting the turtle lying exhausted under the sun, seemingly injured or ill. Katanyu Thongphu, a fisheries scientist from the Chon Buri Provincial…

  • Beloved gay penguin dies in Sydney (video)

    Beloved gay penguin dies in Sydney (video)

    In a tearful farewell, Sphen, the gentoo penguin who captivated the world as part of a famous same-sex power couple, has died at the age of 11. Sphen and his partner, Magic, shot to global fame in 2018 after falling in love at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium and later adopting and raising two chicks. Their heartwarming story touched millions and…

  • Scandal erupts over judge’s joke about defunct MFP

    Scandal erupts over judge’s joke about defunct MFP

    A Pheu Thai MP is set to submit an urgent motion in the House of Representatives, calling for an investigation into a Constitutional Court judge’s controversial comments regarding a dissolved political party. The judge, Udom Sittiwirattham, already under scrutiny for his role in dissolving the Move Forward Party (MFP), has now sparked outrage with a flippant remark about the People’s…

  • Bulletproof Buriram man survives triple shooting, claims immortality

    Bulletproof Buriram man survives triple shooting, claims immortality

    A Thai man shot his foe three times in a village in the Isaan province of Buriram amid a seven-year feud, after the victim claimed he was immortal. Remarkably, the victim’s boast turned out to be true as he survived the shooting. The victim, 40 year old Somchai, sought justice at Satuek Police Station, claiming that his foe, 44 year…

  • Harvard comeback: Pita’s return to the political arena

    Harvard comeback: Pita’s return to the political arena

    Pita Limjaroenrat, the exiled political leader with unfinished business in Thai politics, is making an unexpected return to his old stomping grounds. The former leader of the now-disbanded Move Forward Party (MFP), who’s currently sidelined by a 10-year political ban, snagged a prestigious spot as a Democracy Fellow at Harvard University’s Kennedy School. “This is an exciting opportunity to continue…

  • Thailand’s tourism boom tainted by zero-dollar tours

    Thailand’s tourism boom tainted by zero-dollar tours

    Thailand’s booming tourism sector is thriving under a new visa-free policy, attracting millions of foreign tourists. Yet, while Chinese visitors top the list, concerns are mounting over the resurgence of Chinese zero-dollar tours, which could be draining potential revenue from the Thai economy. From January 1 to August 18, Thailand welcomed a staggering 22,474,172 international tourists, who pumped 1.05 trillion…

  • Bangkok jewellery fair set to sparkle with 3.5 billion baht in revenue

    Bangkok jewellery fair set to sparkle with 3.5 billion baht in revenue

    The upcoming 70th Bangkok Gems and Jewellery Fair is gearing up to dazzle with an expected revenue haul of at least 3.5 billion baht, according to the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) and the Gem and Jewellery Institute of Thailand (GIT). This glittering event, scheduled from September 9 to 13 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC), is…

  • Northern Thailand flooding: Phichit’s Yom River water levels rise

    Northern Thailand flooding: Phichit’s Yom River water levels rise

    The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) is closely monitoring the water levels in the Yom River in Phichit province, which has been rising steadily due to heavy rainfall in northern Thailand, particularly in Phrae and Phayao. This surge in water is expected to flow down to Sukhothai, Phitsanulok, and Phichit. Chuchart Rakjit, the Director-General of the Royal Irrigation Department, announced yesterday,…

  • EV battery boom: Can AI help Thailand drive to the top?

    EV battery boom: Can AI help Thailand drive to the top?

    Thailand is revving up for a major geopolitical boost by focusing on electric vehicle (EV) batteries and auto components, including integrated circuit packaging and testing. According to Taiwan’s Profet AI, the key to speeding up product delivery, slashing costs, and raising standards lies in adopting cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) amid ongoing economic headwinds. Jerry Huang, co-founder and CEO of Profet…

  • Shocking survey reveals Thai government’s trust crisis

    Shocking survey reveals Thai government’s trust crisis

    A recent survey has uncovered a deep-seated distrust among the Thai populace towards their government, with more than 69% of respondents expressing doubts that the government acts in the country’s best interests. Conducted by the Institute of Future Studies for Development (IFD) from August 17 to 20, the survey sampled 1,251 adults nationwide. The findings paint a troubling picture of…

  • Thai dancer and her boyfriend arrested for child prostitution

    Thai dancer and her boyfriend arrested for child prostitution

    Chiang Mai police arrested a 20 year old Thai dancer and her boyfriend on charges of child prostitution. The woman alleged that dancing did not provide sufficient income, leading her to become a part-time sex worker and recruit other underage dancers into prostitution. Anti-human trafficking organisations ZOE and the Immanuel Foundation reported the child prostitution racket to the Cyber Crime…

  • Koh Pha Ngan shopkeeper’s laughing gas caper goes up in smoke

    Koh Pha Ngan shopkeeper’s laughing gas caper goes up in smoke

    A Koh Pha Ngan shopkeeper has been caught red-handed peddling balloons stuffed with nitrous oxide, better known as laughing gas, without a licence, and it’s no laughing matter! Rangsiman Jaisamer was busted by police in his Haad Rin shop early today, August 22, where officers discovered two cylinders of the giggly gas and a stash of balloons ready for sale.…

  • Chachoengsao man builds new gate to avoid neighbour’s threats

    Chachoengsao man builds new gate to avoid neighbour’s threats

    A 60 year old Thai man in Chachoengsao province opted to build a new gate to his home to avoid further conflict with his neighbour, who has been reportedly harassing him and brandishing a firearm. The Thai man, Thitiwat, complained to Athiwat Sirikangwalwong, founder of the Dare to Step Forward Facebook page, about the threats he faced from his neighbour,…