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.
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Sponsored 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?...
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MFP leader promises reasonable minimum wage increase without economic damage
Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat recently assured that a coalition government under his leadership would not immediately raise the minimum daily wage to 450 baht but would ensure a reasonable increase without causing damage to industry or the economy. Limjaroenrat, the party’s prime ministerial candidate, made this promise during a meeting with representatives of the Federation of Thai…
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China downplays Micron ban as individual case, not broader US firm targeting
China is attempting to mitigate the fallout from its recent decision to partially ban sales of US chipmaker Micron‘s products in the country on national security grounds. The ban has been challenged by Washington, which views it as a deliberate targeting of US businesses in response to export controls imposed on China. However, Chinese authorities, including the foreign ministry and…
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Shooting at noodles shop near Bangkok claims life of groom-to-be, 2 others injured
A shooting at a noodles shop in the Nonthaburi province near Bangkok resulted in the death of a groom-to-be and injury to two others. Reports suggest that the motive behind the shooting was a dispute over debt and an illegal business venture. The shooting occurred at midnight at a noodles shop in the Sai Ma sub-district of Mueang district in…
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Pattaya hit by floods as Thailand enters rainy season
Pattaya experienced significant flooding in various areas last night, following the official start of Thailand’s rainy season on Monday. The heavy downpour, which lasted for about an hour and was accompanied by strong winds, affected flood-prone locations such as Sukhumvit Road, South Pattaya Road, Pattaya Beach Road, Third Road near the Paniat Chang intersection, Moom Aroi intersection, and the road…
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Outrage as Thai rape sentence slashed in half, raising questions about justice system
A Thai woman and her boyfriend questioned the justice system in Thailand after a Bangkok taxi driver’s rape sentence was reduced from six years to only three years. The victim suffered both physical and mental health damage as a consequence of the sexual assault. The victim’s boyfriend shared the story about his girlfriend on Facebook on Thursday, May 11. He…
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Future Thailand PM at odds with cannabis sellers and government over drug law reform
Cannabis sellers and several governmental departments have clashed with future Prime Minister, Pita Limcharoenrat, and his Move Forward Party (MFP) over the reclassification of cannabis and the reversal of the drug laws. The sellers are demanding clear clarification from the concerned departments on this issue. On Monday, May 22, the MFP, led by Pita, and leaders of the coalition parties…
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First flight from Russia’s Red Wings Airlines makes its way to Phuket
Russian tourists are continuing to flock to Thailand’s holiday paradise of Phuket. Yesterday morning, officials and staff at Phuket International Airport welcomed the first Red Wings Airlines flight from Zhukovsky, Russia, to Phuket. The flight carried 400 passengers. Earlier this month, it was reported that Russians were Thailand’s fourth largest tourist group this year, with a total of 115,743 tourists so…
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Only a week left to experience Grand Canyon of Thailand before rain
Travellers are advised to seize the opportunity to witness the extraordinary beauty of a natural site known as Thailand‘s “Grand Canyon,” locally known as Sam Phan Bok, before the end of May, when it will start to rain more. This leaves only a week left for exploration. Located in the Ban Pho Sai district of Ubon Ratchathani province in Thailand’s…
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Teenager arrested for selling ghost SIM cards online
Police arrested a 17 year old boy who sold ghost SIM cards online at his house in Ranong province in southern Thailand. The teenager used information from his previous customers to repeatedly register SIM cards for sale. Narudom managed to make over 500 transactions. Officers from the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau raided a house in the Khao Niwet sub-district, Mueng…
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Speeding pickup truck flips on Si Rat expressway – driver dies in collision
A high-speed collision involving a pickup truck on the Si Rat Expressway in Bangkok resulted in the vehicle flipping over and the driver tragically losing his life. The incident occurred at the expressway’s entrance near Ngamwongwan Road, where the pickup truck was found completely wrecked. The accident involved an Isuzu D-Max, which collided with a cement barrier due to excessive…
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Prime suspect in Pattaya woman’s brutal murder arrested in rural Thai village
In a rural village in Sakon Nakhon, northeastern Thailand, the prime suspect in the brutal murder of a young Pattaya woman was apprehended and is now being transported to Pattaya for further investigation. The murder of Rattana Thammarak sent shockwaves through the Pattaya community and law enforcement. The 32 year old suffered at least ten stab wounds to her face,…
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Police impostors arrested for attempting to bribe officers to release illegal Chinese immigrants
Officers from Chiang Saen Police Station in the northern province of Chiang Rai arrested four suspects for posing as high-ranking police officers and attempting to bribe the police with 350,000 baht in exchange for the release of four Chinese nationals who illegally entered the country. The situation unfolded after officers from Chiang Saen Police Station apprehended a Thai national along…
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Thailand flight sales soar, searches for outbound trips up 200% in Q1
The first quarter of this year saw international flight sales to Thailand surpass 2019 figures, while searches for outbound Thai flights and overseas accommodation rose by 200%, according to online travel agency Traveloka. Iko Putera, the company’s chief executive of transport, anticipates a positive travel trend for Thailand and the rest of Southeast Asia this year. This is driven by…
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Lawyer of cyanide serial killer accused of hiding and damaging evidence
Thannicha “Patch” Ek-suwannawat, the lawyer representing the Thai cyanide serial killer, is facing allegations of hiding and damaging crucial evidence. Despite being summoned, Patch has not responded and instead intends to file a complaint against the police. Sararat “Am” Rangsiwuthaporn, the cyanide serial killer, has yet to confess to her alleged crimes, despite compelling evidence against her. Investigators have uncovered…
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3 DSI officers and ex-consul of Nauru accused of swindling 10 million baht
Three officers from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and the former consul of the Nauru Consulate in Thailand reportedly swindled 10 million baht from Chinese nationals suspected of operating illegal businesses in Thailand. The accused DSI officers surrendered yesterday. On December 22 of last year, DSI officers conducted a raid on a residence in Bangkok that served as the…
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‘Personally, I love dogs,’ says Thai man who killed girlfriend’s dogs, forced her to eat dog poo
UPDATE Watchdog Thailand seized a Beagle, a Shih Tzu, and a rabbit from the man who confessed to beating his Thai-British girlfriend, forcing her to eat dog poo, and buying and killing many of her pet dogs yesterday. During interrogation at Bang Bo Police Station in Samut Prakan yesterday, 24 year old “Fin” confessed to killing and burying “more than…
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Cannabis shop near top school suspended amid licence scrutiny
A cannabis shop near the prestigious St Joseph Convent School on Silom Road has had its licence suspended for one month by the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM). The dispensary had been operating for six months before receiving criticism due to its proximity to the all-girls school. DTAM’s director-general, Thongchai Lertwilairattanapong, revealed that the suspension was a…
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White House reports progress in talks to avert US debt default
The White House has reported some progress in the ongoing discussions with Republican negotiators to prevent a catastrophic US debt default before the June 1 deadline. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that both sides must understand that they won’t get everything they want. The talks between US President Joe Biden and Republicans in Congress are set to continue,…
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Man confesses to beating Thai-British girlfriend, forcing her to eat dog poo, and killing her pets
A Thai man confessed to physically abusing his Thai-British girlfriend, forcing her to eat dog poo and killing her dogs today at a police station in Samut Prakan in central Thailand. Lawyer Kanthas “Gun Jompalang” Phongphaibookvej accompanied 25 year old “A” (pseudonym) to Bang Bo Police Station this morning to file three charges against her 24 year old boyfriend “Fin,”…
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Asia-Pacific countries need US$362 billion annually for climate action, says UN
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) highlighted the urgent need for significant funding to support climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts in the Asia-Pacific region. ESCAP’s Accelerating Climate Action in Asia and the Pacific report reveals that most countries in the area are inadequately prepared for extreme weather events and natural disasters, which…
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‘Blue Lagoon’ promoted as tourist attraction in Khon Kaen, Thailand
An abandoned limestone quarry-turned-reservoir dubbed the “Blue Lagoon” is being promoted as a tourist attraction in Khon Kaen, northeast Thailand. Locals said that water seeped into the abandoned old quarry site until it turned into a beautiful reservoir, attracting tourists wanting to catch a glimpse of the emerald water glistening under the sun. INN News describes the Blue Lagoon as…
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Thailand boosts safety measures to attract 5 million Chinese tourists
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Tourist Police Bureau are focusing on enhancing safety measures for travellers as the number of Chinese tourists to the country reaches 1 million. TAT aims to attract five million Chinese tourists this year, with around 70% expected to be independent travellers with high purchasing power. However, there are challenges, such as a…
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Thai restaurant in California forced to close amid racist dog meat rumours
The Tasty Thai restaurant in Fresno, California, was forced to temporarily close its doors after racist rumours spread online that the owners were selling dog meat. Seemingly out of nowhere, a string of negative and nasty reviews about Tasty Thai, a six month old restaurant, popped up on Yelp on Monday night. But the reviews were not about the food. “It…
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Lifeless body of three year old girl found near grazing field in southern Thailand
The body of a three year old girl was discovered in a waterlogged area close to an animal grazing field in Narathiwat province, in southern Thailand. The child mysteriously disappeared from her home, which was approximately 300 metres away from where her body was found. Police Colonel Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, Deputy Police Chief, visited the scene of the crime…
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Phuket speedboat driver tests positive for meth after crash injuring 37 tourists
UPDATE The man who crashed a speedboat into a channel marker in Chalong Bay in Phuket, southern Thailand – injuring 37 Thai and foreign tourists – on Wednesday tested positive for methamphetamine. The 29 year old tour boat driver, Sathit Mardchai, underwent a blood test for alcohol and drugs following the incident, Commander of Phuket Provincial Police Pol. Maj. Gen.…
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Biden, McCarthy in debt ceiling talks as US default risk looms
US President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy met at the White House yesterday to discuss raising the US government’s US$31.4 trillion debt ceiling, with the US economy at risk if no agreement is reached within 10 days. The Democratic president and the top congressional Republican have struggled to make progress on a deal, as McCarthy pressures the White…
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Democrats to elect new leader amid Abhisit and Watanya speculation
The Democrat Party is set to meet and establish guidelines for selecting a new leader, with Abhisit Vejjajiva and Watanya Bunnag, head of the party’s political innovations working group, being the potential candidates. Yesterday, party spokesperson Ramet Rattanachaweng announced that the caretaker executive panel would convene tomorrow to outline the process for choosing a new leader and appointing a new…
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China bans US Micron chips, escalating global chip industry risks
China’s recent ban on certain sectors using chips from United States-based Micron Technology has highlighted the potential risks faced by the global chip industry amidst rising Sino-US trade tensions. The move against Micron, the largest US memory chipmaker, is widely perceived as retaliation for Washington’s attempts to limit Beijing’s access to crucial technology. This comes as the Group of Seven…
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Phuket som tam restaurant returns 200,000 baht to European tourist
A European tourist was reunited with his bag containing money and assets worth 200,000 baht yesterday thanks to the honest owner of a som tam restaurant in Phuket, southern Thailand. The restaurant, Som Tam Yam 3 Aow, posted photos of the smiling tourist with a big stash of cash on Facebook with the caption… “From the incident where a customer had…
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Burmese man attacks 3 colleagues with knife near Bangkok
A Burmese man attacked three colleagues with a knife yesterday at the Owl Market in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok. The incident took place around 5pm yesterday, May 21, at the Owl Market or Nok Hook Market along the Nonthaburi Bypass Road. Officers from Rattanathibet Police Station were notified of the incident and quickly arrived on the scene along with rescuers…
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