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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Combined tour packages: Thai proposal for Chinese tourists
Chinese tourists are the target of a new strategy suggested by Thai tourism operators, who propose selling combined tour packages to Thailand and Malaysia. This proposal comes in light of China granting visa exemptions to visitors from Malaysia and several European countries, but not Thailand. Songchai Mungprasithichai, president of the Songkhla Tourism Promotion Association, believes that since Hat Yai Airport…
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Doubts over Thai target of 8.2 million Chinese visitors in 2024
Analysts have expressed doubts over the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) ambitious target of attracting 8.2 million Chinese visitors next year. This comes as predictions for overall foreign arrivals next year have been downscaled, amidst concerns over a sluggish global economy. Kasem Prunratanamala, who leads research at CGS-CIMB Securities in Thailand, stated that while the firm has kept its estimation…
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Thai Airways takes a smile: Reinstates nine cool-season routes for domestic delight
Thai Airways International reinstated nine domestic routes for the cool season, previously provided by its former affiliate, Thai Smile Airways. The services, which will run until March 30, utilise the Airbus A320 planes from the airline’s former subsidiary, Thai Smile. The re-established routes offer daily flights from Bangkok to nine destinations – Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai, Khon Kaen,…
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Thai nightlife gets a glow-up: Cabinet green-lights 4am extended hours for tourist hotspots
The Thai Cabinet has given the green light to a draft regulation set forth by the Interior Ministry, permitting extended hours until 4am at entertainment venues in prominent tourist hotspots. The affected areas include Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, Koh Samui, and Phuket. Aiming to stimulate the country’s tourism sector, the Interior Ministry is at the helm of this initiative.…
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Southern Thailand: Flood mitigation study completed in Surat Thani’s Klong Roy Sai area
The Royal Irrigation Department completed a flood mitigation study in the Klong Roy Sai area of Surat Thani city, which promises to bring benefits to residents. The project launch was held at the Wang Tai Hotel conference room in Surat Thani. Notable attendees included Nuntawat Charoenwan, Deputy Governor of Surat Thani Province, Somsawat Chaisinsorn, Director of Surat Thani Irrigation Project, and…
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Porked out: Ex-DSI chief gets the chop amid sizzling scandal
Police Colonel Suriya Singhakamol, the now former Director-General of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), finds himself ousted and reassigned amid the recent ongoing pork scandal. The Cabinet’s decision to remove Suriya from the DSI’s top post and appoint him as the Deputy Permanent Secretary of Justice has left the public clamouring for answers. No official explanation has been provided,…
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Thai government approves 10% increase for civil servants starting at 18,000 baht
The Thai government approved a 10% salary increase for civil servants over a two-year period, beginning with new recruits. According to Danucha Pichayanan, Secretary-General of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), the first increment is expected to come into effect once the budget for 2024 is approved. Danucha explained that the salary adjustment will initially target newly inducted…
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Thai authorities demand registration for individuals holding over five SIM cards
Under the leadership of Prasert Chantraruangthong, the Committee for the Prevention and Suppression of Cybercrime has mandated the registration of individuals possessing more than five SIM card numbers. The numbers are staggering. A whopping 7,664 individuals possess over 100 SIM cards, with Thai nationals holding 3,580,571 of them, and foreigners not far behind with 2,591,365. The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications…
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Tragic collision in Lopburi: Pickup truck hits student transport, 1 dead and 29 injured
An accident unfolded at the intersection of Wat Jai when a woman driving a pickup truck collided with a student transport vehicle, resulting in the vehicle flipping over and leaving it severely damaged. The driver, a 66 year old man named Boonjong (surname withheld), lost his life at the scene. The incident also resulted in injuries for 29 others, including…
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Car crash with suspected alcohol influence in Tha Phra tunnel obstructs Bangkok traffic
A car accident involving a Honda Jazz car and a Mazda CX3 occurred inside the Tha Phra tunnel in Bangkok, leading to the Honda Jazz flipping over and obstructing the road. The Jazz was driven by 52 year old probation officer, Suwet (surname withheld), who was found in a dazed state and was suspected of being under the influence of…
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Rice and shine: Thai government dishes out financial aid to farmers through BAAC
The Thai government initiated a financial aid programme for rice farmers, channelling through the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC). Rice farmers will receive 1,000 baht per rai, capped at 20 rai (32,000 squared metres) per household, or a maximum of 20,000 baht per household. This scheme, part of the Rice Farmer Management and Quality Improvement project for the…
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Begging to differ: Bangkok busts 23 Jordanian beggars in Nana crackdown after Soi Sukhumvit 4 complaints
Immigration Bureau officers arrested 23 Jordanian beggars at a hotel in the Nana neighbourhood of Bangkok yesterday following complaints from business owners on Soi Sukhumvit 4 near Nana Plaza. Business owners near Nana Plaza shared videos of foreign beggars from a Middle Eastern country causing a public nuisance in the area on several social media platforms last week. They urged…
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Illegal pork pursuit: Thai investigators crack down on Makro for shady swine supplies
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) raided Makro, a popular cash and carry store warehouse in Thailand after discovering the store ordered illegal pork products from a company previously indicted for illicit imports. DSI director, Suriya Singhakamon, said officers conducted a raid on Wealthy & Healthy Foods, which illegally imported pork into Thailand, and discovered that the company supplied some…
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Unprecedented tourist influx on full moon day at Wan Nakee Island’s shrine
Tourists flocked to Wat Kham Chanot Wang Nakee coinciding with the revered day of the full moon and the traditional Loy Krathong Festival on November 27. The shrine, located in Ban Muang, Ban Dung district, Udon Thani province, is dedicated to Nakee Island’s spiritual guardians, Grandfather Sri Sutho and Grandmother Ya Sri Pathum. The shrine’s spiritual significance attracted a vast…
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Escape to Thailand’s best-kept secret: Mae Chaem, a hidden paradise of culture, tranquillity, and starlit nights
In the heart of northern Thailand lies a hidden gem, away from the tourist throngs that swarm popular destinations. Mae Chaem, nestled on the flank of Doi Inthanon mountain, beckons discerning travellers seeking respite from the usual hustle and bustle. As you wind through lush greenery and scenic landscapes, Mae Chaem unfolds like a dream. The journey itself, a four-hour…
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Russian man dies in Phuket motorbike accident involving Chinese tourists
A fatal collision on Kata Hill, Phuket has claimed the life of a Russian man after his motorbike collided with a passenger van carrying six Chinese tourists, on Saturday, November 25, according to Phuket Tourist Police. The incident took place on the stretch between Kata and Chalong, and while the specifics of the collision are yet to be revealed by…
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Fuelling frustration: Saraburi petrol station owner shuts shop after losing over 1 million baht to deceitful customers
The owner of a petrol station in the central province of Saraburi announced that she will soon close her business after losing over 1 million baht worth of fuel to dishonest customers. The station owner, 67 year old Sirikarn Rakwitham, shared a picture of a sign at her patrol station yesterday, November 27 broadcasting the news. “The station will be…
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Chinese airlines hit turbulence: Air China, China Eastern, Shanghai Airlines pump the brakes on December and January flights
Major Chinese airlines such as Air China, China Eastern, and Shanghai Airlines, slam the brakes on flights for December and January. Several Chinese airlines, notably Air China, China Eastern, and Shanghai Airlines, sent shockwaves through the travel industry by cancelling flights to Thailand for December and January. The root cause? A plunge in bookings mirrors China’s economic downturn and a…
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Bangkok university student falls from building during Loy Krathong Festival
An 18 year old student fell from a well-known university building in central Bangkok on the night of the Loy Krathong Festival. The incident took place last night, November 27, as reported by Thanapat Suwannanak, Deputy Sheriff (Investigator) of the Thonglor Police Station. The university premises were examined by police, doctors and charity workers following the incident. The incident occurred on…
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Palm tree falls on top of Thai man and kills him in southern Thailand
A dead palm tree fell on top of a Thai man and killed him at a plantation in the southern province of Satun yesterday, November 27. A Thai man named Sorn reported the incident to officers at Manang Police Station and the Nikhom Pattana Sub-district Rescue Team. His 47 year old employer, Date, had been hit by a large palm…
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Thai thrill-seekers turn heads with illegal jet ski scooters on public road in Bangkok (video)
Four Thai men admitted to engaging in an illegal activity by fabricating jet ski scooters and riding them on a road in Pathum Thani province near Bangkok. They made known that they would visit a police station to pay fines for their indiscretion today, November 28. A video shared on a Facebook account captured the scene of the four Thai…
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Central Thailand: Family demands justice for unexplained death of 17 year old girl at welfare centre
The death of a 17 year old girl while under the care of a welfare centre in Ratchaburi, has left her grandfather and father seeking justice. The family only recently discovered the death of the girl, Nong Not, when contacted by officials last week, despite her passing in October last year. The family is now demanding a clear explanation regarding…
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Thailand and Malaysia enhance bilateral relations to boost border trade and tourism
A significant agreement was recently reached between the leaders of Thailand and Malaysia to bolster their bilateral relations, with a specific focus on enhancing border trade and tourism. The Thai Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, and his Malaysian counterpart, Anwar Ibrahim, agreed upon this during their working visit at the newly inaugurated Sadao customs checkpoint in Songkhla. Their meeting, which took…
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7km bridge over Songkhla Lake to boost southern Thailand transport
Plans are underway to construct a 7 kilometre bridge over Songkhla Lake starting next year, a project aimed at enhancing regional transport in southern Thailand. This proposal includes a commitment to protect the local environment and wildlife, particularly the endangered Irrawaddy dolphins living within the lake. The Department of Rural Roads (DRR) has formed a pact with four other state…
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Thai soldier shot dead in car after honking horn at murderer
A murderer shot dead a Thai soldier on a road in the central province of Prachin Buri last night after the deceased honked his horn at the killer because he drove his pickup across the victim’s car, cutting them up. The 25 year old girlfriend of the victim, Monticha, sought help for her severely injured soldier boyfriend, 22 year old…
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Commerce carnival: Ministry’s mega discount campaign aims to slash living costs for Thai citizens
In a grand gesture to ease the cost of living for Thai citizens, the Ministry of Commerce is joining forces with over 300 manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and convenience stores to roll out a colossal discount campaign. Scheduled to kick off on December 15 and last until January 15, 2024, this initiative is considered a new year present to the public…
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Surin Beach sunbeds mysteriously vanish, sparking tourist speculation in Phuket
A sudden and unexplained removal of sunbeds from the popular Surin Beach in Phuket has left tourists and locals alike perplexed. The event occurred last week, with only one operator, the Surin Beach Club, left unaffected, leading to a surge in inquiries and speculation. The mystery deepens as the Cherng Talay Tambon Administration Organisation (Cherng Talay OrBorTor), the local government…
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Hazy highway: Foreign duo sparks backlash for road trip cannabis cruise in Sukhumvit, Bangkok
Two foreign men faced criticism from Thai netizens after a video of them smoking cannabis on a motorcycle on a road in the Sukhumvit neighbourhood of Bangkok went viral on social media. The Twitter account, Red Skull, shared a video of the two foreigners yesterday, November 26. They were reportedly riding in Soi Sukhumvit 23 near the popular entertainment venue,…
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Chang’an automobile invests over 120 million baht in Thai EV parts research
Chang’an Automobile, China’s leading automotive company, received encouragement from the Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, to invest in the research and development of electric vehicle (EV) parts in Thailand. This came about after a meeting between Phumtham and Churu Huarong, Chang’an Automobile’s Chairman today. As a prominent player in the automotive industry, Chang’an Automobile has a…
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Double trouble no more: MMA Askhabov twins emerge unscathed from torture conspiracy charges
Renowned MMA fighter Khusein Askhabov, and his identical twin, Khasan, have been released unscathed following charges of conspiracy to torture and extortion. The Askhabov brothers’ release was broadcast on a Russian-language social media platform, as verified by the sports channel Red Fury MMA. The charges originated from an incident involving the alleged invasion of an Italian man’s villa by three Kazakh…
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