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.
-
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?...
-
PM Srettha in talks with BoT chief over handout scheme
Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has yet to address Bank of Thailand (BoT) Governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput’s staunch opposition to the government’s colossal 500-billion-baht handout scheme. Acknowledging the brewing conflict, PM Srettha admitted he and the central bank governor held divergent views, necessitating urgent discussions. Governor Sethaput, in a candid Bloomberg interview, criticised the sweeping economic stimulus, suggesting it was excessive…
-
Defence ministry clarifies salary guidelines
To quell public outrage, the Defence Ministry unveiled comprehensive guidelines detailing what can and cannot be deducted from conscripts’ salaries. The move follows a recent scandal involving dubious salary deductions by the 22nd Logistics and Supports Battalion. The guidelines, released on the ministry’s website today, clarify the permissible deductions from the 11,000 baht monthly salary of conscripts. This announcement comes…
-
South Korean tourist plummets from 27th floor in Chon Buri
A 54 year old South Korean tourist was found dead after leaping from the 27th floor of a luxury condominium in Sri Racha, Chon Buri. Police were alerted to the scene at an undisclosed condominium in Sri Racha. Upon arrival, police and rescue workers found the lifeless body of Min Chucha, a South Korean tourist, lying motionless on the ground.…
-
Exploitative Chinese tour operations targeted by Tourism Ministry
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports pledged decisive action against Chinese zero-sum tour operations exploiting Thai nominees to dominate the influx of Chinese tourists by offering significant price cuts, posing a severe threat to local Thai tour operators. The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) raised the alarm earlier this week, noting a surge in Chinese tour groups reminiscent of…
-
Phuket crowned Thailand’s tech haven
Phuket has been declared Thailand’s most technologically advanced province among 23 smart provinces, while Wangchan Valley in Rayong clinched the top spot in the city category, according to a report by the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA). The rankings, unveiled by DEPA’s Smart Cities Office in the Thailand Smart City Competitiveness Index (TSCCI) 2023 report, evaluated 30 smart cities across…
-
Cops hunt Khon Kaen w*nker: Serial flasher exposed on video
Police are searching for a Thai pervert for repeatedly masturbating in public in front of a group of women in the Isaan province of Khon Kaen. The man was arrested for theft just a few weeks before the debauched incidents. The depraved suspect, identified only as 32 year old Billy, is wanted by officers at Thapra Police Station in Khon Kaen…
-
81% of hazardous cadmium waste returned to Tak province
Nearly 81% of mishandled hazardous cadmium waste, totalling approximately 13,000 tonnes, has been returned to its source in Tak province, with the remaining waste in Samut Sakhon and Chon Buri provinces awaiting transport. The Ministry of Industry reported today that 10,507 tonnes of tailings had been delivered to Bound and Beyond Plc in Tak, accounting for 81% of the 12,948…
-
Online shoppers in Thailand warned about second-hand scams
Online shopping for second-hand goods offers convenience and variety at the click of a button but it also comes with risks. Anti-Fake News Centre Thailand recently warned the public to be vigilant when purchasing second-hand items online to avoid falling victim to scams and inadvertently buying stolen goods. The rise in popularity of online shopping has attracted not only genuine…
-
TAT’s plan to lure long-haul tourists with 3.5 trillion baht goal
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) unveiled an ambitious strategy to boost tourism revenue to a staggering 3.5 trillion baht by year-end, focusing on long-distance markets. Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, TAT’s Deputy Governor for Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas, outlined the plan yesterday, revealing that tourists from far-flung corners of the globe are crucial to hitting the government’s lofty…
-
Torsak Sukvimol reinstated as National Police Chief
Police General Torsak Sukvimol has resumed his role as National Police Chief following an investigation into a prominent internal conflict, as announced by Wissanu Krea-ngam, an advisor to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. Wissanu disclosed the results of the investigation, which was initiated by the prime minister through a fact-finding committee led by Chatchai Promlert. The inquiry scrutinised the discord between…
-
Forest fires cut Thailand tourism revenue by 400 million baht
Forest fires in Thailand have severely impacted the economy, with annual tourism revenue dropping from 2 billion baht to 1.6 billion baht. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) is urgently implementing prevention plans to address these issues. Director of the National Park Office at the DNP, Chaiwat Limlikit-aksorn revealed that most forest fires are human-induced, resulting…
-
Could cannabis help combat Covid-19?
Recent research suggests that cannabis compounds may play a role in preventing and treating Covid-19. Studies have shown that cannabinoids, the active compounds in cannabis, could potentially prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection and reduce the severity of the disease. Cannabinoids and Covid prevention A comprehensive review conducted by researchers at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, Canada, indicates that cannabinoids might be used…
-
Buriram bust-up: Minibus driver assaults woman over school run
A heated altercation occurred in Buriram yesterday when a local minibus driver assaulted a woman, who was picking up village children for school, the driver was angered by the encroachment into his minibus territory. The incident, which occurred around 7am yesterday on a village road in Prakhon Chai District, Buriram, was witnessed by several parents and schoolchildren who were left…
-
Malaysia and China join forces on billion-dollar rail project
China’s plans to extend the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) into Thailand are set to transform Southeast Asian trade. Chinese Premier Li Qiang announced the initiative during his visit to Malaysia yesterday. The US$10 billion (approximately 366 billion baht) ECRL, a key project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, aims to connect Malaysia’s east and west coasts by 2026. Initially…
-
Police bust cross-border vehicle theft gang in Ubon Ratchathani
Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) officers, along with Ubon Ratchathani Highway Police, apprehended a gang involved in stealing and selling vehicles across borders. The suspects admitted to stealing three motorcycles in a single day, earning 14,000 baht for their efforts. Today, June 20, Kirati Hoemsrichat, Police Lieutenant Colonel of Highway Police Division 4, led the operation with the CIB. The officers…
-
Don Mueang tollway tolls to rise by up to 10 baht
Don Mueang Tollway, the operator of the elevated Uttraphimuk Tollway, announced a toll increase of 5 to 10 baht, bringing the maximum toll fee to 170 baht, effective December 22. The announcement was made today by Don Mueang Tollway Public Company Limited, informing users about the upcoming change in toll rates based on the concession contract amendment agreement 3/2550 dated…
-
Buriram teen tragically dies in motorcycle crash with parked truck
A high school student tragically lost his life in a motorcycle accident when he collided with a parked 10-wheeler truck while on his way to school. The incident occurred at 7.30am today, June 20, on the Nang Rong-Pakham road, near the entrance to Sub Phra Ya Subdistrict, Nang Rong District, Buriram Province. Police Lieutenant Weerawut Ratprakhon, Deputy Inspector of Nong…
-
Thai man demands bank accountability after 100k ATM malfunction
A Thai man demanded that a bank take action and responsibility after he lost 100,000 baht in cash due to a malfunction at an automated teller machine (ATM) in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok. The victim, 29 year old Dunlathorn, filed a complaint with Mueang Nonthaburi Police Station regarding the loss. He explained that as a lottery seller, he had deposited…
-
American tourist and Thai girlfriend drown in Phuket
An American tourist and his Thai girlfriend drowned after allegedly ignoring a red flag weather warning at Mai Khao Beach in Phuket. The bodies of 45 year old James Edmond Newman from New York, and 48 year old Waranya Chanphai from Surin province, were discovered on Monday morning, June 17. Police Major Ronnapoom Permpoon of the Thachatchai Police Station stated…
-
Phuket police seize drugs and pen gun in major Chalong bust
Phuket Provincial Police arrested a 28 year old man in Chalong for possession of over 4,800 methamphetamine pills, also known as Yaba, more than 22 grammes of crystal meth and a homemade pen gun. Led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Phichit Thongto, Chief of the Crime Suppression Division at Phuket Provincial Police, officers apprehended Surawut Ratanaliam at a rented room off…
-
Thailand eyes cleaner energy with new power plan for 2024 to 2037
Thailand’s revised power development plan (PDP) is set to be submitted for approval after a week-long public hearing concluded yesterday, the implementation of the plan by year’s end, will steer the country towards cleaner energy. Central to Thailand’s commitment to reducing carbon dioxide emissions, the PDP is expected to provide a clearer path for the nation. Thailand announced its commitment…
-
Health tourism: Phuket’s new wellness haven
To bolster health tourism, BDMS Wellness Clinic teamed up with Bangkok Hospital Phuket and Laguna Phuket to unveil the BDMS Wellness Clinic Laguna Phuket. This new branch aims to solidify BDMS Wellness Clinic’s dominance in creating a wellness economic corridor in the Andaman region. The government’s 2022 announcement of the Andaman Wellness Economic Corridor project set the stage for this…
-
Teenage gang arrested for impersonating officials and extortion
A teenage gang in Bueng Kan has been arrested for impersonating officials, carrying firearms, and extorting money from individuals. The victims were lured into giving money through threats and intimidation but an undercover police operation led to their capture. Provincial Governor Sompop Samitasiri and police officials yesterday held a press conference announcing the arrest of three suspects, which were as…
-
Officials arrested for illegal land permits in Nakhon Ratchasima
Police conducted raids at 13 locations, arresting officials linked to illegal land permits in Nakhon Ratchasima. The investigation centred on officials accused of issuing permits for over 600 rai of land, benefiting factory owners who used the land to discharge wastewater. At 6am yesterday, Police Major General Jaroonkiat Pankaew, Deputy Commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau, and Police Major General…
-
Nonthaburi police chief warns of identity fraud loan scam
Police Chief Jaturon Anurakbandit reported a case against a scammer who used his name and rank to deceive a woman into transferring money, threatening her with a lawsuit if she failed to comply. The scammer demanded 50,000 baht from the victim, who had initially sought an online loan. Police Chief Jaturon of Nonthaburi City Police Station complained after discovering that…
-
Beauty salon owner devastated after niece steals 72,000 baht
A beauty salon owner has been left devastated after her niece stole nearly 100,000 baht and disappeared. Anyone with information that leads to the niece’s whereabouts will receive a 10,000 baht reward. At 7.16pm yesterday, a beauty shop owner, 30 year old Ann shared her story with the media to serve as both a warning and a plea for help.…
-
Lamps out: Lampang horse-drawn carriage rides face unbridled end
The famed horse-drawn carriage rides in Lampang may soon become a relic of the past, as dwindling tourism revenue fails to attract new generations to sustain the business, according to the Tourism Council of Lampang. Lampang registered 559,892 visitors in the first four months of this year, a 0.52% decline year-on-year, with only 35,131 foreign travellers. Despite the drop in…
-
Thai monk arrested for drug and sex at Samut Prakarn temple
Police arrested a decadent 35 year old Thai monk at a temple in Samut Prakan province near Bangkok after he was found using and selling drugs. The miscreant monk also had sex with men at the temple. Condoms, poppers, lubricating gel, and women’s dresses were found as evidence. Officers from the Patrol and Special Operations Division of the Metropolitan Police…
-
Thai man blackmailed after woman calls with phone sex offer
A Thai man in the Isaan province of Udon Thani is seeking help from police after a woman called offering phone sex and later blackmailed him with his explicit picture for 50,000 baht. The victim, 48 year old Ek, told officers from Mueang Udon Thani Police Station and Channel 3 that the scammer contacted him through a LINE application and…
-
Phetchaburi village headman shoots chaos-causing addict
A community in Phetchaburi was left in turmoil after a drug-addicted young man created chaos, leading the village headman to shoot him. The incident occurred yesterday evening when the young man, recently released from rehab, threatened violence. Police Lieutenant Nattathun Poonseesang of Ban Lat Police Station disclosed that at 8pm yesterday, a shooting incident was reported in front of the…
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.