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 9 most common health issues covered by insurance for expats in Thailand
Thailand is a popular destination for expats due to its affordable lifestyle and excellent healthcare system. However, settling in a new country often brings health concerns. To ensure you’re covered for the most common medical needs, understanding what expat health...
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Thai military doctor with mental illness surrenders after shooting near Bangkok
A Thai military doctor surrendered to police last night after a shooting incident in a village on the Srinakarin Road in the Samut Prakarn province near Bangkok. Bang Kaew Police Station officers received a report of a shooting at 4.45pm yesterday, December 11, and rushed to the scene to find the gunman shouting and waving a gun around outside of…
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Thai labour minister takes wages for a spin: Cabinet gears up for minimum wage review
Thai Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn announced that the Cabinet will be looking into a review of the new daily minimum wage rates. This comes after several business organisations urged the government to uphold the decision made by a tripartite wage committee regarding the increase in wages. Phiphat disclosed that he has no authority to review the rates approved by the…
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Major drug trafficking bust in Mukdahan seizes over 600,000 meth pills
A drug trafficking gang was apprehended in the province of Mukdahan, as Region 4 Police seized a staggering haul of over 600,000 meth pills on December 10. Acting on intelligence, the law enforcement officers intercepted a white Mitsubishi Attrage sedan en route from Don Tan district to Mueang Mukdahan district. Behind the wheels was 30 year old Daeng, a resident…
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Drug suspect accuses police of 300,000 baht extortion and rape
A Thai drug suspect accused Pathum Thani Provincial Police officers of illegally reducing her sentence, extorting 300,000 baht and raping her. The Thai woman and her boyfriend sought help from the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive. The organisation accompanied them in filing a complaint at the Office of the Prime Minister at Government House yesterday, December 11. Addressing the media, the…
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Thailand’s Democrat Party in crisis following mass leadership change
The Democrat Party in Thailand teeters on the brink of a crisis, following an overwhelming loss of members due to a recent change in leadership, according to the party’s former leader Abhisit Vejjajiva. Chalermchai Sri-on, the ninth elected leader of the Democrats, took over the reins amidst internal turmoil. Abhisit, in his first public comment since the leadership election on December 9,…
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Air Canada flight revival: Bangkok to Vancouver route takes off for a holiday high
Great news for holidaymakers in North America and Thailand, as Air Canada today announced the reinstatement of direct flights between Bangkok and Vancouver. H E Ping Kitnikone, the Ambassador of Canada to the Kingdom of Thailand, extended invitations to esteemed guests and partners for Air Canada’s Agency Reception at the Ambassador’s Official Residence. Air Canada has officially reinstated direct flights…
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Tragic phone distraction causes fatal motorbike collision in Thailand
A tragic incident occurred when a woman driving a Nissan March car was searching for her mobile phone in the passenger seat, causing the vehicle to lose control and collide with a motorbike. The collision resulted in the death of an 18 year old female student, returning from her Test of General Aptitude (TGAT) examination. The accident took place around…
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Thailand’s nightlife gets green light: Entertainment venues now open until 6am
The Interior Ministry today gave the green light for entertainment venues across Thailand to remain open until 6am in a move to bolster tourism and add extra sparkle to new year celebrations. Interior Ministry Spokesperson Traisuree Taisaranakul said the temporary extension of the closing time at entertainment venues across Thailand was aimed at promoting tourism and new year celebrations. Traisuree…
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Thai high-value sectors to boost economy, exports in 2024 says FTI
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) forecasted that the country’s high-value sectors such as agriculture, food, automotive, and bio-, circular and green (BCG) manufacturing will bolster the economy and exports in the coming year. The BCG initiative, launched as a national agenda in 2021, aligns with global environmental campaigns, encouraging manufacturers to adopt environmentally friendly technologies. Kriengkrai Thiennukul, FTI chairman,…
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Suvarnabhumi Airport opens automated channels to foreign travellers
The Immigration Bureau (IB) announced that Suvarnabhumi International Airport’s automated channels are now accessible to foreigners to alleviate congestion for outbound travel. This decision, effective from December 15, aligns with the Prime Minister’s directive, enforced by Srettha Thavasin, to enhance the outbound immigration system. The move is aimed at reducing the density of passengers who need to rush to catch…
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Festive hamper market heats up as retailers vie for consumer spend
The festive hamper and gift market is witnessing a surge in competition, with major supermarket chains and beauty brands leveraging aggressive campaigns and attractive offers to boost consumer spending during the Christmas holiday season. Following a full recovery from the pandemic’s impact on the retail sector, a substantial budget has been set aside this year to mark the inauguration of…
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Football field gunman caught in Chanthaburi following dramatic escape
The gunman responsible for an attack at a football field has been apprehended in Chanthaburi province after fleeing the scene. He confessed to the crime, revealing that he had discarded his firearm in a canal. Police are rapidly investigating the motive behind the incident. Today, news emerged that the suspect had been spotted at a checkpoint in Chanthaburi’s Ban Laem…
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Ultrafine dust blankets 50 Thai provinces posing serious health risks
Hazardous levels of ultrafine dust engulfed 50 Thai provinces today, as reported by the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA). The Central Plains and the Mortheast were the hardest hit regions. GISTDA’s 7am update on its website PM25.gistda.or.th today, December 11, highlighted that mostly central plains and northeastern provinces were among the 50 out of 77 provinces cloaked in…
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Plastic predicament: Thailand faces a ton(ne) of trouble with a 62% surge in waste
Plastic waste in Thailand has witnessed a surge of 62%, escalating from 2.12 million tonnes in 2019 to 3.4 million tonnes in 2020, according to the Thailand Environment Institute. This increase has been largely attributed to lifestyle changes induced by the pandemic, such as an increased reliance on food delivery services. The Prayut Chan-o-cha government initiated a policy in 2018…
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Thai Cabinet reshuffle could impact economy and foreign investment
The Thai Cabinet, currently conducting mobile meetings in Nong Bua Lam Phu – the country’s poorest province, is speculated to face potential reshuffles in leadership or dissolution in the coming year, intensifying the political activities across various Thai provinces. Such changes could pose a risk to the country’s economy, given the current administration is only a few months old. The…
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Six ex-London police officers arrested for offensive messages
Six former London police officers were arrested in connection to offensive messages targeting Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and other political figures. The incident, which took place on December 8, involved racially and sexually offensive messages sent through WhatsApp. The issue came to light following an investigation by BBC’s Newsnight. The accused include Michael Chadwell, Peter Booth, Anthony Elsom, Trevor Lewton,…
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Thai police step up probe into underage assault linked to ex-Olympic boxer
Thai police are accelerating their investigation into the case of a 17 year old girl who reported being sexually assaulted after a night out at a club. They are gathering information before summoning Somluck Kamsing, a former Olympic gold medal boxer, for questioning about the underage assault. The incident occurred today, at an entertainment venue on Prachasamran Road, Khon Kaen…
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Devastating road accident in Chumphon leaves one dead, six injured
A pickup truck, carrying six workers, swerved drastically to avoid an oncoming motorbike, resulting in the vehicle flipping and leaving one dead and six injured. The incident occurred around 5pm yesterday, in Chumphon province. Manoch Plodkankan, an investigative officer from the Lang Suan Police Station, was among the first to arrive at the scene. The accident happened off the Asian…
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Bangkok’s mobile grocery stores to ease living costs
The Ministry of Commerce remains steadfast in its mission to operate mobile grocery stores across Bangkok and its neighbouring provinces, to alleviate the cost of living. Goranij Nonejuie, the Deputy Director-General of the Internal Trade Department, confirmed the continuation of the mobile grocery store initiative, now entering its fifth year of operation. The initiative will see deployment in over 100…
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China positions Guangxi as Southeast Asia’s primary gateway
Guanxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, bordering Vietnam, is being positioned by China as the primary gateway for businesses and tourists from the ASEAN region. Its southern China location and connectivity to Vietnam through land, sea, and air routes make it a strategic point for Southeast Asia. The region is equipped with three international airports and three deep-sea ports which collectively host…
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Thailand’s minimum wage increase sparks controversy and calls for revision
The contentious decision to marginally increase the daily minimum wage in Thailand spurred the Ministry of Labour into seeking discussions with the tripartite committee, which approved the hike. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin critiqued the decision as insignificant, stating that the 2 to 16 baht rise approved last Friday was insufficient. The tripartite committee, also referred to as the wage board,…
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Escaped prisoner recaptured in Thailand following penis enlargement surgery
The Department of Corrections in Thailand recently recaptured an 37 year old escaped prisoner, who had fled from the surgical ward of Bang Lamung Hospital. He was discovered today at approximately 7am, hiding on the rooftop of a one-storey psychiatry ward building, a mere 20 metres from the surgical ward he had escaped from. Thanaphat Mayod, who was serving a…
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Brutal murder mystery in Srisaket solved with a shocking family confession
A shocking case of a man’s brutal murder has been cracked in Srisaket, Thailand. A gruesome discovery of the body of a 48 year old man was made near a reservoir, Huay Haed, between the village of Ban Na and Ban Pho. His body bore deep stab wounds, inflicted by a sharp object, on his neck, chest, and back. The…
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Lamduan drug gang apprehended in high-speed chase by operation unit 238
Operation Unit 238, tasked with protecting the city of Lamduan, successfully apprehended a drug gang following a high-speed car chase. The operation ended with two young men in custody and almost 70,000 methamphetamine pills confiscated. Another suspect managed to escape during the pursuit yesterday. Anupong Suksomnit, the Provincial Police Region of Sisaket, revealed the details of the drug bust, which…
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Siam Paragon’s 18th anniversary: December’s world-class events unveiled
Siam Paragon, a ‘World-class Destination’ and the top-of-mind destination for local and international shoppers, is collaborating with The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Kasikorn Bank to deliver a unique and unparalleled experience during this festive season with line-up of ‘World Iconic Events’ all through December 2023. “SIAM PARAGON THE GLORIOUS STAGE OF THE WORLD FESTIVAL” is staged as part…
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Update: Thap Sakae bus accident death toll rises to 15 as woman succumbs to injuries
The bus accident in Thap Sakae, Prachuap Khiri Khan province, claimed one more life, raising the death toll to 15. The latest victim was a 29 year old woman, Mantira Deema, who passed away after battling for her life since the accident occurred on December 5. The incident involved a Sri Siam Tour bus (Bangkok-Na Thawi) that veered off the…
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Popular Thai meatball franchise accused of unfair practices
A well-known meatball franchise is in the midst of a drama, as a customer accuses the franchise owner of unfair practices and taking advantage of buyers. The complainant shared her experience on Facebook, sparking a wave of controversy. Numerous other individuals have allegedly suffered similar mishaps and are considering legal action. The Facebook user detailed her experience with the popular…
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South Thailand: Fatal crash in Chumphon kills two Indian tourists
A collision in Tha Sae district of Chumphon led to the deaths of two Indian tourists and severe injuries to five others, including four Indian nationals and a Thai driver, today, December 9. The ill-fated van they were travelling in crashed into the back of a truck, leading to this catastrophic event. The crash took place near the kilometre marker…
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Private hospitals under fire as government cracks down on skyrocketing costs
The Internal Trade Department tightens control on private hospitals, urging them to play ball in the battle against soaring medical expenses. The government demands transparency and cooperation from over 300 private medical institutions. Wattanasak Sur-iam, the director-general of the Internal Trade Department, has thrown down the gauntlet in a bid to bring down the cost of living for citizens. In a…
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Thai PM blames past governments for Thai students’ poor PISA test results
Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin places blame on previous governments for the lacklustre performance of Thai students in recent international assessments. PM Srettha, whose government assumed power a mere three months ago, pledged to tackle the issue head-on and place a renewed focus on enhancing the country’s educational standards. The Thai PM’s comments were motivated by the latest results from the…
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