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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?...

  • Man on rampage in Sisaket injures cop and residents with crowbar

    Man on rampage in Sisaket injures cop and residents with crowbar

    A 50 year old Thai man’s violent rampage in Sisaket Province ended with a police officer seriously injured and the assailant subdued by an electric gun. The incident unfolded in the small community of Ban Kradaw, where the man, identified as Boonyiam, attacked an elderly man on a motorcycle with a metal crowbar, breaking his arm. A female village head…

  • Myanmar exchange student falls to death from Thailand dormitory

    Myanmar exchange student falls to death from Thailand dormitory

    A tragic incident unfolded when a 26 year old Myanmar exchange student fatally fell from the sixth floor of a dormitory building in Pathum Thani province. The incident, which took place around 12.30am today, has left authorities and acquaintances searching for answers. Officials from Pak Klong Rangsit Police Station, led by investigation officer Suwat Phothiree, were notified of the fatal…

  • Thai agency may include monkeys in wildlife compensation scheme

    Thai agency may include monkeys in wildlife compensation scheme

    The Thai Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation (DNP) is contemplating the inclusion of monkeys in its wildlife compensation programme. This consideration arises following an incident where a woman suffered injuries from a macaque attack, leading her to file a police complaint to secure compensation for her medical expenses. The victim, Arikanta Kanchanasinmetha, reported the incident at Tha…

  • Southern Thailand protests against newly proposed national park

    Southern Thailand protests against newly proposed national park

    Protests have sparked among the residents of Nakhon Si Thammarat and Surat Thani over the proposed creation of Hat Khanom-Mu Koh Thale Tai National Park. Approximately 500 locals from these regions argue that the establishment of the park would directly impede their livelihoods, utilising the land they rely on for subsistence. The public outcry was voiced during a meeting held…

  • Sex pest caught sexually assaulting women in Bangkok

    Sex pest caught sexually assaulting women in Bangkok

    Police arrested a Thai sex pest for repeatedly sexually assaulting women, especially teenagers, in the Min Buri district of Bangkok by grabbing their breasts, masturbating in front of them, and spitting on them. More than ten women filed a complaint at Min Buri Police Station that a perverted Thai sex pest on a motorcycle approached them while they were walking…

  • Bangkok’s street stall showdown: Pedestrians vs Vendors

    Bangkok’s street stall showdown: Pedestrians vs Vendors

    The age-old saga of Bangkok’s bustling streets versus its iconic street stalls continues, with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) at the forefront of a new regulation to solve the decade-long issue of street stalls encroaching on pedestrian paths. A resident of Bangkok’s Udom Suk area lamented her daily struggle as a pedestrian, echoing the frustrations of many. “Footpath warfare is…

  • Thailand’s population to halve in 60 years, warns deputy PM

    Thailand’s population to halve in 60 years, warns deputy PM

    Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsutin cautioned that Thailand’s population could plummet from 66 million to a mere 33 million within six decades. This alarming forecast, issued yesterday, spells out dire consequences for the nation’s economic vitality and security, with the working-age populace dwindling from 46 million to a mere 14 million, according to Somsak. Speaking at a meeting of a…

  • Market thief electrocuted during wire heist in Mae Klong

    Market thief electrocuted during wire heist in Mae Klong

    A female thief’s audacious wire theft act at the Rom Hub Market nearly turned fatal when she was electrocuted during the thievery, sparking concerns among local shop owners. A CCTV system at a catfish shop in Rom Hub Market, Mae Klong, Mueang district, Samut Songkhram province, captured the shocking incident. On the night of March 6, the woman, wearing what…

  • Norwegian and British nationals arrested for illegal employment

    Norwegian and British nationals arrested for illegal employment

    A Norwegian woman and a British man have been apprehended in Thailand for alleged illegal employment. The arrests occurred on Koh Pha Ngan and Phuket island respectively, as part of a police operation targeting foreign nationals working unlawfully in the country. The Norwegian woman, 56 year old Unni Sekkesaeter was taken into custody at Tha Sala pier in the district…

  • Vietnam’s rice exports projected to decline amid quality shift

    Vietnam’s rice exports projected to decline amid quality shift

    A downward shift is projected for Vietnam’s rice exports in the current year, with estimates ranging between 6.5 and 7.0 million metric tonnes. This is a noticeable drop from the previous year’s record high of 8.1 million tonnes, as reported by the Vietnam Food Association. Vietnam, ranking third globally in rice exports after Thailand and India, indicated a strategic shift…

  • Thai cop’s ‘exhausting’ excuse fails to sway assault claims (video)

    Thai cop’s ‘exhausting’ excuse fails to sway assault claims (video)

    A Thai officer from Tarnsum Police Station in the Isaan province of Ubon Ratchathani claimed that a congenital disease and exhaustion led him to assault a man seeking assistance at the cop shop. He denied drinking alcohol on duty. Thai man Prayoon Duangnate is seeking justice by exposing the officer’s behaviour to several media outlets. He was later identified as Tarnsum…

  • Update: Filipina transgender beauty contestant speaks out after Bangkok brawl

    Update: Filipina transgender beauty contestant speaks out after Bangkok brawl

    A Filipina transgender beauty contestant stepped into the spotlight following a viral Bangkok street brawl, seeking to soothe tensions and advocate for respect from the hosts. Two Filipina nationals faced charges for assaulting six Thai transgender individuals outside the Citin Hotel on Soi Sukhumvit 11 on Monday, March 4. The altercation erupted among a group of over 20 tourists, leading…

  • Chiang Mai faces world’s second-worst air quality amid pollution crisis

    Chiang Mai faces world’s second-worst air quality amid pollution crisis

    Northern Thailand is currently grappling with severe air pollution, with Chiang Mai experiencing the second-worst air quality globally. As of today, March 8, air quality monitoring has revealed that particulate matter PM2.5 levels have exceeded the standard in 46 provinces, prompting health warnings and advisories for residents to limit outdoor activities. PM2.5 concentrations surpassed Thailand’s safety standards in various regions,…

  • Thai woman arrested for trafficking protected rat snakes

    Thai woman arrested for trafficking protected rat snakes

    In a covert operation, police apprehended a 45 year old Thai woman at her residence in Phichit, where a trove of Indo-Chinese Rat Snakes was stashed away. Seven sacks brimming with the slithery reptiles, weighing 34.26 kilogrammes, were confiscated alongside four sacks containing snake carcasses, tallying 5 kilogrammes, concealed in a freezer. Two mobile phones linked to the clandestine snake…

  • Thailand central bank anticipates lower rates due to virtual banking

    Thailand central bank anticipates lower rates due to virtual banking

    The Bank of Thailand anticipates that the advent of virtual banks will usher in lower interest rates and fees due to the decreased operating costs associated with digital banking services, which do not require physical branches or large numbers of staff. The granting of virtual bank licences is expected to bring more competitors into the market, thereby stimulating competition within…

  • Tourists increase spending in Thailand despite soaring airfares

    Tourists increase spending in Thailand despite soaring airfares

    Despite higher airfares, foreign tourists are indulging in opulent accommodation choices, sending spending figures soaring, according to a recent Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) survey. The TAT’s survey, which engaged 30,054 tourists last year, unveiled a significant uptick in expenditure per trip, hitting an average of 50,900 baht. A substantial portion of this sum, averaging 23,518 baht per trip, was allocated…

  • Alarming statistics: Thailand women in domestic violence crisis

    Alarming statistics: Thailand women in domestic violence crisis

    The National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRC) delivered a stark wake-up call as alarming statistics reveal a grim reality: seven women become victims of sexual assault and abuse daily in Thailand. Pornprapai Ganjanarintr, chairperson of the NHRC, issued a resounding plea for gender equality across all sectors. In a society riddled with patriarchal structures, Ganjanarintr highlighted the harrowing repercussions,…

  • House of cards: Vietnamese nationals busted in Bangkok gambling raid

    House of cards: Vietnamese nationals busted in Bangkok gambling raid

    Immigration Bureau officers raided a luxury house in the Rama 9 neighbourhood of Bangkok and arrested 18 Vietnamese nationals for running a gambling website. Immigration police revealed to several news outlets in a press conference yesterday, March 7, that they successfully suppressed an online gambling gang run by a Vietnamese investor on March 5. They arrested 18 Vietnamese suspects at…

  • Declining conditions of Bangkok’s Klong Ong Ang raise concerns

    Declining conditions of Bangkok’s Klong Ong Ang raise concerns

    A United Thai Nation Party‘s (UTN) Parliament member voiced concerns yesterday about the neglected state of Klong Ong Ang, a once thriving tourist attraction in the heart of Bangkok’s Chinatown. Kriangyot Sudlapha, a UTN list-MP, raised the issue in the House of Representatives, urging the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to step in and rejuvenate the area. Located in the Phra…

  • Grab Thailand empowers female drivers with campaign

    Grab Thailand empowers female drivers with campaign

    To champion gender equality, Grab Thailand is rolling out its #WomenWelcome campaign on International Women’s Day 2024, promising equal earning opportunities and empowerment for women across the country. Amidst the celebrations of International Women’s Day 2024, Grab Thailand takes a bold step forward with the launch of its #WomenWelcome campaign. This initiative not only underscores the company’s commitment to fostering…

  • Scent-sational arrest: Thai man nabbed in karaoke perfume heist in Pattaya

    Scent-sational arrest: Thai man nabbed in karaoke perfume heist in Pattaya

    Bang Lamung Police apprehended a suspect in connection with a perfume theft from a karaoke venue worker yesterday. The suspect, identified as 33 year old Jakkrapan (surname withheld), was arrested at his residence in the Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang Lamung District, Chon Buri province. The arrest follows a theft incident on February 29 in South Na Kluea. CCTV footage depicted…

  • Phetchabun residents petition over Khao Kho land dispute

    Phetchabun residents petition over Khao Kho land dispute

    A heated land dispute in Phetchabun’s Khao Kho district led residents of 35 local communities to petition two House committees for intervention. Opposition leader and member of the House of Representatives committees on the military and natural resources and environmental affairs, Chaithawat Tulathon, received the petition yesterday. Buppha Chanpheng, representing the locals living within the Khao Kho forest complex, submitted…

  • Swiss scandal sparks crackdown on unruly farangs in Thailand

    Swiss scandal sparks crackdown on unruly farangs in Thailand

    The scandal involving a Swiss man assaulting a Thai doctor in Phuket prompted authorities to initiate a massive crackdown on illegal foreigners and farangs behaving badly in Thailand. In total, nearly 30 foreigners were arrested during the past weeks. Following the physical assault on a Thai doctor outside the luxury villa of a Swiss man, locals in Phuket demanded that…

  • Swiss national opts for jail after assaulting Thai woman in mall

    Swiss national opts for jail after assaulting Thai woman in mall

    A 62 year old Swiss national who physically assaulted a local Thai woman in a mall, chose to remain in custody despite an offer of bail from his former Thai spouse. The Trang Provincial Court had set his bail at 50,000 baht (US$1,406), which his ex-wife was willing to pay. However, the Swiss man, Dieter Matthias Straumann, rejected her assistance and…

  • True Corporation unveils 2024 strategy with AI, digital growth focus

    True Corporation unveils 2024 strategy with AI, digital growth focus

    True Corporation, the Thai telecommunications conglomerate, disclosed its tripartite strategic model for 2024. This strategy encompasses modernising its digital infrastructure, offering distinctive services to its customer base and redefining the company through the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and cutting-edge technologies. The company’s CEO, Manat Manavutiveth, has identified five disruptive elements for the current year, namely, global economic uncertainty, generative…

  • Teenager fatally shot in Hua Hin after Facebook feud turns deadly

    Teenager fatally shot in Hua Hin after Facebook feud turns deadly

    A teenager was fatally shot in Hua Hin following an altercation through Facebook that escalated into a deadly confrontation. Another individual sustained severe injuries in the incident that unfolded on Naresdamri Road in Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan province. The shooting occurred yesterday evening when an argument over social media between the 16 year old boy, identified as Din, and…

  • Thai man flees after assaulting girlfriend and killing her lover

    Thai man flees after assaulting girlfriend and killing her lover

    A Thai man remains at large after brutally assaulting his girlfriend and killing her lover outside a rented room in the Doi Saket district of the northern province of Chiang Mai. Officers from the Doi Saket Police Station and rescuers from the Sawang Samret Chiang Mai Foundation investigated the physical assaults that took place around midnight on March 5. Officers…

  • Thai EV sales surge by 603% amid government incentives

    Thai EV sales surge by 603% amid government incentives

    Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) sales in Thailand surged by 603% year-on-year to 73,568 units last year, with the upward trend expected to continue throughout this year, as per the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). This growth is expected to outstrip that of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, which witnessed a 13.7% year-on-year sales decline to 238,570 units in 2023, capturing…

  • Thai-Cambodian joint operation successfully combats PM 2.5 crisis

    Thai-Cambodian joint operation successfully combats PM 2.5 crisis

    A collaborative operation between the Thai and Cambodian governments was launched on March 6, to combat the PM 2.5 problem. This joint initiative was in line with the Thai government’s policy to proactively deal with PM 2.5 dust and hotspots in both nations. The Thai government has recognised the issue of PM 2.5 as a national crisis that requires immediate…

  • Thaksin’s parole travel requires probation officer approval

    Thaksin’s parole travel requires probation officer approval

    The Thai Department of Probation’s Deputy Director-General, Montree Bunyayothin, addressed the matter of Thaksin Shinawatra’s recent release on parole on March 6. Montree confirmed that Thaksin, a former Thai Prime Minister, could potentially travel to Chiang Mai to visit family and pay respects to his ancestors. However, this would require prior approval from probation officers. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thaksin’s daughter and…