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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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    Why retirees in Thailand are choosing long-term health insurance over quick fixes

    Retirees in Thailand are increasingly seeing the importance of health insurance in protecting their well-being during retirement. With insurance requirements for retirement visas and rising healthcare costs, many are moving away from short-term plans and choosing long-term coverage. Long-term health...

  • Join in the month-long New Year celebration at Topgolf Megacity with the Golden Ball Extravaganza | Thaiger

    Join in the month-long New Year celebration at Topgolf Megacity with the Golden Ball Extravaganza

    Topgolf Megacity is gearing up to kick off the New Year with a month-long celebration like no other! From December 1st to December 31st, Topgolf is excited to announce the return of the Golden Ball Campaign, which is here to spread holiday cheer. More than 50 golden golf balls per day will appear at any of the 102 bays, waiting…

  • DOC denies policy to detain prisoners outside prison favours ex-PM Thaksin | Thaiger

    DOC denies policy to detain prisoners outside prison favours ex-PM Thaksin

    The Department of Corrections (DOC) refuted allegations that its latest policy, permitting the detention of prisoners outside of prison, is designed to favour Thaksin Shinawatra, the former Prime Minister. The 74 year old former PM was recently sentenced to eight years for three separate cases and was immediately moved to a police hospital. The newly introduced regulation, announced on Thursday…

  • Thailand DSI files charges in major pork smuggling case | Thaiger

    Thailand DSI files charges in major pork smuggling case

    Charges have been filed against 22 suspects, inclusive of 12 individuals and 10 legal entities, by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) in Thailand, following their involvement in a significant pork smuggling operation. Their assets, worth approximately 90 million baht (US$2,516,567), have been confiscated as part of the ongoing investigation. The head investigator of the smuggling case, Police Major Nathapol…

  • Thailand extends visa-free entry for Japanese business visitors | Thaiger

    Thailand extends visa-free entry for Japanese business visitors

    Thailand’s Cabinet has given the green light to extend the 30-day visa-free entry privilege for Japanese visitors. The update, effective from January 1 next year, now includes Japanese business travellers. The Cabinet, convening today, December 12, waved the magic wand on a proposal brought forth by the Foreign Affairs Ministry. Deputy government spokesman Kharom Polpornklang spilt the beans, sharing that…

  • Thai woman manipulated by scammer into swindling her mother | Thaiger

    Thai woman manipulated by scammer into swindling her mother

    Police in the Isaan province of Ubon Ratchathani rescued a 21 year old Thai woman who was manipulated by a call centre scammer into swindling her mother out of 250,000 baht. A Thai woman reached out to Mueang Ubon Ratchathani Police Station officer and Chief of Khemarat district after her daughter, 21 year old Su, was allegedly kidnapped for ransom.…

  • Weather warning: Thailand set for thunderous theatrics and chilly mornings | Thaiger

    Weather warning: Thailand set for thunderous theatrics and chilly mornings

    The Thailand Meteorology Department (TMD) warns of thunderstorms across 14 provinces, with foggy mornings and cooler temperatures in the north and northeast regions of Thailand. The south experiences waves up to 2 metres high, while Bangkok sees fog and a minimum temperature of 25 degrees Celsius, as reported on today. The TMD’s 24-hour forecast states that high atmospheric pressure, or…

  • Anchalee Tephabutra resigns from Thailand’s Democrat Party after 31 years | Thaiger

    Anchalee Tephabutra resigns from Thailand’s Democrat Party after 31 years

    Anchalee Tephabutra, a prominent political figure and a devoted member of the Democrat Party for over 31 years, announced her resignation, causing ripples in the political landscape of Thailand. Having been a confidante to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva during his tenure, her departure from the party marks a significant event. Anchalee has been a cornerstone for the Democrats in Phuket…

  • Thai organisations demand stronger action against sexual harassment in education | Thaiger

    Thai organisations demand stronger action against sexual harassment in education

    A network of over 100 child and women’s organisations led by Ticha Na Nakorn today submitted a petition to the Ministry of Education (MOE) in Thailand, demanding stronger action against sexual harassment following the life imprisonment of six perpetrators. The defendants, four teachers and two older students were convicted of sexually abusing three students in Mukdahan Province. Ticha, an advisor…

  • Taiwanese man dies after hospital in Thailand refuses to treat him | Thaiger

    Taiwanese man dies after hospital in Thailand refuses to treat him

    Taiwan media platform TVBS reported that a private hospital in Thailand refused to treat a Taiwanese man who later died as a result of his injuries in a car accident. Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the Thai government to improve its healthcare system. TVBS reported yesterday, December 11, that the Taiwanese man, whose identity was not revealed, was fatally…

  • PTT’s OR diversifies with budget hotels and community malls at petrol stations | Thaiger

    PTT’s OR diversifies with budget hotels and community malls at petrol stations

    PTT Oil and Retail Business Plc (OR) is renewing its focus on diversifying its non-oil business ventures, with plans to construct budget hotels within its petrol stations and incorporate community malls catering to tourists. The company’s President and Chief Executive, Disathat Panyarachun, shared these developments. The next quarter will see OR onboarding a business consultant to oversee the hotel project.…

  • Myanmar overtakes Afghanistan as world’s opium giant | Thaiger

    Myanmar overtakes Afghanistan as world’s opium giant

    Myanmar surpassed Afghanistan to become the globe’s leading opium producer, leaving the world stunned. The United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) dropped a bombshell report today, December 12, disclosing alarming figures that signal a seismic shift in the illicit drug trade landscape. Myanmar, the new opium powerhouse, produced a staggering 1,080 metric tonnes of opium this year, eclipsing…

  • Tourists evicted from makeshift camp on Patong Beach, Phuket | Thaiger

    Tourists evicted from makeshift camp on Patong Beach, Phuket

    An unexpected event unfolded on the sandy shores of Patong Beach when a group of international tourists found themselves in a bit of a pickle with the local authorities. Having set up a makeshift camp, complete with a tent on the beach, they were informed by the Phuket Tourist Police that such arrangements were simply not allowed. The incident came…

  • Family ties unravel in murder mystery: Thai trio nabbed for alleged Isaan killing, daughter smells foul play | Thaiger

    Family ties unravel in murder mystery: Thai trio nabbed for alleged Isaan killing, daughter smells foul play

    Police arrested a Thai woman and her two children for the alleged murder of a Thai man in the Isaan province of Sisaket. The suspects accused the deceased of alcohol addiction and abusive behaviour but, in a remarkable twist, the deceased’s biological daughter believes the suspects murdered her father for his money and property. The dead body of the 48…

  • Thai government proposes 15 billion baht plan for informal debtors relief | Thaiger

    Thai government proposes 15 billion baht plan for informal debtors relief

    The Ministry of Finance proposed a plan to the Cabinet to assist informal debtors, allocating a budget of 15 billion baht through the Government Savings Bank (GSB) and the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC). This initiative will also aid debtors affected by the Covid-19 situation who have lost their credit bureau records. At the Government House at 10am…

  • Thai outbound tourism recovery slower than expected due to high costs | Thaiger

    Thai outbound tourism recovery slower than expected due to high costs

    This year has been bleak for both inbound and outbound tourism in Thailand, with a weaker recovery than anticipated. Only 60-70% of Thais who travelled abroad in 2019 are expected to do so present year. High living costs, household debt, and a slump in the stock market have made most Thais prefer saving over spending on outbound trips, which usually…

  • Peninsula Bangkok: festive feasts and holiday stay offers | Thaiger

    Peninsula Bangkok: festive feasts and holiday stay offers

    For decades, The Peninsula Bangkok has served as a cherished “holiday home” to guests during the Christmas and New Year’s seasons. At this special time of year, travellers from around the world – as well as local Bangkok residents – converge at the resort along the Chao Phraya River to take part in an array of festive meals, performances, activities,…

  • Thai man’s test drive goes viral as EV’s AI says ‘I quit’ | Thaiger

    Thai man’s test drive goes viral as EV’s AI says ‘I quit’

    An amusing incident involving a young man test-driving an electric vehicle (EV) has gone viral on social media today. While attempting to command the vehicle’s artificial intelligence (AI) to lower the windows, the AI responded with the unexpected phrase, “I quit,” causing a wave of laughter across the online community. The story was shared by a user on Facebook’s EV…

  • Thailand’s Central Plain faces escalating smog crisis with soaring PM2.5 levels | Thaiger

    Thailand’s Central Plain faces escalating smog crisis with soaring PM2.5 levels

    Thailand’s Central Plain is grappling with an increasing smog crisis, as PM2.5 dust levels surged to a staggering 134.8 micrograms per cubic metre of air on Tuesday morning, a significant jump from Monday’s reading of 96.6µg/m³, the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) reported. This morning, December 12, saw 15 provinces in the Central Plain, inclusive of Greater Bangkok,…

  • Update: Former Thai boxer denies sexual assault allegations | Thaiger

    Update: Former Thai boxer denies sexual assault allegations

    A renowned former Thai boxer denies sexually assaulting a 17 year old girl from Kalasin province after she lodged a complaint with Khon Kaen police. The incident allegedly took place in a hotel in Khon Kaen after they met at a local club. The accused, Somsak Singmanee, however, vehemently denied the sexual assault accusations, asserting his innocence and respect for his…

  • Slowing Chinese economy may impact Thailand’s exports, tourism and investment | Thaiger

    Slowing Chinese economy may impact Thailand’s exports, tourism and investment

    Economic experts are voicing apprehension over the slowing Chinese economy, citing that the mainland’s deceleration and escalating tensions with the US could potentially affect Thailand in terms of exports, tourism, direct investment, and property. Despite China’s economy surpassing estimates by growing 4.5% in the first quarter, it has since experienced a slowdown. The disappointing figures in terms of investment, consumption,…

  • Thai soldier arrested with 11 kilogrammes of crystal meth | Thaiger

    Thai soldier arrested with 11 kilogrammes of crystal meth

    The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) arrested a Thai soldier at Rattanaphon Military Camp in the southern province of Songkhla yesterday for possessing and selling 11 kilogrammes of crystal meth. ONCB officers received a tip-off that a 29 year old soldier working in an administrative office at the Rattanaphon Military Camp was a member of a drug trafficking…

  • Electronics firms poised for a shocking surge in the new year | Thaiger

    Electronics firms poised for a shocking surge in the new year

    Electronics companies listed on the stock market are set to witness a performance upturn in the new year, owing to a forecasted global recovery across all industry sub-sectors, according to KGI Securities. The firm predicts a higher growth rate in the second half of the year on the back of continuing inventory restocking. The outlook is based on the steady…

  • Unjust arrest sparks outrage over police corruption in Thailand | Thaiger

    Unjust arrest sparks outrage over police corruption in Thailand

    A 50 year old Thai man aired his grievances about police corruption after being unjustly arrested for illegal possession of a gun that was not his. The police demanded a 50,000 baht bail fee, which was eventually negotiated to 20,000 baht, in exchange for his release. The victim, Piboon Tanthai, claimed that someone had left the gun at his house…

  • Thai minister heats up COP28 with climate change commitment | Thaiger

    Thai minister heats up COP28 with climate change commitment

    At the COP28 climate talks in Dubai, Thailand’s Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Police General Phatcharavat Wongsuwan, took centre stage, making bold declarations and unveiling ambitious plans to combat climate change. In a fervent address on December 10, Phatcharavat reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, sending shockwaves through the climate change talks. He underlined the urgency…

  • Thai military doctor with mental illness surrenders after shooting near Bangkok | Thaiger

    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…

  • Thai labour minister takes wages for a spin: Cabinet gears up for minimum wage review | Thaiger

    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…

  • Major drug trafficking bust in Mukdahan seizes over 600,000 meth pills | Thaiger

    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…

  • Drug suspect accuses police of 300,000 baht extortion and rape | Thaiger

    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…

  • Thailand’s Democrat Party in crisis following mass leadership change | Thaiger

    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,…

  • Air Canada flight revival: Bangkok to Vancouver route takes off for a holiday high | Thaiger

    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…