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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UPDATE: Polish men identified after assaulting Cambodian woman
Police in Pattaya have now issued arrest warrants for two Polish men that have been identified in a brutal attack on a young Cambodian woman. She was violently attacked and tortured in Chon Buri province in eastern Thailand. The young woman says she was tricked by Polish men who said they wanted to pay her to draw something. She says…
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Canadian hitman in Phuket killing moves closer to extradition
The Canadian hitman accused of killing a Vancouver gangster in Phuket is one step closer to extradition after a ruling from an Alberta judge. Matthew Dupre was committed to extradition Friday, to be surrendered to Thailand to be tried for his involvement in the death of Jimi Singh Sandhu. Dupre was a member of the Canadian Armed Forces in Afghanistan…
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VIDEO: Thieves mess with the wrong gold shop owner in northern Thailand
Four thieves attempted to rob a gold shop at gunpoint yesterday in the Mueang district of Tak province in northern Thailand. Turns out the gold shop owner is a shooting competition champion. At 12.55pm, a gang of thieves shot through Yaowarat gold shop’s glass shopfront and let themselves in. As one of the robbers tried to cut through the steel…
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Pattaya visa legend dies of cancer
The Pattaya expat community is saddened to learn today that one of its most loved members, Darren McGarry, has died suddenly after a long battle with cancer. Manchester-born McGarry was the founder of the successful Pattaya-based visa company Key Visa, reported Pattaya Mail. He established a business in Bangkok before moving to Pattaya almost 30 years ago where he married…
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Twitter investigation discovers mass censorship & blacklisting under previous regime
Elon Musk’s decision to fire most of his staff when he bought Twitter caused much furore on and off the platform but a recent investigation into the staff’s censorship behaviour would make China blush and suggests he was right. The US business magnate, who bought the social media platform on October 27, last week handed over the Twitter files to…
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Teen protestor claims police harassment
A child protestor aged only 13 is claiming he was followed and harassed by police after a protest at Sanam Luang – Democracy Monument – on Fathers’ Day earlier this week. “Oia” (pseudonym) said that on Monday he tried to stage a protest calling for the repeal of the royal defamation law during an event commemorating the birthday of the…
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License to own unicorn issued by LA animal care authority
Los Angeles animal control authorities have apparently been smoking something pretty strong, or are suffering from a massive lack of anything useful to do. A California girl named Madeline has been issued with a license to own a unicorn — if she can find one. The first permit of its kind came with strings attached – though judicious use of…
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Eight celebrities to join Japanese tycoon in space venture around the moon
Eight celebrities have been chosen to join eccentric Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa next year on an ambitious plan to fly around the moon. Maezawa announced on Twitter today that he will be accompanied by an unorthodox crew of DJ and producer Steve Aoki of the United States, US YouTuber Tim Dodd, Czech artist Yemi AD, Irish photographer Rhiannon Adam, British…
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No link between phishing and Shopee transfer scam
E-commerce platform Shopee has stopped Internet bank transfers as a payment method for purchases, as it wants to improve the user experience. The company says the move is unrelated to the case of a buyer’s account being allegedly hacked. In an email to The Thaiger, Shopee said… “The phasing out of manual bank transfers as a payment method on Shopee…
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From soapy king to supersleuth, Chuwit’s rehabilitation
The rehabilitation of soapy massage king Chuwit Kamolvisit continues. The controversial former Thai politician was once the country’s biggest massage parlour owner and fondly known throughout the kingdom as the “tub tycoon.” Chuwit acknowledged paying hefty bribes to many Thai police officers after he was arrested in 2003 but then decided to go legit. The 61 year old sold most of…
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‘Pattaya Coffee on the Beach’ festival coming up tomorrow
Pattaya coffee enthusiasts have a special treat coming up tomorrow. The Pattaya Coffee on the Beach Festival 2022 will be held from December 10-11, Saturday to Sunday, on North Pattaya Beach. The festival will be held from 8am to 8pm each day, The Pattaya News reported. The festival is set to include over 60 cafes, food stalls, and activities on…
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Polish men attack Cambodian woman with acid, knife and hammer in Thailand
A young Cambodian woman says she was brutally attacked by Polish men in Chon Buri province in eastern Thailand. The attackers slashed her with a knife, beat her with a hammer, and threw acid on her face, body, and genitals, leaving her dripping with blood and in need of 260 stitches. Yesterday, the Secretary-General of the People’s Advocacy Team Foundation…
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“Merchant of Death” Viktor Bout arrives in Russia as part of US-Russia prisoner swap
The “Merchant of Death,” or Viktor Bout, has arrived in Russia after being swapped with prisoner Brittney Griner from the US. The notorious arms dealer was exchanged in Abu Dhabi with American basketball star Brittney Griner. Despite his reputation, Bout received a hero’s welcome upon arriving in Moscow. He spoke to his family when his plane made a refuelling stop…
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Thailand’s Deputy PM not too excited to take over after Prayut
Thailand’s Deputy PM Anutin Charnvirakul is allegedly not too excited to take over after current PM Prayut Chan-o-cha. Anutin made such remarks after PM Prayut made it known that he hopes to stay in office for another two years after the upcoming election in 2023. Anutin noted that most who did inherit the position never served a full term. But,…
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Australia charges Chinese nationals in US online scam totalling over US$100 million in losses
Four Chinese nationals in Australia are being charged with an online investment scam that allegedly caused losses of over US$100 million. The scam, which was mostly carried out in the US, involved the manipulation of legitimate electronic trading platforms that were licensed to foreign exchange brokers. Those brokers then allegedly provided the software to their clients, resulting in major financial…
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US to send Ukraine anti-drone military aid package worth US$275 million
The US is planning to send Ukraine an anti-drone military aid package that is reportedly worth US$275 million. The incoming military aid is said to offer new tools to strengthen air defences and defeat drones. According to Reuters, and The Straits Times, the package could be officially announced today. The Pentagon is also expected to include Lockheed Martin rockets for…
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Dog carries baby’s corpse out of a forest in eastern Thailand
A truck driver pulled over this afternoon when he saw a dog carrying the corpse of a baby out of a forest in Rayong province in eastern Thailand. At 1pm, officers at Pluak Daeng Police Station received a report that a dog was seen carrying what appeared to be a baby’s corpse out of a forest in the Pluak Daeng…
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Travis Scott to headline Rolling Loud Thailand festival
American rapper Travis Scott will headline Rolling Loud Festival set to take place in Pattaya in eastern Thailand during Songkran next year. Rolling Loud’s inaugural three-day party in Thailand, held from April 13-15 at Legend Siam in Pattaya, marks the festival’s expansion into Asia for the first time. Scott is one of three headliners, according to Rolling Loud’s website. Festival organisers…
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Last jumbo – the last Boeing 747 leaves the gate
After 50 years of production, the last Boeing 747, perhaps the world’s most iconic aircraft, rolled out of Boeing’s massive factory in Everett, Washington, on Tuesday night. The final customer is cargo carrier Atlas Air, which ordered four 747-8 freighters early this year. The 747 jumbo jet has taken on a wide variety of roles during its lifetime. It’s a…
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Bangkok could hit lows of 18°C next week
Get your woolly jumpers ready as Bangkok and surrounding areas could hit lows of 18° Celsius next week, according to Thailand’s Meteorological Department. Between December 12-14, the Thai capital will feel cold and breezy for the first time in a long time, if the department’s predictions are correct. A moderate high-pressure cell from China is expected to cover upper Thailand…
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Jailed politician erects billboard to wish voters Happy New Year
A former Thai politician appears to be making a joke out of his current prison term by splashing the cash on a billboard to wish his constituents a Happy New Year. A picture of former Democrat MP Thepthai Senpong features on a Happy New Year billboard in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat. The billboard has drawn a mixed…
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Fifteen drug smugglers shot dead after gunfight with Thai soldiers in Chiang Mai
Fifteen drug smugglers died after a gunfight with Royal Thai Army soldiers in Chiang Mai late last night. Maj Gen Suparerk Sathapornpol, commander of the Pha Muang Task Force, revealed this morning that his soldiers clashed with the bandits in tambon Mon Pin, between Ban Pa Kha and Ban Khob Dong. Patrol soldiers spotted a group of about 20 men…
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Czech man behind trans Thai refugee attack avoids Paris trial
The Czech man behind an attack on a Thai trans activist has had his appeal delayed again. A Paris court postponed the appeal trial of Petr Donatek, a Czech man who allegedly hired two thugs to beat up trans activist Aum Neko and musician Nithiwat Wannasiri in France. According to Prachatai, Aum Neko is a political refugee in France, well…
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Police arrest wanted Swedish criminal hiding in southern Thailand
Immigration Police held a press conference yesterday about the arrest of a wanted Swedish criminal hiding out in Hua Hin, southern Thailand, in their continued crackdown on illegal foreigners in the kingdom. After coordinating with Swedish police, Thai Immigration Police arrested 52 year old Heinz Henry Andreas of Swedish nationality at a rented house in Hua Hin District, Prachuap Khiri…
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Train smashes car off the tracks in southern Thailand, killing 3
A car smashed through the barrier at a railroad crossing and was hit by a passenger train early this morning in Hua Hin in southern Thailand. Three people were killed in the collision. One person survived with injuries. At 4am, officers at Hua Hin Police Station received a report of a train crashing into a car at the railroad crossing…
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Most Googled word in 2022? And in Thailand?
The most Googled word or phrase in the world this year may come as a surprise. What do you think? Russia? Ukraine? Economic crisis? Queen Elizabeth II? King Charles III? China? Taiwan? No, none of those. The word Wordle was Google’s most searched term globally in 2022. The search engine giant revealed the winner in its annual Year in Search…
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Police arrest another Chinese visa overstayer living it up in Thailand
Immigration police arrested yet another Chinese visa overstayer in their sustained crackdown on foreigners living illegally in the Kingdom of Thailand. Police arrested 43 year old Chao [surname withheld] at YESMUM Chinese restaurant in Rayong province’s Pluak Daeng district at 8pm yesterday. Chao’s passport revealed that his visa ran out on October 31, 2021, and he overstayed in Thailand for…
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Lao star swindled by Thai celebrity, more than 500 million baht lost
A Lao actress filed a complaint with the Justice Ministry of Thailand after a former Thai singing celebrity allegedly swindled 34 million baht from her. It is understood another 100 people have fallen victim to the celebrity swindler now hiding in Germany and over 500 million baht has been scammed. The Lao star, Wanmanee “Lilly” Ponsavan, handed over evidence of…
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Two women sue Apple saying AirTag product gives stalkers access to their whereabouts
Two women are reportedly suing Apple, claiming its AirTag product gives potential stalkers access to one’s whereabouts. One of those women says she found an AirTag tracking device in the wheel well of her car, while the second woman says she found one in her child’s backpack. The lawsuit alleges that the company had failed to heed warnings from advocacy…
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Electioneering: Thaksin’s daughter vows to end poverty in Thailand
Tis the season to be… electioneering in Thailand, it seems. Only yesterday Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha announced plans to stay on as Thailand’s PM for another two years before grooming a successor. Today, the youngest daughter of the Shinawatra clan, Paetongtarn, declared a vote for her Pheu Thai would eradicate poverty in Thailand. The daughter of former Thai PM, Thaksin…
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