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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?...

  • Miss Universe and Miss Grand to star in Pattaya’s Wan Lai Festival (video)

    Miss Universe and Miss Grand to star in Pattaya’s Wan Lai Festival (video)

    Pattaya is all set to celebrate its vibrant Wan Lai tradition with an exciting lineup of events, including star-studded parades and sacred ceremonies. Three major cable TV stations have teamed up to promote the festivities, ensuring that locals and tourists can enjoy a safe and spectacular celebration. Today, April 9, at Pattaya City Hall, representatives from three major cable TV…

  • Soaked and secure: Phuket gears up for a safe splash this Songkran

    Soaked and secure: Phuket gears up for a safe splash this Songkran

    With Songkran just around the corner, Phuket is ramping up its efforts to ensure safety during the festival. A major new operation centre has been launched to prevent road and marine accidents, as the island prepares for an influx of tourists and local festivities. Today, April 9, at 9.30am, Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat officially opened the Road and Marine Accident…

  • Woman found unconscious in Pattaya with gold and cash

    Woman found unconscious in Pattaya with gold and cash

    A glamorous night out took a worrying turn in Pattaya when a well-dressed woman was found unconscious and heavily intoxicated at a restaurant, surrounded by valuables. Police had to step in to protect her, and her jewellery, from potential danger. Police Lieutenant Colonel Suchart Dusadee, Inspector at Pattaya City Police Station, told reporters that he received a call from a…

  • Don Mueang Airport sees 10% rise in Songkran passenger numbers

    Don Mueang Airport sees 10% rise in Songkran passenger numbers

    Don Mueang International Airport is anticipating around 700,000 passengers during the Songkran holiday, marking a 10% increase compared to the previous year. Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) President Kerati Kijmanawat confirmed today, April 9, that Don Mueang Airport is prepared to accommodate the expected surge in travellers. Wichit Kaewsaitiam, the director of Don Mueang Airport, noted that April 11 is…

  • Pattaya construction site sees arrest of illegal Chinese worker

    Pattaya construction site sees arrest of illegal Chinese worker

    In a crackdown on illegal foreign workers, Na Jomtien Police arrested a 50 year old Chinese national who was caught overseeing a construction site without a valid work permit. The arrest comes as officials continue to tighten regulations on foreign workers in Thailand. Na Jomtien Police, in collaboration with Immigration Division 3, arrested Chen Gaofeng, a 50 year old Chinese…

  • Lovesick Thai man fabricates shooting on tanker to meet girlfriend

    Lovesick Thai man fabricates shooting on tanker to meet girlfriend

    A Thai man fabricated a shooting and injuries on an oil tanker floating in the sea off Chon Buri on Monday, causing chaos for police officers, simply because he wanted to return home to see his girlfriend. More than 20 officers from Laem Chabang Police Station, Sri Racha Marine Police, and the Sawang Prateep Sri Racha Rescue Foundation rushed to…

  • Newborn abandoned in pickup truck in Phuket, rescued

    Newborn abandoned in pickup truck in Phuket, rescued

    A chilling discovery in Phuket has left locals shaken after a newborn baby was found abandoned in the back of a pickup truck. The infant, still with the umbilical cord attached, was miraculously alive and is now in hospital receiving care. Today, April 9 at 10.30am, Police Lieutenant Colonel Khajornkiat Khamwichairat, Deputy Inspector of Investigation at Cherng Talay Police Station,…

  • Elderly man arrested for alleged assault of granddaughter in Phatthalung

    Elderly man arrested for alleged assault of granddaughter in Phatthalung

    An 83 year old man has been arrested at his home in Pa Phayom district, Phatthalung province, following allegations of repeatedly assaulting his 15 year old granddaughter. The arrest of the old man, Somsuk, was executed by the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division (ATP), acting on a warrant issued by the Phatthalung Provincial Court dated April 3. The investigation began after the…

  • Bets off: Phuket residents roll the dice against casino plan

    Bets off: Phuket residents roll the dice against casino plan

    A group of Phuket locals has rallied against the controversial casino bill, urging the government to halt its progress. Dressed in white shirts, they gathered at Phuket Provincial Hall to submit a petition that firmly rejects the push for casinos in the popular tourist destination. A group of concerned residents, entrepreneurs, and members of the Phuket State Enterprise Labor Relations Confederation…

  • Widow loses 620,000 baht to call centre scam in Thailand

    Widow loses 620,000 baht to call centre scam in Thailand

    A widow with twin daughters sought help from the Pavena Foundation, claiming she was deceived into transferring over 620,000 baht by the Poipet Company. She had intended to save her late husband’s life insurance money for her daughters’ education. Yesterday, April 8, at the Pavena Foundation in Thanyaburi district, Pathum Thani province, a 44 year old woman, referred to as…

  • Couple arrested in Bangkok for selling drug-laced vape liquids

    Couple arrested in Bangkok for selling drug-laced vape liquids

    Police arrested a couple caught selling electronic cigarettes mixed with illicit drugs from their residence. The operation yesterday, April 8, led by Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom and his team, uncovered a significant quantity of drugs and related items at their home in Sai Mai, Bangkok. The arrested suspects, 35 year old Theeraporn and 33 year old Tawiphop, were found…

  • Phuket drug bust: 6 arrested with heroin

    Phuket drug bust: 6 arrested with heroin

    A major drug crackdown in Wichit, Phuket, led to the arrest of six suspects, including a man caught with over 79 grammes of heroin. The coordinated raids, carried out yesterday, April 8, have sent shockwaves through the local community, highlighting the ongoing battle against drug trafficking in the region. Six suspects were arrested in a well-executed drug operation led by…

  • Quantum Lightborn: A solo exhibition by Tat Nattee at Siam Paragon

    Quantum Lightborn: A solo exhibition by Tat Nattee at Siam Paragon

    In a world where rarity is often equated with value, Quantum Lightborn invites us to reconsider: What if the rarest among us were seen as the most extraordinary? This exhibition presents the latest series of paintings by Tat Nattee, reimagining Albino children not as anomalies, but as Lightborn: beings of the future, whose uniqueness becomes their power. The inspiration for…

  • Ale’s well that ends well: Drunk foreigner trips up in Phuket scuffle

    Ale’s well that ends well: Drunk foreigner trips up in Phuket scuffle

    An allegedly drunk foreigner chased a Thai man and attempted to attack him in Phuket. The victim fortunately escaped unharmed when the foreign man stumbled to the ground. The Thai victim shared videos of the incident with the Phuket Times, today, April 9. The incident reportedly took place on the road leading to Rang Hill, a popular viewpoint in Phuket,…

  • Luxury village theft ring busted, assets worth 5 million baht seized

    Luxury village theft ring busted, assets worth 5 million baht seized

    Four foreign nationals from Colombia and Peru were apprehended for orchestrating a theft ring targeting luxury villages without security guards, stealing assets worth 5 million baht. Police suspect an organised operation with possible accomplices behind the scenes. The arrest took place at 7pm yesterday, April 8 at the Mueang Pathum Thani Police Station. Police Lieutenant General Surapol Prembutra, Police Major…

  • Brother fights to free US academic jailed in Thailand

    Brother fights to free US academic jailed in Thailand

    A Dallas man is fighting to free his brother, a respected American academic in Thailand, after he was jailed on charges of insulting the monarchy—something his family insists he didn’t do. Paul Chambers, an American scholar and college professor based in Thailand for over 30 years, was arrested last week after Thai military authorities served him with an arrest warrant.…

  • Drunk police officer kills mother and child in Narathiwat crash

    Drunk police officer kills mother and child in Narathiwat crash

    A police officer driving under the influence collided with a motorcycle carrying a family of three, resulting in the deaths of a mother and her child, while the father was injured. The officer’s blood alcohol content was found to be 177 milligrammes per cent, significantly above the legal limit. Yesterday, April 8, Police Colonel Suphachai Yiwangkon, the superintendent of Rangae…

  • Phuket immigration busts 5 Indians in crackdown on illegal workers

    Phuket immigration busts 5 Indians in crackdown on illegal workers

    Phuket Immigration officers, in collaboration with Region 8 Police, arrested five Indian nationals and a Thai woman involved in illegal employment. The operation, led by senior officers, highlights the province’s ongoing efforts to combat unlawful foreign workers and ensure the safety of residents and tourists. In a coordinated effort led by Police Colonel Kriangkrai Ariyaying, Superintendent of Phuket Immigration, along…

  • Dog rescued from cruel owner who dragged pooch along road

    Dog rescued from cruel owner who dragged pooch along road

    A Thai woman rescued a dog from its cruel owner, who dragged the animal along the road in the Isaan province of Nakhon Ratchasima, leading to injuries to its legs and body. The witness, Charuwan Phuangkham, shared the videos of an argument between the dog owner and a woman who rescued the animal on her Facebook account yesterday. April 8.…

  • Stepfather accused of assaulting 11 year old girl in Krabi

    Stepfather accused of assaulting 11 year old girl in Krabi

    A 60 year old stepfather has been accused of sexually assaulting his 11 year old stepdaughter after her elder sister noticed suspicious behaviour and questioned her. The child was reportedly too afraid to inform her mother, fearing she would believe the stepfather over her. Yesterday, April 8, Saiyan Sukchan, chairperson of the Centre for Protection, along with officials from the…

  • Miracle rescue: Young girl pulled from deep sewer in Bangkok

    Miracle rescue: Young girl pulled from deep sewer in Bangkok

    A young girl is lucky to be alive after falling into a deep sewer near Soi Sahakarnpramoon in Bangkok. The dramatic rescue unfolded yesterday, April 8, as emergency teams rushed to save her from the perilous depths. At 5.49pm yesterday, emergency services received a distress call via hotline 199 reporting a girl trapped in a sewer near Soi Sahakarnpramoon, located…

  • Russian man arrested for 332-day overstay in Phuket

    Russian man arrested for 332-day overstay in Phuket

    Officers from the Phuket Provincial Immigration Bureau arrested a Russian man yesterday for overstaying his visa by nearly one year. Immigration officials yesterday, April 8, informed Phuket Hotnews that they were conducting a crackdown on foreign criminals in the province from April 7 to 11. The operation is targeting foreigners who are residing in the province illegally, as well as…

  • Teens detained in Chiang Mai for Cambodian call centre scam

    Teens detained in Chiang Mai for Cambodian call centre scam

    Three teenagers were detained in Chiang Mai for allegedly operating an office to recruit people for work in a Cambodian call centre scam. They enticed people with promises of lucrative grey-area jobs, free accommodation, and natural border crossing. Yesterday, April 8, Police Lieutenant General Kritthapol Yisakhon, the commander of the Provincial Police Region 5, revealed a collaborative operation involving several…

  • 370 million baht approved for disaster warning system upgrade

    370 million baht approved for disaster warning system upgrade

    The Thai Cabinet approved a budget of 370 million baht for the development of natural disaster warning systems, or early warning systems (EWS). The recent earthquake in Myanmar was a first-time experience for many Thai citizens. The incident sparked concerns about the public’s lack of knowledge regarding how to stay safe during a natural disaster and how to protect themselves…

  • Major drug dealer captured after dramatic canal chase in Tha Sala

    Major drug dealer captured after dramatic canal chase in Tha Sala

    Police in Tha Sala district yesterday arrested a major drug dealer after an intense pursuit. The suspect, identified as a key figure in the local drug trade, attempted to evade capture by attacking officers and fleeing into a canal. Police Colonel Thawatchai Sangkhamitkon of Tha Sala Police Station yesterday, April 8, had received reports of drug trafficking in the area.…

  • Contractor claims 3.7 million baht unpaid wages in DSI probe

    Contractor claims 3.7 million baht unpaid wages in DSI probe

    A construction contractor appeared before the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) officers to discuss his knowledge of those associated with China Railway Number 10 and 9 PK company, major contractors in an ongoing investigation. The meeting occurred at the DSI headquarters on Chaeng Watthana Road at 9.30am, yesterday, April 8, where Thitiphong Pothiprom was questioned for more than three hours…

  • Koh Larn resort worker arrested for trespassing and assault

    Koh Larn resort worker arrested for trespassing and assault

    Police arrested a 40 year old resort employee on Koh Larn following accusations of trespassing and sexual assault made by his former girlfriend. The arrest took place yesterday, April 8, when officers from Mueang Pattaya district executed two warrants against the man, known only as Samarn, at his residence in Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province. The warrants, issued by…

  • No grounds for panic: No coffee shortage or price hike, says DIT

    No grounds for panic: No coffee shortage or price hike, says DIT

    The Department of Internal Trade (DIT) has confirmed that there will be no shortage or price increase for a well-known coffee brand, despite rumours to the contrary. They are closely monitoring the market, ensuring retail outlets display prices clearly, with penalties for non-compliance. Witthayakorn Maneenate, Director-General of the DIT, addressed concerns over rumours suggesting a temporary halt in the supply…

  • Ex-Israeli soldier busted for moonlighting as Koh Pha Ngan guide

    Ex-Israeli soldier busted for moonlighting as Koh Pha Ngan guide

    An ex-Israeli special forces soldier swapped the battlefield for the beaches – but his jungle jaunts with kids have landed him in hot water, after being busted for playing tour guide on Koh Pha Ngan without a permit. Police Lieutenant General Saksira Phueak-am, Commander of the Tourist Police Bureau, yesterday, April 8, ordered a crackdown after receiving a tip-off that…

  • Bangkok’s Wat Arun nominated for UNESCO World Heritage status

    Bangkok’s Wat Arun nominated for UNESCO World Heritage status

    Thailand’s iconic Wat Arun temple is one step closer to global recognition, as the Cabinet has just approved its nomination for the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List. The move highlights the temple’s rich architectural history and its significance to the Rattanakosin Kingdom. In a pivotal Cabinet meeting yesterday, Culture Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol announced that the Phra Prang of Wat Arun…