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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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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Fire at Mae Sot customs warehouse destroys over 50 vehicles
A raging fire has torn through a customs warehouse in Mae Sot, Tak province, destroying more than 50 confiscated vehicles. The fire, which broke out yesterday, March 18, around 8pm, remains uncontrollable despite the tireless efforts of local fire services. The blaze started behind the new customs checkpoint, near the second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge in Tha Sai Luat subdistrict, Mae…
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Tourist, not monk: Thai man surrenders after dangerous snake ride
A Thai man dressed in a monk robe surrendered to the police after a video of his dangerous ride on a Pattaya road with a snake draped over his shoulder went viral. He insisted that he was a tourist, not a monk. The 40 year old witness, Bang-on Chom-ngam, shared the video of the motorcyclist riding recklessly with a snake on…
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Suspect arrested after fatal roadside stabbing near Lop Buri
A suspect has been arrested following the fatal stabbing of a man who escaped from a hospital and was later found dead near a roadside pavilion. The suspect claims self-defence, stating the victim attacked him while he was asleep. The police apprehended the suspect at his residence. Police from Phatthana Nikhom district in Lop Buri province discovered the body of…
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Thai-speed ahead: PM revs up talks for F1 grand prix in Thailand
Could Thailand be the next country to host a glamorous Formula One (F1) Grand Prix? Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has opened the door to this exciting possibility, holding high-level talks with Stefano Domenicali, the CEO of the Formula One Group, about bringing the iconic motorsport event to the kingdom. Yesterday, March 18, Thai government spokesperson Jirayu Huangsab confirmed that the…
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Charged & brewed: Phuket thief busted for beer & batteries theft
A 39 year old man has been arrested after he was caught stealing beer and batteries from a 7-Eleven store in Patong, Phuket, with the police tracking him down using CCTV footage and his distinctive clothes. Officers from Patong Police Station, led by Police Colonel Chalermchai Hirasawat, apprehended the suspect on Sunday, March 16, following a theft reported on March…
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British smuggler arrested on Koh Samui with 165kg of cannabis
Police yesterday arrested one of the leading British cannabis smugglers following the discovery of illegal dried cannabis flowers in the luggage of his British friend, who had left Thailand via Samui International Airport. Thai officials launched a sweeping crackdown on foreigners illegally smuggling cannabis from Thailand to the UK, managing to arrest 13 foreign suspects, including 10 British nationals, one…
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Rama II expressway lane reopens after fatal bridge collapse
The inbound lane to the expressway on Rama II Road, affected by the bridge project collapse last Saturday, will reopen by tomorrow. The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) stated that demolition work on the collapsed bridge is 90% complete, with the contractor, Italian-Thai Development (ITD), pledging compensation for victims. The collapse on Saturday, March 15, involved a concrete beam under…
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PM rejects opposition’s request for full 30-hour debate control
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has not approved the opposition’s request to control the entire duration of a 30-hour censure debate. She acknowledged that determining the length of the debate is not within her authourity. Yesterday, March 18, the Thai PM commented that the opposition’s request might not be logical, a sentiment echoed by the coalition government, which found the demand excessive.…
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Bite club arrest: German man sinks teeth into chaos in Korat
The German man has been arrested after he went on a jaw-dropping rampage in Korat, biting female dentists and leaving chaos in his wake. The German, Matthias Ebner, infamous in Nakhon Ratchasima province for his savage antics, has finally been apprehended following a biting incident that left the city in uproar. Dubbed the “Dental Menace,” Ebner, married to a local…
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2 German models steal from Koh Pha Ngan shop twice in one day
The Thai owner of a handcrafted home goods store on Koh Pha Ngan in the southern province of Surat Thani refused to compromise with two German male models who stole products from her store twice on the same day yesterday, March 18. The owner of the Sprout store, Ploy, took to Facebook and Instagram to expose the two German thieves after…
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Thailand uncertain on US visa ban after Uyghur deportation
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed uncertainty regarding her inclusion on a list of Thai officials recently barred from obtaining US visas following the deportation of 40 Uyghur detainees to China. Addressing the media yesterday, March 18, she said, “There’s no confirmation yet. I still don’t know.” The 38 year old PM explained that the Foreign Affairs Ministry would further clarify…
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Thai it all together: Storms, PM2.5 smog and rough seas ahead
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has warned of summer storms across much of Thailand today, with thunderstorms and rough seas expected in the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea. Meanwhile, northern Thailand continues to face persistent PM2.5 pollution. The TMD forecasts weather conditions over the next 24 hours, indicating that a high-pressure system or a relatively strong cold air mass…
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Irishman killed in high-speed crash in Phang Nga’s Khao Lak
A tragic accident claimed the life of a 54 year old Irishman when he was struck by a speeding car in Khao Lak last night. The victim, identified as Neil Christopher More Oferrall, was killed instantly when a black Ford Everest hit him on Phetkasem Road, in front of the Sangsawan Resort, around 9pm yesterday, March 17. Police quickly arrived…
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Myanmar woman arrested for illegal gambling in Pathum Thani
Police arrested a Myanmar woman for her involvement in running an illegal online gambling operation in Thailand. The arrest, carried out by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and Crime Suppression Division (CSD), occurred near a construction site in Pathum Thani province. Nin, who came to Thailand in 2023 for work, was recruited by a labour broker who convinced her to…
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Baht boost: Thailand greenlights 200 billion for Bangkok transit line
Thailand has sanctioned investment applications amounting to a total of 200 billion baht, spearheaded by a Bangkok transit line and three data centres, offering a potential uplift to the country’s subdued economic growth. The primary initiative is Bangkok Expressway and Metro Plc’s 109 billion baht (US$3.2 billion) investment in the Orange Line, aimed at connecting Bangkok’s western and eastern suburbs,…
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Off-duty nurses try to save crash victim in fatal Pattaya accident
A tragic accident on Highway 36 in East Pattaya left a 63 year old motorcyclist dead after he crashed into the back of a 10-wheel trailer. Despite the heroic efforts of three off-duty nurses who happened to be passing by, the man could not be revived. Emergency responders were alerted to the crash in the Pong area of Bang Lamung…
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Mae Hong Son strengthens cross-border efforts on forest fires
Mae Hong Son province is stepping up its efforts to combat cross-border forest fires by ramping up cooperation with its neighbouring states. Deputy Governor Boonlue Thammathranurak highlighted the ongoing problem of illegal burning along the border between Mae Hong Son and countries such as Shan State, Karen State, and Kayah State. These areas have long faced the threat of uncontrolled…
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Illegal Thai workers send billions home despite crackdowns
Thailand’s workforce abroad is pumping an astonishing 400 billion baht into the economy each year—much of it from illegal workers, according to Labour Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn. Despite government crackdowns, the number of undocumented Thai workers overseas remains high, with 382,699 working illegally last year alone. While Thailand sent 92,392 legal workers abroad in 2024, a drop of 11% from 2023…
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Tourists fume over persistent foreign beggars in Pattaya
Tourists flocking to Pattaya, particularly around the notorious Walking Street area, are growing increasingly frustrated with the ongoing issue of foreign beggars harassing visitors. Many of these beggars, often accompanied by young children ranging from infants to seven to 10 years old, can be seen wandering the streets selling goods or soliciting money. When tourists refuse to buy, some beggars…
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High-speed chase: Thai mother rescues autistic son from gang
A Thai mother successfully rescued her autistic son from a call centre scam gang following a high-speed chase on a road in the Isaan province of Buriram. The 38 year old mother, Suthiya, contacted Channel 8 to share her and her son’s experience in order to issue a warning to others. Suthiya stated, “Call centre scammers are still everywhere around…
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6 thieves, including foreigner, wanted for robbing Laotian woman in Pattaya
Six thieves, one a foreigner, robbed and brutally slashed a Laotian woman’s face with a knife in Pattaya. The Laotian woman reached out to a famous Thai social media influencer for help as there has been no developments since the attack a month ago. Guntouch “Gun” Pongpaiboonwet accompanied the Laotian victim, Waewta, to Mueang Pattaya Police Station to follow up…
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Phantom fail: Ghostly Chiang Mai gold heist ends in ghastly gaffe
In an audacious plot fit for a Halloween flick, a bungling gold thief’s disguise as a horror movie ghost backfired spectacularly when he found himself trapped in a shopping mall, leading to his swift arrest. The wannabe thief, Etsara, dreamed up a daring heist at a renowned Chiang Mai shopping mall, planning to loot a gold shop by posing as…
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Suicidal Thai woman thanks public donations relieving hardship
A suicidal Thai woman expressed gratitude for the support she received, alleviating her financial burdens. Her husband previously resorted to eating dog food due to hunger. The situation came to light when Police Lieutenant Pornsak Saneha received a report of a potential suicide attempt near a pier along the Bang Pakong River in Mueang Chachoengsao district. Rescue workers found the…
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Neighbour attacks Buriram couple with machete over noise
A 37 year old woman reported to Mueang Buriram Police Station after a neighbour allegedly assaulted her husband with a machete. The incident took place on March 15, resulting in injuries to both the woman’s husband and herself. Following the attack, the husband was hospitalised at Buriram Hospital. The incident occurred while the couple was playing online slots at their…
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School rejects ‘slum’ label for Phuket Myanmar community (video)
The director of a Catholic-operated school in Phuket has contested the description of a Myanmar community in the province as a “slum” by a foreign YouTuber. A video on the YouTube channel Ride with Gabi, which claims to document a “Myanmar slum in Phuket,” has ignited debate, showing a significant Myanmar migrant community in the southern province. The footage depicts…
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Thailand urges Singapore to boost rice and egg imports
Thai Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan has urged Singapore to increase its imports of Thai rice and free-range eggs following the seventh Singapore-Thailand Enhanced Economic Relationship (STEER) meeting. Held on March 14 in Singapore, the meeting was co-chaired by Doctor Tan See Leng, Singapore’s Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry. The discussions aimed at boosting trade and…
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Holy serpent! Monk spotted cruising Pattaya with a snake
A Thai woman captured a monk riding a motorcycle with a snake draped over his shoulder on a Pattaya road. The video has since exploded on social media, instantly going viral. The 40 year old woman, Bang-on Chom-ngam, witnessed the alleged monk’s reckless riding and recorded a video of him, sharing it with local media outlets. She hoped to verify…
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Behind the cue: Rayong ‘snooker club’ gambles with the law
A recent operation in Rayong province uncovered a gambling setup disguised as a snooker club, leading to the arrest of 15 gamblers. Despite initial reports of political figures being involved, no evidence of such was found, and local police have not been reassigned. Police Major General Phumint Singhhasut, the commander of Rayong Provincial Police, yesterday, March 17, addressed the incident…
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Thai call scam losses fall by 200 million baht after power cuts
The Thai government’s controversial decision to cut power, oil, and Internet services to border areas near Myanmar has reportedly paid off, with losses from call scams plummeting by at least 200 million baht. Digital Economy and Society Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong revealed that since the power cut-off on February 5, there has been a significant drop in cybercrime activity, with call…
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Broken jaw blunder: Botched surgery leaves Thai man unable to eat
A botched operation on a Thai man’s broken jaw has left him unable to eat. The Thai man reached out to the Social Security Office (SSO) after suffering from a broken jaw but the operation went horribly wrong. The 42 year old Thai man, Sommai, reached out to the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive after failing to receive proper medical treatment…
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