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.
-
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?...
-
Activist sentenced to 2 years in prison for wearing Thai dress that ‘mocks’ H.M. Queen
A 23 year old Thai activist has been sentenced to two years imprisonment for royal defamation, under Section 112 of the Criminal Code, for attending a protest in traditional Thai attire. Her catwalk show was interpreted by royalists as “mocking” H.M. Queen Sirikit, the queen mother of Thailand. Bangkok South Criminal Court read the verdict of Jatuporn “New” Saeoueng’s sentence…
-
Man complains after 23 taxi drivers in Bangkok refuse to serve him
An angry Thai man slammed Bangkok taxis on his TikTok account for favouring foreigners after 23 cab drivers refused to take him on a journey that was less than 15 minutes. The man said that taxi drivers in the Asoke area only wanted to serve foreign passengers because they can rip them off with expensive fares. The Thai TikToker, @iceprapadang,…
-
Old man held hostage & duped out of 100 million baht by fake doctors
An 81 year old man was held hostage in a Bangkok hotel by two fake doctors and then duped him into giving away over 100 million baht in assets and priceless amulets so they could treat his Parkinson’s disease. Police eventually rescued Chawarit Chankana after his family filed a complaint saying the old man handed over a luxury car and…
-
More tourists are venturing into rural Thailand, says Airbnb
Airbnb says more tourists in Thailand are opting for ‘off-the-beaten-track’ destinations, benefiting the environment and local economies. Thailand’s usual top tourist destinations are places with international airports – Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui and Phuket. According to Airbnb, more tourists are venturing out of these hubs and into “lesser-known” destinations such as Koh Lanta, Trat, Pai and Cha-Am. Koh Lanta…
-
Kidney for an iPhone meme condemned by doctors, commenters
A Facebook post from Laos has gone viral and upset many people for its unsafe message about the expensive new iPhone. The post was captioned “Agreed for iPhone 14” and showed three people holding up their new Apple phones and lifting their shirts, revealing bandages on their abdomens, implying that they each sold their kidney to afford the price of…
-
PHIST, Southeast Asia’s biggest and best sustainable tourism forum is back as a live, in-person event!
PRESS RELEASE PHIST (Phuket Hotels for Islands Sustaining Tourism), Southeast Asia’s biggest and best sustainable tourism forum is back as a live, in-person event! Over 1,000 participants, including senior executives and keynote speakers, will gather in Phuket on Monday 26th September 2022 to tackle the most important sustainability issues impacting the industry today. Approximately 30 green exhibitors are also expected…
-
2 female Thai party leaders emerge as strong PM candidates
While King Charles III effortlessly ascended to the throne upon the death of England’s Queen Elizabeth II this week, the path to the prime ministership in Thailand will be a bit more protracted and messy. Two women have emerged as top candidates for Prime Minister, with Thai Sang Thai Party’s Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan so far polling above Pheu Thai Party…
-
Hong Kong speech therapists jailed over children’s books
Five speech therapists in Hong Kong have been accused of brainwashing children after they wrote children’s books involving sheep and wolves. The five therapists, who are all between 25-28 years old, have been sentenced to 19 months each in prison. The books tell stories about a village of sheep trying to stop a pack of wolves from invading their home.…
-
POLL: People unsatisfied with Prawit, want a special election
A new poll revealed that people are not impressed with caretaker Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan as acting PM, but do not want him to take major action either, aside from calling a new election to find his replacement. The majority of people do not want a Cabinet reshuffle, but most people want a special election called to elect a new…
-
Coffin floats through the flooded streets of Bangkok
Flood waters can be deadly, but locals in Saphan Mai, located in the northern part of Bangkok, were shocked by the sight of a coffin floating by in the floodwaters that swept through the streets. The floating coffin was captured on videos and posted on social media where it quickly went viral. People may have feared and questioned: Is it…
-
Rice exporters say Thailand needs new rice breeds to be competitive
Rice exporters have said that Thailand needs new breeds of rice to compete in the global rice market. The president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association said yesterday that Thailand tends to set its rice prices too high for its quality, which is why the country’s rice export volume has continued to drop. The president, Charoen Laothamatas, said that new…
-
Koh Samui hotel thieves may have been led by the ex-lessee
In the curious case of a hotel owner claiming her hotel was dismantled by thieves who took literally everything, three more suspects were arrested in Koh Samui. Police executed a search warrant on Thursday for a warehouse on Samui that they say contained items they believe to be stolen from the remains of the Chaweng Blue Lagoon Teak Wing. Though…
-
Venues surveyed in Thailand say they make the most money at later hours
Night venues recently surveyed by Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Ministry made known that tourists spend the most money in the early hours of the morning. The venues surveyed were located in the tourist hotspots of Koh Samui, Phang Nga, and Khao San Road in Bangkok. Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn told the press yesterday… “The results suggested that tourists…
-
Bangkok woman stabs husband to death after a few days isolating in the same room
A woman stabbed her husband to death this morning in Bangkok. The couple were both infected with Covid-19, living in a house of five, and had been isolating in the same room for a few days. Officers from Udom Suk Police Station received a report at 6.57am today that a woman had killed her husband at their home in the…
-
Husband shoots dead lover of estranged wife in Khon Kaen
A jealous husband shot dead the lover of his estranged wife while he relaxed in a hot tub at a resort in the Isaan province of Khon Kaen. The alleged murderer, 40 year old Rungroj Tianyoi, secretly followed his estranged wife and her lover to a resort in the Phu Phra Marn district of Khon Kaen on Wednesday and booked…
-
Man shot dead by officers after he stormed a police station
A man wielding a baseball bat was shot dead by officers after he stormed a police station, smashed up police vehicles, and taunted officers in the Isaan province of Ubon Ratchathani. The man’s family is seeking justice because they believe the police used excessive force. The 32 year old man, Pattawin, drove a white sedan car into Nam Yuen Police…
-
Alleged pedo tutor recorded kids engaged in illegal sex games
Police are investigating alleged claims that a school teacher lured underage children into a den of depravity and engaged in illegal sexual acts before uploading them online. Police swooped and arrested Nantaphan Chanaphai, accused of sexually assaulting 22 kids, at a Nakhon Ratchasima school after a tip off. Nantaphan is one of four sexual assault and human trafficking cases being…
-
Report reveals Thais need to save 15%-30% of salary for retirement
Thai people are being urged to save more money for their retirement instead of relying on lotto prizes, inheritances, or descendants’ income. The Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy of Chulalongkorn University launched a National Retirement Readiness Index (NRRI) for Thailand yesterday. The report revealed that Thai people are not financially ready for retirement. Most people are ready for retirement in…
-
Airbus A380 lands at Thailand’s Don Mueang Airport for the first time ever
An Airbus A380 aircraft landed on the runway at Bangkok’s Don Mueang International rt (DMK) for the first time ever yesterday. The Emirates flight was redirected to Bangkok’s smaller airport due to heavy rainfall disrupting the runway at Suvarnabhumi Airport. At 9.40pm, flight EK363 from Guangzhou in China descended on DMK after the runway became impassible at Suvarnabhumi International Airport,…
-
Shameless monk steals second-hand car in central Thailand
The Buddhist faith was clouded in yet another day of scandal when an alleged monk stole a car from a second-hand car dealer in the central province of Saraburi. There has been a seemingly endless number of monastic scandals over the past year in Thailand involving Buddhist monks being caught engaging in criminal acts in violation of their monastic vows from…
-
Heaviest rain in two decades pushes Bangkok’s canals to the brink
Bangkok’s heaviest rains in over two decades are pushing its canals to the brink. The downpours started Tuesday evening, overwhelming the canals. Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said Bang Khen district has reported 170 millimetres of rain since Tuesday, which has been the highest amount in 20 years. Klong Lat Phrao and Kong Prem Prachakon canals have seen water levels rising to…
-
AirAsia X disagrees with government’s proposed tourism fee
AirAsia X’s chief executive disagrees with the Thai government’s proposal of a tourism fee on flights. Tony Fernandes, the acting group chief executive of AirAsia X says, instead, that the government should bank on the influx of travellers as aiding the economy. He says the tourism fee would be a smaller impact on the economy than an increase in tourism.…
-
Court may pump brakes on PM’s tenure ruling
After a key document leaked to the public, Thailand’s Constitutional Court may be pumping the brakes on the prime minister’s tenure ruling. The special meeting today had some hoping that the speed of the ruling would change, but the secretary-general of the Office of the Constitutional Court, Chaowana Traimas, dispelled those rumours. Instead, he says the press briefing was called…
-
Central department stores to get facelift funding
The Central department stores, seen throughout Thailand and other countries, may be looking a lot less shabby as the retail giant has approved a 15 billion baht makeover for its stores. Central Department Store Co, under Central Retail Corporation, has approved the funding as part of its efforts to expand the retail business from 2023 to 2027. Oliver Bron, the…
-
-
Teenager stabs school bully after he made fun of his poverty
A 15 year old schoolboy in the northeastern province of Buriram stabbed one of his friends in the neck after he bullied him and made fun of his poor family. The teenager, named A, attacked his friend in the classroom of a school in the Pakam district of Buriram province last Friday, September 2. He launched at him stabbing him…
-
Thai man sits on roof for 2 days because his family won’t let him smoke marijuana
A disgruntled man in northeast Thailand climbed onto the roof when his family cut off his access to marijuana and stayed up there for two days. Yesterday evening, he got hungry and climbed down before being taken to hospital. The man’s wife said her 42 year old husband Kantaphi is a “weed addict,” so she took him from Bangkok to…
-
Mother to bury missing daughter found dead in central Thailand
A mother has been finally reunited with her dead daughter eight years after she disappeared in Lopburi in central Thailand. The 25 year old woman, Nong Air, went missing on February 14, 2014, and her whereabouts were unknown until this week. A police investigation failed to find the missing woman so her mother, Malee Phongjin, turned to the non-governmental organization Mirror…
-
Small hotels call for looser regulations to allow them to be legal
Hot on the heels of the Ministry of Interior proposing to loosen laws that would let small hotels operate more simply as homestays, a coalition of hotel associations is calling for a relaxation of building guidelines that have made 20,000 small hotels illegal. The group of 10 hotel and tourism associations submitted a letter on June 29 to the prime…
-
Drug-crazed Thai man murders 3 teens in cold blood in Krabi
In a horrific scene more fitting to a gangster movie, a Thai man high on drugs mowed down three teenagers and shot them dead in cold blood on Khao Panom-Tung Yai Road in Krabi. Witnesses revealed the man, high on methamphetamine, drove his BMW Series 525i black sedan car into the three teenagers travelling down the road on a motorcycle,…
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.