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?...
-
Rolling the dice: Thailand to legalise online gambling
In a landmark move, the Thai Cabinet approved amendments to ministerial regulations aimed at legalising online gambling, with changes expected to be completed within a month. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Economy and Society (DES) Prasert Chantararuangthong revealed the decision today, following discussions at the Cabinet meeting yesterday, January 13. The amendments, spearheaded by the Ministry of Digital…
-
Leicester City helicopter crash inquiry begins
A long-awaited inquiry has been launched into the crash of a Leonardo AW169 helicopter at Leicester City Football Club on October 27, 2018. The accident claimed the lives of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, Chairperson of King Power Group and Leicester City FC, along with two pilots and two others. The inquiry, led by Professor Catherine Mason at Leicester Town Hall, opened yesterday, January 13…
-
Sinful: Ex-nun claims reveal monk-key business at Isaan temple
A former Thai nun exposed the inappropriate behaviour of an abbot at Dan Phra In Temple in the Isaan province of Mukdahan, claiming the monk engaged in sexual activities with her for over seven years and gave her large sums of money donated by Buddhists. The former nun, Phorn, urged the news Facebook page เจ๊มอย v+ (J Moi V+) to…
-
Over 200,000 mule accounts targeted in scam gangs crackdown
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) launched an all-out crackdown on scam networks using over 200,000 mule bank accounts to siphon off approximately 100 billion baht from Thai citizens since 2022. The scale of the financial crimes has prompted an urgent collaboration between the RTP, the Bank of Thailand (BoT), and other agencies. At a high-level meeting yesterday, January 13, Police General…
-
Police raid reveals sim box scam in Bangkok apartment
Police in Region 1 raided an apartment in the Lat Phrao area, uncovering eight sim box devices used for scam calls to defraud victims out of millions. The apartment was rented by a foreign national. Efforts are underway to expand the investigation and make arrests. Police Major General Worachat Saenkham, commander of the Region 1 Investigation Division, along with other…
-
Thai tomboy assaulted by neighbour over loud noise in Pattaya
A Thai tomboy is seeking justice after a male neighbour allegedly threatened her with a knife and beat her with a baseball bat at an apartment in Pattaya last week, reportedly over loud noise. CCTV footage also captured the tomboy damaging her neighbour’s room. The altercation between the couple, Sirinapa and Kanokwan, and their neighbour, Tee, occurred at around 12.25am…
-
Phuket tourists smash wheel lock with rock, sparking outrage (video)
Foreign tourists in Phuket sparked a social media firestorm after blatantly disregarding Thai law by smashing a police wheel lock with a rock in broad daylight. The brazen act occurred outside a shopping mall on Rat Uthit 200 Pi Road in Patong today, January 14. A 23-second video of the incident was shared by the Phuket Newshawk Facebook page, captioned:…
-
Hat Yai gears up for Chinese New Year with parades and contests
Hat Yai is pulling out all the stops for a dazzling Chinese New Year celebration, promising a week of vibrant festivities from January 28 to February 2. This iconic festival, a highlight for Thailand’s Chinese community, will take over Srinakorn Foundation School with parades, dragon and lion dances, fireworks, and breathtaking lantern sculptures. The festival is packed with activities to…
-
Is it too late for Thailand’s dugongs?
Long ago, dugongs were hunted across Southeast Asia for their meat, tusks, and bones. In some regions, their body parts were thought to hold magical powers. Dugong tears, in particular, were said to bring good fortune or even love. But in Thailand, these gentle sea cows often inspired more reverence than harm. Along the Andaman coast, dugongs became symbols of love,…
-
Motorbike tragedy: Nigerian tourist killed in Phuket red-light crash
A Nigerian tourist tragically lost his life in Phuket yesterday, January 13 after running a red light at the Samkong Intersection in Ratsada subdistrict, Kathu district, and colliding with a speeding passenger van. The fatal accident, which occurred at 3.10pm has reignited public outrage over reckless driving and traffic violations in the province. Dashcam footage shared by Facebook user Chawalit…
-
Chinese woman accuses Thai police of 7 million baht extortion
A Chinese woman accused Thai police officers in Bangkok of extorting 7 million baht from her. However, several Thai nationals came forward to accuse the Chinese woman of operating an investment scam. The woman, identified only as Yujin, released a livestream video alleging corruption by officers at Prawet Police Station in Bangkok and urged her followers not to travel to…
-
PM Paetongtarn slams 4.4 billion baht asset allegations
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has come out swinging against allegations of falsifying her assets statement, branding the claims as baseless and politically motivated. The accusations stem from a report by the Isra News Agency, suggesting that she misrepresented a staggering 4.4 billion baht debt owed to close family members. “It’s a debt between me and my relatives,” the premier insisted…
-
Tuk tuk crashes into timber truck in Surat Thani, driver dies
A tragic accident occurred involving a tuk tuk and a parked timber truck yesterday in Mueang Surat Thani district. The collision resulted in the death of the tuk tuk driver and injuries to seven passengers, six of whom were seriously hurt. Police Lieutenant Thanongsilp Kayannoi from the Mueang Surat Thani Police Station received the report of the accident yesterday, January 13…
-
Bill Bensley holds 3-month art exhibition at MOCA Bangkok, Four Seasons Hotel
Celebrated architect, designer and artist Bill Bensley, will return to the Four Seasons Hotel’s Art Space by MOCA Bangkok with an extraordinary rotating art exhibition with three separate collections, between January 10 and April 20. Bensley’s latest collections, filled with works inspired by his travels across 11 countries since his last exhibition at the venue in 2023, are dedicated to…
-
Tragedy in Isaan: Century-old tree kills teen, injures another
A 100 year old sugar palm tree fell during recent strong winds and fell onto a passing motorcycle, killing a 15 year old Thai girl and leaving another with an amputated leg, on a road in the Isaan province of Maha Sarakham on Saturday, January 11. The incident occurred on a rural road in a community within the Kantharawichai district…
-
Pattaya panic: Turkish tourist tied, robbed in condo heist drama
A Turkish tourist was discovered bound and robbed in his Pattaya condo, sparking a major police investigation. In the early hours of today, January 14, the quiet corridors of the upscale condominium were disrupted as security staff stumbled upon 36 year old Masis Erkol, a Turkish national, in a dire state. Tethered with handcuffs and cable ties by a trio…
-
TrueMoney denies pre-installing app on mobile devices
TrueMoney recently addressed concerns following reports implicating the company in the pre-installation of its financial application on mobile phones. Ascend Money, which operates TrueMoney, clarified that the app is legally compliant and operates with the necessary business licences. TrueMoney holds an electronic payment service licence from the Bank of Thailand (BoT), while Ascend Nano is licenced for digital lending. The…
-
NBTC suspends OPPO and realme sales over data privacy breach
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) and the Office of the Personal Data Protection Committee (PDPC) have ordered the suspension of mobile phone sales by OPPO and realme due to the installation of loan applications without user consent. Both companies have until January 16 to explain, failing which they face fines of up to 3 million baht. Yesterday, January…
-
Elderly man found dead on Pattaya roadside due to hypothermia
An elderly man was found unconscious on a roadside in Pattaya and later died, potentially due to the cold weather conditions. The Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Centre was alerted to the incident in Soi Khao Talo on Sunday, January 12. Local police and rescue volunteers were dispatched to the scene. Upon their arrival, a large gathering of people was present…
-
Chulalongkorn University announces the ‘Future of Jobs 2025’
Chulalongkorn University President, Professor Doctor Wilert Puriwat, announced the findings from the Future of Jobs 2025 report. Chulalongkorn University is the only partner institution in Thailand to collaborate with the World Economic Forum (WEF) to propose a roadmap for coping with changes in the labour market over the 2025 to 2030 period. The report is based on a survey of…
-
Exciting meetup for language learners and educators in Bangkok
Join us at Euphoria Lounge, the esteemed bar/lounge at Royal Queen Seeds in Bangkok, tomorrow, January 15, for an engaging social gathering tailored for English teachers and language learning enthusiasts. The event promises a night of networking, insightful discussion, and a deep dive into the science of language learning. Event highlights: Networking opportunity: Connect with like-minded educators and language lovers…
-
Fatal crash on Bang Lamung road as SUV hits car
A tragic accident occurred yesterday when a car collided head-on with an SUV, resulting in severe damage to both vehicles and the death of one driver. The incident took place at 10.06pm yesterday, January 13, on Takhiantia-Khaomaikaew Road, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province. Emergency services from Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Centre in Pattaya received reports of a serious collision…
-
Pattaya man left homeless by mosquito coil fire (video)
A fire erupted at a makeshift residence in Pattaya due to a resident inadvertently leaving a mosquito coil burning. The same resident had previously caused a fire at the same location last year while smoking and handling gasoline. Pattaya police were alerted to a blaze at an unnumbered dwelling opposite the Pattaya Provincial Court on Thapphraya Road yesterday, January 13…
-
Tourist theft in Patong escalates to stabbing incident
A foreign tourist caused a disturbance in Patong early yesterday morning, January 13, following an alleged theft of headphones from a local shop and injuring a passerby who tried to assist. The incident took place around 1.30am at a shop on Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road, known for selling bags, headphones, and various items. Police Lieutenant Colonel Chanan Mekchai from the…
-
Something’s fishy: Farmers demand answers over blackchin tilapia spread
Approximately 150 farmers from 19 provinces assembled outside the Government House yesterday, January 13, to submit a letter to the government. They demanded the identification of those responsible for the spread of blackchin tilapia fish and requested support for the affected farmers. The letter, delivered by the group’s leader Panya Toktong to Pansak Charoen, a specialist at the Prime Minister’s…
-
Monk on knife and axe rampage wreaks havoc in Surin temple
Police in Buachet district, Surin province, responded to a report yesterday, January 13, of a monk wielding a knife and an axe, threatening locals at a temple in Ban Srae, Aphon subdistrict. The monk, 42 year old Kanatsak, was reportedly experiencing a mental health crisis. Upon arriving at the scene, police, along with the Aphon subdistrict emergency services and Buachet…
-
Cold snap in Thailand: Bangkok dips to 16 degrees Celsius
The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) forecast that Thailand, particularly the northern and northeastern regions, will experience cold to very cold weather, with Bangkok and its surrounding areas seeing temperatures drop to as low as 16 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, the south is facing rough sea conditions with waves exceeding 3 metres. As of today, January 14, the strong high-pressure system…
-
Former Thai inmate jailed for rape arrested for repeated assault
Police arrested a 64 year old former Thai inmate for the rape of a 70 year old woman in the southern province of Trang on Monday, January 6. The victim, 70 year old lady called Iad, filed a complaint with the Bang Khlong Teng Police Station following the assault, which occurred at 2pm on January 6 while she was on…
-
Thailand greenlights legal casinos to boost tourism and economy
In a game-changing move, the Thai Cabinet has given the nod to a draft bill that would legalise gambling and casinos, aiming to turbocharge tourism, job creation, and investment. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra announced the bold move today, January 13, heralding a new era for the country’s economy. Under the government’s ambitious plan, the legislation, soon to be debated in…
-
Foreign man pickpocketed at Bangkok shopping mall entrance (video)
Three thieves, reportedly foreign nationals, pickpocketed a foreign man at the entrance of a shopping mall in the Sukhumvit area of Bangkok this afternoon. Several news pages on Facebook shared a video showing the foreign victim searching for his stolen valuables in a black backpack outside the shopping mall, today, January 13. The mall is believed to be EmQuartier, located near…
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.