News

Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. The Thaiger delivers the latest national news that matters.

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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?...

  • Chinese man treks 2,000 km to play prayer on speaker at Buddha statue

    Chinese man treks 2,000 km to play prayer on speaker at Buddha statue

    A 27 year old Chinese man embarked on a 2,000-kilometre journey to make his dreams a reality by visiting a giant Buddha statue carrying a large Airpod-shaped speaker to amplify his prayers to the deity. The man, named Zhang, posted a video on social media on April 25, showing him holding the large speaker next to the ear of the…

  • Elderly woman with horn-like growth on head sparks debate about ‘longevity symbol’

    Elderly woman with horn-like growth on head sparks debate about ‘longevity symbol’

    A video of an elderly Chinese woman with a horn-like growth on her head sparked a debate over the so-called “longevity symbol.” A video of a 107 year old woman from Guangdong province, China, has become the talk of the town after it was revealed that she has a horn-like growth on her head. Netizens have commented on the video,…

  • Thai villagers plan lottery numbers based on unusual ‘fog-coloured’ calf

    Thai villagers plan lottery numbers based on unusual ‘fog-coloured’ calf

    Thai villagers flocked to see an unusual “fog-coloured” calf after a cow gave birth to the beautiful grey and unique-looking offspring. Locals believe the calf brings good fortune and are eager to find auspicious lottery numbers for the upcoming draw on May 16. Yesterday, Sanook reporters were informed by the residents of Kud Thong, in the northeast Surin Province, that…

  • Pattaya and eastern region weather: Hot with haze and isolated thundershowers

    Pattaya and eastern region weather: Hot with haze and isolated thundershowers

    In the coming days, Pattaya and Thailand’s eastern region are expected to experience hot weather with haze and occasional thundershowers. In various areas, very hot conditions are predicted, with thundershowers likely to occur in Prachinburi, Chanthaburi, Chon Buri (Pattaya), and Trat. Residents can expect minimum temperatures of 26 to 30 degrees Celsius and maximum temperatures of 35-40°C. Southwesterly winds of…

  • American man wakes up to find hotel manager sucking his toes

    American man wakes up to find hotel manager sucking his toes

    An American man suffered a shocking experience while staying at a hotel in Nashville, Tennessee, when he awoke to find the hotel manager sucking his toes. The bizarre incident occurred on March 30. The man recounted how he had checked into the hotel alone and went to bed early, only to wake up feeling an unusual sensation on his feet.…

  • Homeless teen attacks and injures homeless man in Pattaya

    Homeless teen attacks and injures homeless man in Pattaya

    A homeless teenager attacked and injured a homeless man in Pattaya on Friday. Emergency responders arrived at the scene near an abandoned house on Soi Thep Prasit 17 in the Nong Prue sub-district of Bang Lamung district. There, they found the injured homeless man, believed to be around 50 years old, bleeding heavily from four severe wounds on his shoulder…

  • Netizens show no sympathy for couple who crash after kissing on motorcycle (video)

    Netizens show no sympathy for couple who crash after kissing on motorcycle (video)

    Netizens are showing no sympathy for a Chinese couple who crashed after kissing on a motorcycle. A video released by the police in Weinan, Shaanxi province of China, sparked an online debate after it showed a couple involved in an accident after kissing on a motorcycle. The incident took place late at night on April 21. The footage captured the…

  • Over 800,000 registered for early voting in Bangkok

    Over 800,000 registered for early voting in Bangkok

    Over 800,000 individuals have registered for early voting in Bangkok, and authorities are taking security seriously. Nearly 3,000 security officers deployed to maintain order, Bangkok Post reported. A deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB), Pol. Maj. Gen. Jirasant Kaewsaeng-ek, stated yesterday that security measures are in place for today’s voting. A total of 1,421 polling stations have been…

  • Chiang Mai cafe encounters issue with production team of drama series

    Chiang Mai cafe encounters issue with production team of drama series

    A well-known Chiang Mai café refused a request for a popular drama series production team to film on their premises, urging respect for businesses that have high costs and investments. A social media user claimed that a renowned Chiang Mai café was approached by a drama series production team seeking permission to film at their establishment with 9 to 10 crew…

  • Sudan army and Rapid Support Forces set to hold talks in Jeddah

    Sudan army and Rapid Support Forces set to hold talks in Jeddah

    The governments of the US and Saudi Arabia have announced that direct talks between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are set to commence in Jeddah. However, the ongoing conflict in Sudan’s capital shows no sign of subsiding. In a joint statement, both nations encouraged continued international support to end the fighting, urging both parties to prioritise…

  • Hong Kong sees almost double fatal and severe Covid-19 cases in a week

    Hong Kong sees almost double fatal and severe Covid-19 cases in a week

    The number of fatal and severe Covid-19 cases in Hong Kong saw a significant increase last week, nearly double the amount of the previous week, according to health authorities. Despite the rise, experts emphasised that the death rate remains small when compared to the potential daily number of infections. The news coincided with the death of a 13 year old…

  • Thai company expects more cement consumption due to tourism

    Thai company expects more cement consumption due to tourism

    SCG Cement-Building Materials, a subsidiary of Thailand’s Siam Cement Group, anticipates cement consumption to grow by 1-2% year-on-year, exceeding 30 million tonnes in the current year. This growth is primarily due to the recovery of the tourism sector. Having developed a “hybrid structural cement” that reduces carbon dioxide emissions during production, the company demonstrates its commitment to battling climate change.…

  • Vietnamese man allegedly impersonated Thai citizen and forged land documents

    Vietnamese man allegedly impersonated Thai citizen and forged land documents

    A Vietnamese man impersonating a Thai citizen was arrested for allegedly forging land documents before attempting to sell them on the market. Numerous villagers throughout the northeastern provinces have reportedly suffered losses as a result of his fraudulent activities. Police, along with a special task force, apprehended the 55 year old suspect known as Kittinan, who was wanted by an…

  • Princes Harry and Andrew to attend coronation without formal roles

    Princes Harry and Andrew to attend coronation without formal roles

    In the latest development on the British royal coronation, Prince Harry and Prince Andrew will both attend King Charles III’s coronation today, but will take no formal part in the ceremonies, reflecting their ostracisation from the royal family. Harry and his wife Meghan left their royal duties behind in 2020 and have since aired their grievances with the monarchy publicly.…

  • Thai rescue volunteer mourns his 4-day old son’s burial

    Thai rescue volunteer mourns his 4-day old son’s burial

    A 20 year old Thai rescue volunteer, Witwattanachan Chanthasri, faced a heartbreaking tragedy when he had to perform the burial of his four-day old son recently. Witwattanachan, who works as a rescue volunteer for the Buriram Provincial Highway Police, is known for his dedication to helping others in need. He often transports patients and deals with a variety of emergencies.…

  • Hotel warns of pretty woman who dodges room fees, leaves mess and bloodstains

    Hotel warns of pretty woman who dodges room fees, leaves mess and bloodstains

    A hotel owner in Udon Thani province has posted a warning for other hotel operators about a pretty 25 year old woman who has not only avoided paying her hotel bill but also left her room in a miserable state. The owner claims that upon inspection, the room was found to be unclean and damaged to such an extent that…

  • Two storms to hit Thailand affecting Election Day, warns disaster centre

    Two storms to hit Thailand affecting Election Day, warns disaster centre

    Rangsit University’s Climate Change and Disaster Centre expects two storms are set to hit Thailand next week, with potential impacts on General Election Day, May 14. The centre’s director, Seri Suparatit, revealed in a Facebook post yesterday that two storms – one originating in the Indian Ocean and the other in the South China Sea – are moving towards Thailand.…

  • Pattaya mayor defends delayed drainage pipe project

    Pattaya mayor defends delayed drainage pipe project

    After facing complaints from some residents, Pattaya Mayor Poramet Ngampichet defended the delayed drainage pipe project under the railway parallel road. However, the mayor delivered disappointing news regarding its completion at a public forum held on May 3 in the Chumsai Community. The forum provided residents with the opportunity to voice their concerns and complaints about the city’s infrastructure and…

  • Prominent Pattaya hotelier urges next Thai government to extend tourism-subsidy scheme

    Prominent Pattaya hotelier urges next Thai government to extend tourism-subsidy scheme

    A prominent Pattaya hotelier has urged the next Thai government to extend its tourism-subsidy scheme to promote domestic travel. Yuwathida Jeerapat, managing director for J Pattaya Hotel Group, expressed confidence that the “We Travel Together” programme, launched in 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic, has positively impacted domestic tourism. The latest round of funding, referred to as “We Travel Together’s fifth…

  • Philippine president clarifies use of military bases granted to US

    Philippine president clarifies use of military bases granted to US

    Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr emphasised on Thursday that the additional military bases in his country, recently granted to United States access, will not be utilised to target China or any other nation. Marcos spoke at a think-tank event and responded with a simple “no” when questioned if the United States had requested his government contribute troops for combat operations…

  • Husband caught holidaying with mistress on livestream by shocked wife during Labour Day

    Husband caught holidaying with mistress on livestream by shocked wife during Labour Day

    One married woman got an unwelcome surprise while she was staying home during the Labour Day holiday to take care of her children – she discovered her husband on holiday with his mistress on a livestream. The unexpected revelation occurred in China when the woman was at home attending to her children. Feeling bored, she spent her time engaging in…

  • Cobra spits venom into Disaster Prevention officer’s eyes in northeast Thailand (clip)

    Cobra spits venom into Disaster Prevention officer’s eyes in northeast Thailand (clip)

    A Siamese spitting cobra spat venom into the eyes of a Disaster Prevention officer in Nakhon Ratchasima province in northeast Thailand yesterday. Rescue officers responded quickly and managed to save his life and eyesight. At 7.40pm, the Hook 31 Rescue Unit was informed that someone was spat at by a cobra at Ban Tanot Village, Moo 2, Ban Pho subdistrict,…

  • Felicity: A museum at the centre of the world

    Felicity: A museum at the centre of the world

    In the heart of California’s Sonora Desert lies the unique town of Felicity, founded by the 94 year old visionary, Jacques Andre Istel. This enigmatic location is home to an ambitious project: a museum of human history that continues to expand, aiming to encompass the entirety of documented humanity. What began in 1986 with two small houses has grown to…

  • Indonesia’s efforts to kick-start peace process in Myanmar

    Indonesia’s efforts to kick-start peace process in Myanmar

    Indonesia has been discreetly engaging with Myanmar’s pro-democracy shadow government, the ruling junta, and ethnic minority armies for several months, according to Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi. As this year’s chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Indonesia aims to kick-start a peace process and reduce violence in the region. In an interview, Marsudi revealed Indonesia’s behind-the-scenes efforts to…

  • Charles III’s coronation: A mix of tradition, modernity and controversy

    Charles III’s coronation: A mix of tradition, modernity and controversy

    In a moment of historic splendour, Britain is set to witness its first coronation in 70 years as the nation prepares to crown King Charles III at Westminster Abbey on Saturday. This religious confirmation follows the passing of Queen Elizabeth II last September, and besides crowning Charles, the ceremony will also crown his second wife, Camilla, as queen. Although many…

  • Increase in fresh fruit exports to China expected due to improved land transport flow

    Increase in fresh fruit exports to China expected due to improved land transport flow

    Exports of fresh fruit to China are expected to surge by at least 10% this year, thanks to improved land transport flow and better cross-border trade facilitation. Commerce Permanent Secretary Keerati Rushchano revealed that land border transportation for fresh fruit is predicted to rise significantly in the coming months, with durian making up about 80-90% of the transported produce. Fresh…

  • Philippine annual inflation on track for government target as food prices ease

    Philippine annual inflation on track for government target as food prices ease

    Philippine yearly inflation is predicted to remain within the government’s 2% to 4% target range in Q4, following a decrease in April due to reduced food prices. The consumer price index increased by 6.6% YoY in April, the lowest rate since August, and lower than the 7.0% predicted in a Reuters poll. As a result, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas…

  • 20,000 tourists flock to Thailand’s Full Moon Party

    20,000 tourists flock to Thailand’s Full Moon Party

    Around 20,000 tourists flocked to Thailand’s Full Moon Party on the island of Koh Pha Ngan last night, located in the southern Surat Thani province. The popular event, held on the full moon night of each month, is known for its lively atmosphere and attracts a significant number of young travellers from around the world. To ensure the safety of…

  • Turtle nest discovered on Koh Phra Thong beach, Phang Nga

    Turtle nest discovered on Koh Phra Thong beach, Phang Nga

    The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) Region 6 office in Thailand has reported the discovery of a turtle nest on Koh Phra Thong island, located off the coast of Kuraburi District in Phang Nga province. Yesterday, a team of DMCR officials, along with a village chief assistant from Moo 3 Baan Koh Ra, inspected the turtle nest situated…

  • SAS to launch direct Copenhagen – Bangkok flights

    SAS to launch direct Copenhagen – Bangkok flights

    Danish flag carrier SAS Scandinavian Airlines will launch a direct route between Copenhagen in Denmark and Bangkok in Thailand in October this year to meet increasing demand, the airline announced on Tuesday. SAS first opened a route from Copenhagen to Bangkok way back in 1949, which was discontinued in 2014. Bangkok was SAS’s first-ever destination in East Asia. The relaunched…