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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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?...
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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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Udder chaos: Family car ploughs into herd on Buriram road
A family car collided with a herd of cattle on Road 24 in Buriram province, resulting in the deaths of four cows and significant damage to the vehicle. The crash occurred today, March 18, at around 3am, just 500 metres beyond the Prakhon Chai highway maintenance unit, on the route leading to Nang Rong district. Upon receiving the report, Police…
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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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YouTuber exposes Phuket’s shocking slum conditions (video)
A YouTuber has caused a storm online with his latest video, The Other Side of Phuket, which takes viewers behind the glossy tourist façade to one of the island’s largest slums. In the video, popular YouTuber Ride with Gabi contrasts Phuket’s global fame for its stunning beaches and lively nightlife with the stark reality of its poverty-stricken communities. The video…
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Bangkok bus driver fined 2,000 baht after blind passenger falls (video)
The Department of Land Transport has fined a bus driver 2,000 baht after an incident where a blind passenger and their guide fell from a bus as they attempted to board through the rear door. The driver stated he was focusing on traffic to the right and did not notice passengers boarding. The Department of Land Transport yesterday, March 17,…
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Thailand video news | Thailand cuts visa-free stay to 30 days, Bribery scandal in Malaysia’s citizenship scheme
In today’s Thailand video news, Alex and Jay bring you the latest updates from Thailand and Southeast Asia. Thailand is cutting its visa-free stay to 30 days to curb illegal business activities, while uncertainty looms over expat taxation as the 2024 deadline approaches. In Korat, a German man’s violent outbursts at dental clinics have sparked fear, and in Songkhla, a…
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Fatal shooting mars Udon Thani village festival amid youth clash
A tragic incident unfolded in Udon Thani’s Chai Wan district when a 31 year old man was fatally shot amidst a village festival dispute. Police were alerted to the shooting yesterday, March 17, which occurred in the vegetable garden behind a house in Phon Sung subdistrict, and promptly investigated the scene with Police Colonel Ratpholchai Pensongkhram. Narinthorn “Sek” Thongjuea was found…
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Jet fuel spill in Khon Kaen prompts emergency response
A collision involving an 18-wheel truck and a truck carrying 48,000 litres of jet fuel occurred in Khon Kaen province. Emergency services yesterday, March 17, worked to transfer the highly flammable fuel, which is three times more volatile than petrol, to prevent any ignition. The incident took place on a bypass road in Khon Kaen’s Mueang district, specifically between Ban…
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Vape and escape: Pattaya police snuff out illicit puff trade
In a bold move to clamp down on the illegal vape trade, Pattaya City Police arrested three in a late-night sting operation. The raid resulted in the confiscation of seven fruit-flavoured vapes and the arrest of the suspects for illegally selling electronic cigarettes. At around 11.36pm, yesterday, March 17, the police launched the operation after gathering intelligence about a group…
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Truck driver shot in Chon Buri road rage incident
A trailer truck driver was shot in the arm after a terrifying encounter with another vehicle. The incident occurred at 4pm, yesterday, March 17, in Chon Buri’s Phanat Nikhom district. The police were alerted to the shooting near Pho Tak intersection in Namatuem subdistrict. Upon arrival, they found a white and blue Isuzu truck with bullet holes in its windshield…
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British pedophile’s 27-year run in Thailand ends (video)
A notorious British paedophile, who evaded capture for nearly three decades by living under a stolen identity in Thailand, has finally been brought to justice. Richard Burrows, faced Chester Crown Court and was found guilty of a staggering 54 offences against young boys, marking the end of one of the UK’s longest-running manhunts. The shocking extent of Burrows’ crimes was…
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Breath of trouble: Drunk Thai asthmatic attacks hospital staff
A drunk Thai man with asthma attacked three medical workers at a hospital in the Isaan province of Udon Thani, claiming he was simply afraid of dying from medical devices. Pictures and videos showing a Thai patient attacking medical workers at Nong Han Hospital in Udon Thani circulated on Thai social media yesterday, March 17. Three medical workers were injured…
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Severe hailstorm in Ratchaburi damages homes and crops
A severe summer storm in Ratchaburi, accompanied by a hailstorm, has caused extensive damage to homes and agriculture, affecting around 200 households and 50 rai of crops. The storm struck the Kaem On subdistrict in Chom Bueng district on Sunday, March 16, toppling trees and causing major power outages. Local officials, including Chom Bueng’s district officer, Taweesin Songcharoen, and Kaem…
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Thailand considers raising pension age to 65, SSO clarifies
The Social Security Office (SSO) has clarified that the proposed increase in the retirement age for pension eligibility from 55 to 65 is a suggestion from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and is not yet implemented in Thailand. SSO Secretary General Marasri Jairangsee indicated that this idea, initially presented by the ILO, has been under consideration by the SSO since…
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Iranian tasered after trying to stab Phuket hotel workers with syringe
Thai police officers used a stun gun to subdue an Iranian man who went on a rampage yesterday at a hotel in the Karon area of Phuket and attempted to stab hotel workers with a syringe. Officers from Karon Police Station were alerted to the foreign man’s rampage at 6.11pm yesterday, March 17, and rushed to the scene. The suspect…
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Thailand halves visa-free stay to curb illegal business activities
Thailand plans to shorten the visa-free stay period from 60 to 30 days to mitigate the misuse of the visa exemption programme by illegal businesses. This decision follows a principle agreement among relevant government officials, as reported by the Tourism and Sports Ministry. Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong indicated that the Foreign Ministry has acknowledged the issue, which has…
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Bangkok road sweeper gains fame as model after portrait by Russian man
A Thai road sweeper went viral on social media after a Russian photographer shared her portrait from a street photoshoot in Bangkok’s Chinatown on his TikTok account on Friday, March 14. The Russian photographer, Semyon Rezchikov, typically shares videos of himself taking portraits of people he meets on the street in each country he visits. The video shows the reaction…
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Thai and mighty: Thunderstorms roll in with a chilly twist
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) warns of thunderstorms across 28 provinces from today, including Bangkok, with strong winds and hail expected in some areas. Temperatures are predicted to drop by up to 3 degrees Celsius. The weather forecast for the next 24 hours indicates thunderstorms, strong winds, and possible hail in the northern, central, and southern upper regions of Thailand,…
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Police colonel caught with cheat sheet in Thai judicial exam
A police colonel was reportedly caught bringing a cheat sheet into a judicial examination room, as confirmed by the Administrative Court, who assured that no examination leak occurred. The incident, highlighted by the social media page Big Krian, happened on March 15. The Administrative Court’s office issued a statement today, March 17, addressing the situation where an exam candidate brought…
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Thai tomboy breaks up with girlfriend for refusing to back false assault
A Thai tomboy broke up with her girlfriend last night after the woman refused to support her false claim of physical assault at an entertainment venue in Samut Prakan province near Bangkok. Officers from Bangpu Police Station and rescuers from the Ruam Kusol Samut Prakan Foundation were alerted to a physical assault at a bar in Soi Bang Lam Phee…
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Volunteer escapes car bomb attack in Pattani, vehicle damaged
A female territorial defence volunteer today narrowly escaped a car bombing in Pattani province. The explosion severely damaged her vehicle, which caught fire. Emergency services responded promptly to assist at the scene. At 10am, today, March 17, the incident occurred in Mueang district’s Moo 2, Ban Cho Kapo, Karubi subdistrict. The volunteer, Suriyanee, was en route to work from her residence…
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Thai woman loses hand after shirt caught in motorcycle wheel
A Thai woman lost her left hand at the weekend after her shirt was caught by the wheel of a motorcycle while travelling on a road in the southern province of Songkhla. CCTV footage of the motorcycle accident circulated on Thai social media platforms after it occurred on Saturday, March 15. The video showed the victim, 55 year old Sudarat…
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Race against crime: Phuket police crack down on illegal street racers
Police in Wichit stepped up their campaign against illegal motorcycle racing, confiscating 22 motorcycles and arresting 10 young people in a focused operation addressing reckless riding. The action occurred on Saturday, March 15, as Wichit officers concentrated on key areas within Mueang district. Starting at 9pm, a team led by Wichit Police Chief Police Colonel Somsak Thongkliang, together with other…
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Nakhon Pathom police seize 50 million baht meth pills haul
Thai police announced the arrest of two men involved in the trafficking of over two million methamphetamine pills in Nakhon Pathom, Region 7. The drugs, hidden in a pickup truck, were being transported to Samut Sakhon, with the suspects reportedly paid 70,000 baht (US$2,080) each. The operation, valued at over 50 million baht (US$1.48 million), is under continued investigation to…
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Slapstick: Foreign man, ladyboy clash in Pattaya showdown (video)
A dispute over a motorcycle in the early hours of this morning spiralled into a fiery face-off between a foreign man and a ladyboy on the vibrant streets of Pattaya. The foreigner found himself on the receiving end of a stinging slap from a ladyboy, sparking a call for order in the bustling seaside resort. The altercation erupted at 1am,…
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Thai woman alleges black magic after ex-colleague’s strange rituals
A woman turned to a social media page for help after accusing a former colleague of using black magic against her. The black magic dabbling colleague alleged Bow stole her boyfriend, despite never meeting him. The incident occurred yesterday, March 16, at the office of the Sai Mai Must Survive page. Bow, a 28 year old woman from the Sukhapiban…
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Man shoots temple disciple in Pathum Thani, claims self-defence
An altercation in Pathum Thani led to gunshots when a man opened fire and injured a temple disciple, claiming self-defence. Eyewitnesses shared that the pair had an ongoing dispute for quite some time leading up to the near-deadly confrontation. Yesterday, March 16, officers from Pak Khlong Rangsit Police Station in Pathum Thani responded to reports of a shooting in front…
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Bite club: German man sinks teeth into Korat dentist, sparks panic
A chilling wave of panic has swept through dental clinics in Korat after a German man sunk his teeth into a female dentist in a frenzied attack. The Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Dental Association is desperately urging the police to collar this foreign menace. Dentist Wivat Chatwongwan, representing the worried local dental community, today, March 17, escorted victims to Mueang Nakhon…
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Baht luck: German and Indian tourists pickpocketed in Pattaya
A German man yesterday lost about 6,000 baht in cash while an Indian man lost over 13,000 baht in a pickpocketing incident in Pattaya. The 67 year old German victim, Manfred Frey, along with his Thai wife and his friend, visited Mueang Pattaya Police Station yesterday, March 16, to report the theft. He stated that he was pickpocketed outside a…
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