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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Thai police deny plan to deport 48 Uyghur men to China
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) has refuted claims by human rights organisations that they are attempting to deport 48 Uyghur men to China. Since fleeing from China’s Xinjiang province in 2014, the group has reportedly been imprisoned, with 43 held at the Immigration Bureau headquarters and the remaining five in Thai prisons. Human Rights Watch has called on the Thai…
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Garbage truck tragedy in Ayutthaya leaves driver dead
In Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, a tragic accident occurred when a garbage truck rolled into a canal, fatally trapping the driver under its wheels. Emergency services had to employ a crane to retrieve both the vehicle and the man. Yesterday, January 21, Police Captain Bunchoed Chuedbaramee from Uthai Police Station, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province, was notified of a fatal…
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Thai government sets 50-day deadline for casino bill review
The government has tasked the Council of State with a 50-day deadline to complete the review of the entertainment complex bill before it proceeds to the House for consideration. It asserts that a referendum is unnecessary since the policy has already received parliamentary approval. Pakorn Nilprapunt, the secretary-general of the council, stated yesterday that the government has stressed the urgency…
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Teasure-hunting game Jagat sparks public distirbance in Thailand
Patrol and Special Operations Division police are monitoring players of the treasure-hunting game, Jagat, after reports of community disturbances caused by players searching for virtual coins to earn real-life cash. Jagat is gaining popularity, particularly in Thailand and Indonesia. The game was developed by Jagat Tech, founded by Barry Beagen and Loy Xing Zhe. The game operates on a model…
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Labour Ministry probes fake health certificates for migrant workers
Labour Ministry Permanent Secretary Boonsong Thapchaiyuth ordered an investigation into allegations of fake health certificates being sold to migrant workers, purportedly through connections with senior ministry officials. Boonsong emphasised that the ministry is taking these allegations seriously. He urged representatives and employers registering foreign workers to follow legal protocols, ensuring authentic health checks are conducted. Following these reports, Boonsong has…
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Driver killed as car crashes into electricity pole in Phetchaburi
A tragic accident occurred when a car veered off the road and crashed into an electricity pole, snapping it in two. The driver, a 59 year old man named Thanakorn, was killed instantly. The incident took place at 6.01pm yesterday, January 21, along Phetkasem Road in Don Khun Huai subdistrict, Cha-am district, Phetchaburi province. Police Lieutenant Suthat Majaeo, deputy inspector…
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State Welfare Card applications to open by March
Applications for the State Welfare Card will open by the end of March, with low-income and vulnerable groups invited to register. The registration follows two years after the last round, which took place from September 5 to October 31, 2022. Julapan Amornwiwat, Deputy Finance Minister, announced that the details of the new registration for the State Welfare Card this year…
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Thai actress accused of swindling 20 million baht and threatening victims
A news Facebook page claimed to have received complaints from three followers alleging that a Thai actress swindled them out of 20 million baht and used the name of a Thai politician to threaten them into remaining silent. The Facebook page, Big Kren, publicly reported the complaints it received from the three people yesterday, January 20. According to the page,…
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Thailand video news | Bangkok road rage incident turns fatal, Philippines arrests alleged Chinese spy
In today’s Thailand video news, Alex delivers gripping stories from across the nation. Highlights include a tragic road rage incident in Bangkok, a pitbull attack on a monk in Nonthaburi, and the arrest of a French student for explicit social media content. Viewers are also updated on Thailand’s hazardous air pollution crisis, a major theft in Nonthaburi, and debates over…
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Khon Kaen: 4 year old girl has close brush with child abductor
A warning has emerged in Khon Kaen regarding an alleged child abduction gang after a mother recounted an incident involving her four year old daughter nearly being taken by a stranger. Police have confirmed that no missing child cases have been reported. A Facebook user posted about a child abduction gang in action yesterday, January 21, claiming her daughter was…
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Family demands justice after cyclist’s death in Chiang Rai
A family is seeking accountability after a 33 year old coffee shop owner and award-winning barista, was fatally struck by a car while cycling with friends in Chiang Rai on October 9 last year. The driver was revealed to be a school director from Chiang Saen district, who has yet to take responsibility for the incident despite previous mediation attempts…
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Thai sedan driver arrested for intentionally hitting and killing motorcyclist
A Thai sedan car driver hit and killed an app-based motorcycle rider following a traffic dispute on Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok yesterday. Officers from Lumpini Police Station were alerted to the fatal accident on Sukhumvit Road in the afternoon. They arrived at the scene accompanied by rescuers from the Por Teck Tung Foundation. They discovered the lifeless body of 48…
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Five arrested in Bangkok drug bust, 1.65 tonnes of Ice seized
Police Lieutenant General Phanurat Lakboon, Secretary-General of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), announced the arrest of five individuals involved in cross-border drug trafficking. They were apprehended during a significant operation that led to the seizure of 1.65 tonnes of crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as Ice, which was hidden in 33 cotton rolls within a warehouse located in Bangkok’s Rat Burana…
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Teen girl escapes unwanted advances by boat driver in Ayutthaya
A 14 year old girl was sitting by the waterside with her friend when an unfamiliar boat driver approached, embraced her, and attempted to kiss her. He then insensitively asked, “Shall we go to a hotel? I’ll cover the room costs.” The incident, which took place today, January 20, at the pier in front of the former district office in…
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Sedan crashes into bus on road towards Jomtien Beach, 2 injured
A serious accident occurred on Thappraya Road in Pattaya when a sedan collided with a van and a bus, leaving two individuals injured. The Pattaya Rescue Centre was notified of the crash on the road heading towards Jomtien Beach at 7.36am yesterday, January 21. Emergency responders, accompanied by media representatives, promptly arrived at the scene. On arrival, a grey bronze…
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Police arrest man for trafficking 14 year old girl in Narathiwat
Police in Narathiwat have apprehended a 20 year old man involved in an online prostitution operation, where he allegedly arranged for a 14 year old girl to meet clients at a resort, taking a 500 baht commission per encounter. The arrest occurred yesterday, January 21. Police Colonel Songklot Krikkritaya, the acting commander of the Anti-Human Trafficking Division, instructed Police Colonel…
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Chiang Rai teens arrested for illegal money transfers
In Chiang Rai, five teenagers were arrested for illegal activities involving mule accounts, unauthorised SIM cards, and unlawful money transfers. The arrests were made at 4.30pm yesterday, January 20, when an investigative police unit from Mueang Chiang Rai police station, led by Police Colonel Manop Senakul, detained the group. The team, also comprising Police Colonel Santi Kongsamak, Police Colonel Phiphat…
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Thailand updates family registration for equal marriage rights
A new regulation by the Ministry of Interior regarding family registration was published in the Royal Gazette on Monday, January 20, aligning it with the equal marriage bill set to be enacted tomorrow, January 23. The Ministry of Interior Regulation on Family Registration (No.4) 2025 is designed to accommodate same-gender families, including those engaged or married, as explained by deputy…
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Hospital admits infant body swap due to name, age similarities
The Department of Medical Services has addressed the issue of a hospital mistakenly swapping two infants’ bodies, acknowledging the error occurred due to similarities in the children’s names and ages, as well as their passing occurring close together. Yesterday, January 21, the Department of Medical Services issued a statement through the Pathology Institute explaining the incident. The institute clarified that…
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Thailand assures China on tourist safety amid rising arrivals
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra plans to personally assure Chinese President Xi Jinping of the safety measures in place for Chinese tourists during her visit to China next month, according to Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong. Thailand aims to attract 9 million Chinese tourists this year, marking a 35% increase from last year’s figure of 6.7 million. Sorawong stated that…
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Toxic air: Thailand considers work from home nationwide
The Ministry of Public Health is set to recommend a nationwide work from home directive next week after PM2.5 ultrafine dust pollution surpassed safe thresholds in nearly every province yesterday, January 21, with Greater Bangkok experiencing the highest levels. Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin announced that a meeting would be held today to formulate strategies to address the escalating pollution…
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Deadly crash in Bangkok’s Chatuchak leaves two women dead
A tragic accident occurred in the Chatuchak district of Bangkok early today, January 22, when a Mercedes-Benz CLS 220d collided with a motorcycle, resulting in the deaths of two women. The incident was reported to the Phaholyothin Police Station at 5am, following which police and volunteers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation arrived at the scene for investigation. The accident took place…
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48 Rohingya migrants found in Phuket and Phang Nga
A group of 48 migrants, consisting of 19 men and 29 women, was taken into safe custody after being found walking along roads in northern Phuket and in Tha Nun, Phang Nga province, early yesterday, January 21. The group is believed to have travelled by boat from Bangladesh or Myanmar. Tha Chatchai police at the northern tip of Phuket were…
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Thailand braces for cold mornings and air pollution alert
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has forecasted that the cool air mass will continue to blanket the region, leading to cold mornings and frost on mountain peaks. The south will experience rain, and there is a warning for increased air pollution. Today, January 21, the high-pressure system or cool air mass persists over upper Thailand and the South China Sea,…
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MK Group goes MongKol: Thai hotpot chain’s CNY rebrand
In a sizzling marketing twist, Thailand’s leading Suki restaurant chain, MK Group, embraces the cultural phenomenon of “muketing” by rebranding four Bangkok branches to “MongKol” restaurants just in time for Chinese New Year. Muketing, a fusion of marketing and the Thai term mutelu (beliefs and superstitions), integrates lucky symbols, colours, and auspicious timings into business strategies. MK Group’s new MongKol branding,…
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Treasure game chaos: Chiang Mai teens warned to stay out
Chiang Mai police issued a stern warning to teenagers playing the Jagat Coin treasure-hunting game after reports of property damage and safety risks surfaced. The popular app, developed in Indonesia, has caused disturbances in the northern province, prompting law enforcement to caution players against trespassing on private property. The warning was posted on the Chiang Mai Police Facebook page after…
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Philippines and Thailand forge tourism pact amid casino buzz
In a landmark move to bolster tourism and cross-border collaboration, the Philippines and Thailand inked a five-year deal focusing on mutual growth in the travel and hospitality sectors. The agreement, signed on Sunday, January 19 also hints at Thailand’s potential legalisation of casinos: a game-changing development for its tourism landscape. The Philippines, a regional leader in the casino industry with…
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2 Canadian men found supplying drugs to Phuket music festival goers
Phuket police officers discovered that the two Canadian men, who fled a police checkpoint claiming to escape from a physical assault, had been offering drugs to partygoers at the Electric Daisy Carnival Thailand 2025 (EDC Thailand 2025) music festival. Officers from Karon Police Station stopped the two Canadian men, travelling in a black Ford Raptor pickup, on Patak Road on…
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Burglar captured on CCTV breaking into Samut Prakan clinic (video)
A TikTok user, @doctor_on_thegreen, shared CCTV footage revealing a burglary at their clinic. The incident occurred on January 6 at approximately 9.04pm when a man, concealing his face with a black cap, broke into the clinic using a metal bar. Despite the clinic being located on the busy Srinakarin Road and well-lit inside and out, the assailant showed no concern…
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Three million Thai elderly to receive 10,000 baht cash handout
Approximately three million elderly people are set to receive 10,000 baht (US$293) each as part of the second phase of the government’s cash handout initiative, according to Deputy Finance Minister Paopoom Rojanasakul. Paopoom indicated that a recent review identified 3.04 million elderly people 60 years old and over as eligible for the scheme. However, it is estimated that around 20,000…
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