Thailand News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, and lifestyle—get breaking updates from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. Stay informed on Thai society, economy, tourism, and expat life with The Thaiger.
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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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Foreign man steals iPhone worth nearly 60,000 baht from Phuket shop
A foreign man remains at large after stealing an iPhone worth nearly 60,000 baht from a local shop near Chalong Intersection in Phuket. A Thai man took to social media in an attempt to track down the foreign thief who stole from his younger sister’s mobile phone shop near Chalong Intersection on Wednesday, February 5. He shared CCTV footage of the…
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South Thailand: Bomb attack injures four police officers in Pattani
A bomb attack occurred at the entrance of a village security post in Nong Chik district, Pattani province, injuring four police officers. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team is currently investigating the incident, which took place at 8am today, February 7. The attack was reported at the village security post located along the Don Yang-Hat Yai road. Initial reports confirm…
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Stable vision: Binance pushes for baht-backed crypto in Phuket
The Government of Thailand is being urged by Binance’s Thai branch to explore the development of stablecoins tethered to the baht, intended for use within the country and particularly within the proposed Phuket crypto sandbox. Unlike volatile digital assets such as Bitcoin, stablecoins are linked to fiat currencies, offering a more stable alternative. Nirun Fuwattananukul, CEO of Gulf Binance, explained…
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High-speed horror: American killed in fiery Pattaya crash
A late-night joyride ended in tragedy when an American motorcyclist lost control and crashed into trees on Thappraya Road, Pattaya, dying instantly. The Sawang Boriboon Rescue Centre received reports yesterday, February 6, at 4.36am of a fatal motorcycle accident near Soi Thappraya 9. Emergency responders arrived to find 53 year old Leo Williams, an American national, lying lifeless in a…
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Toddler mauled by vicious dog in Ranong, mother demands justice
A devastated mother is demanding justice after her three year old son was viciously attacked by a Bangkaew dog in the Kapoe district of Ranong, leaving him with a severe head injury. The shocking incident occurred on February 1 while little Thanawat Makmun was playing outside his home. Without warning, the dog, owned by local Pramote Sae-lo, lunged at the…
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Thai Airways’ big bet: 8 brand-new Airbus jets to boost fleet
Thai Airways is making a major move to modernise its fleet, signing a lease agreement for eight brand-new Airbus A321neo aircraft with Dublin-based SMBC Aviation Capital. The deal, confirmed on February 5, will see the cutting-edge jets delivered between 2026 and 2027 as part of the airline’s long-term expansion strategy. This latest addition comes just months after Thai Airways made…
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Thai MP with history of sexual assaults accused of raping Taiwanese woman
Police issued an arrest warrant for a Thai Progress Party MP for allegedly raping a Taiwanese woman at a hotel in Chiang Mai province on January 9. The Taiwanese woman filed a complaint against MP Chaiyamphawan “Puaut” Munpianjit at Mueang Chiang Mai Police Station following the incident, which took place at 2am on January 9. The alleged assault occurred at…
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Tiger dies in Suphan Buri park despite rescue efforts
A tiger, ensnared by a poacher’s trap in Phu Toei National Park, Suphan Buri, has died despite efforts to save it. The animal was discovered on January 8 and treated at Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Breeding Centre, Uthai Thani, until its death on February 3 at around 3pm. On February 4, specialised veterinarian Pimchanok Songmongkhon, along with wildlife conservation officials,…
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Icelandic man gets his face busted after falling into Pattaya drain
An Icelandic tourist suffered painful facial injuries after tumbling into an uncovered drainage hole on a hazardous Pattaya footpath—yet another grim reminder of the city’s crumbling infrastructure. The accident occurred around 1am yesterday, February 6 along Pattaya Second Road. The tourist, left bleeding from facial wounds, was treated at the scene by Sawang Boriboon Rescue Foundation before being rushed to…
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EV ferries set to recharge routes between Surat Thani-Koh Samui
Ferry services shuttling electric vehicles (EVs) between mainland Surat Thani and the idyllic shores of Koh Samui are set to resume on Tuesday, following a three-month hiatus prompted by safety concerns. Phutthapong Wimolphan, the Deputy Managing Director of Raja Ferry Port Plc, broke the news today, February 7, revealing that the company will offer this service twice a week, every…
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Korat inmate surrenders after hurting himself on prison barbed wire
A 25 year old inmate convicted of drug offences was apprehended after escaping from a correctional facility in Nakhon Ratchasima (also known as Korat). The escape, which occurred yesterday, February 6, involved climbing the prison wall and fleeing into a nearby community area. Prison officials in Nakhon Ratchasima alerted the local police about the escape, noting that the escapee, Kanpoj,…
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Scouting trouble: Russian woman nabbed after uniform theft in Phuket
Police arrested a Russian woman in Phuket after breaking into a local’s house and stealing a scout uniform before leaving. The homeowner took to social media to share details of the unusual theft with his followers. He posted a picture of a leopard-print shirt along with a caption that read… “Beware of a Russian woman walking around in a scout…
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Thailand video news | 4 Israeli tourists fined for chaos at Mae Hong Son hospital, Thailand regains title as Southeast Asia’s top tourist destination
In today’s Thailand video news, Alex and Jay cover top stories from Thailand and Southeast Asia. Thai police fined four Israeli tourists for disrupting a Mae Hong Son hospital, while Airports in Thailand faces backlash for proposing smoking rooms at Suvarnabhumi. Police uncovered a shocking case of mummified infant bodies linked to black magic, and an American-Thai couple lost 15.2…
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Winning tide: Pattaya beach rides wave of awards for beauty
Pattaya Beach often dominates the news for unsavory reasons but this week the famed holiday resort grabbed headlines for the right reasons by scooping up three prestigious awards, highlighting its stunning beauty and dedication to sustainable tourism. Recognised by top-tier organisations like the Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research and the Department of Tourism, Pattaya Beach is being lauded…
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Man found dead in Bangkok in wedding outfit
A 31 year old man was found dead in a room in the Khlong Sam Prawet district of Bangkok, with a wedding gown and farewell note beside him. The incident unfolded yesterday, February 6, when volunteers from the Poh Teck Tung Foundation received a report of a dead man in an unnamed residence on Kamnan Yen Villa Soi. The man,…
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Chinese man arrested for spray-painting pharmacy in Chiang Mai
Police yesterday arrested a Chinese man for spray-painting on the roller shutter doors of two pharmacies in the northern province of Chiang Mai. The pharmacist, who owns a shop on Bamrung Buri Road in Chiang Mai, caught the 33 year old Chinese man, He Ma, red-handed yesterday, February 6, while he was spray-painting the store’s roller shutter door. The pharmacist…
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Shore thing: Viral video shows Indian tourists sleeping on Pattaya Beach
A video circulating on Instagram showing what appears to be a mass takeover of Pattaya Beach by Indian tourists has set social media on fire. Shared with the not-so-subtle caption “Indian Tourists in Pattaya,” the clip reveals around 100 holidaymakers lounging on mats. Some are seen knocking back beers while surrounded by unsightly piles of litter. The footage has ignited…
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4 Israeli men arrested and deported after chaos at Pai Hospital
Immigration Bureau officers arrested and deported four Israeli men who caused chaos at Pai Hospital and within the community in the northern province of Mae Hong Son. The disruption at the hospital and in Pai district came to light after a medical team shared details of the incident on the Facebook page AggressiveDoctor. A doctor reported feeling exhausted and unsafe,…
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Anti-corruption body probes Khao Kradong land dispute
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has reported ongoing progress in its investigation into the land dispute between the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and the Department of Lands (DoL) involving approximately 5,000 rai in Buriram. However, the completion date for the investigation remains uncertain. Mongkol Srisawang, director of investigations for environment and natural resource-related cases at the NACC, stated that…
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Tariff-ied: Thai exporters brace for US trade heat
Thai exporters could soon find themselves in hot water, facing increased tariffs from the United States. The Government of Thailand might also be compelled to import more American goods to balance out its trade surplus, warns Burin Adulwattana, the Managing Director and Chief Economist at Kasikorn Research Centre (K-Research). Burin shared that K-Research hasn’t yet drilled down into the possible…
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Price hike strikes again: Inflation on a ten-month hot streak
Inflation in January has surged to 1.32%, continuing a relentless ten-month climb, with fuel, food, and beverage costs driving the increase. Poonpong Naiyanapakorn, Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO) chief, disclosed that the consumer price index has jumped by 1.32% compared to the same time last year. It’s the second consecutive month where inflation has breached the 1% mark. A…
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Bangkok braces for temperature drop as cold wave hits
The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) forecasts a significant new wave of cold air, causing temperatures to drop by up to 5 degrees Celsius (°C) in Bangkok, with strong winds expected. The mountaintops are expected to experience severe cold, and southern Thailand will see thunderstorms from today, February 7. In the next 24 hours, a high-pressure system or moderately strong…
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Thai and mighty: President Xi praises Thai PM for scam crack down
In a warm gesture of appreciation, Chinese President Xi Jinping hailed Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra for Thailand’s tough stance against scammers preying on Chinese nationals across the region. As the Land of Smiles seeks to revive its tourism industry post-Covid-19, China stands as a vital partner. Yet, new threats have emerged, with reports indicating that Chinese tourists are being…
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Thai man accidentally stabs New Zeland son-in-law in Buriram
A Thai man accidentally stabbed his New Zealand son-in-law at their shared home in the Isaan province of Buriram yesterday while attempting to attack his drug-addicted nephew. Officers from Prakhonchai Police Station investigated the stabbing at a house in the Ban Bordin community in Prakhonchai district, Buriram, yesterday afternoon, February 6. They found the 60 year old New Zealand man…
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Thai constitutional rewrite may require multiple referendums
Chousak Sirinil, deputy leader of the Pheu Thai Party, proposed yesterday that the government, opposition, and Senate whips collectively request a Constitutional Court decision regarding the number of referendums necessary for a constitutional rewrite. This proposal precedes Parliament’s first reading of multiple charter amendment bills, scheduled for February 13 to 14. Yesterday, the government, opposition, and Senate whips convened to…
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Thai Grab rider shocked after being booked to transport corpse at 53 baht
A Thai Grab motorcycle rider took to social media to share his experience of being booked for 53 baht to transport a corpse to a temple in Pathum Thani province near Bangkok. The Grab rider shared a screenshot of the booking and his conversation with the female passenger on a Facebook group for Grab drivers on Wednesday, February 5. The…
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Waste no time: Phuket fast-tracks trash tech near city centre
A ticking time bomb lurks in the heart of Phuket’s beautiful landscape but not one you would expect. Phuket City Municipality is racing against the clock to establish a state-of-the-art solid waste sorting facility at the waste disposal centre in Saphan Hin, a stone’s throw from bustling Phuket City centre. Deputy Mayor Suphachok La-ongphet revealed that by the end of…
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ex-Thai artist finds fame washing himself in the middle of the road (video)
A viral video showing a Thai man washing himself in the middle of a road in the Phra Khanong area of Bangkok has captivated onlookers, dubbing him as the “Phra Khanong sensation.” The man, identified as 43 year old Samphan, originally from the area, shared insights into his life and past experiences. Previously, he earned between 1,000 and 5,000 baht…
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Phuket ranks among top winter sun destinations – But is it worth it?
Phuket has been named the third-best winter sun destination in the world, according to travel and luggage experts Bounce. The ranking was based on temperature, rainfall, sea conditions, and sunshine hours, making the Thai island a top pick for sun-seekers escaping the winter chill. With a winter sun score of 6.24 out of 10, Phuket secured the third spot, trailing…
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Snake scare: 3-metre snake found in Samut Songkhram toilet
A large, 3-metre-long snake was discovered in a toilet at a residence in Samut Songkhram, prompting emergency services to intervene. The snake, identified as a large fish-eating snake, was stuck in the toilet due to its size. Fire department personnel from Samut Songkhram Municipality were alerted to the situation at house number 11/1, Village 6, and took prompt action. Upon…
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