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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Thailand’s new housing project targets lower income families
Lower-income Thai citizens will soon have access to an affordable housing project through the Homes for Thais initiative, which offers accommodation on state-owned land without requiring down payments. The programme instead implements a monthly rental system. The Transport Ministry will present the project details to Cabinet today, January 13. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will launch the initiative on Friday, January…
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DoE warns against illegal job agencies after 10 million baht scam
The Department of Employment (DoE) has advised those seeking overseas employment to verify agencies with the DoE to prevent falling prey to illegal operators. This caution comes after 50 individuals from Nakhon Ratchasima reported to the Anti-Human Trafficking Division (ATPD) that they were swindled out of 10 million baht by agents promising jobs in South Korea. Yesterday, January 12, DoE…
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Rice to the occasion: Commerce Ministry fast-tracks SME trade talks
The Commerce Ministry is moving to accelerate the liberalisation of rice trade, with a meeting planned for January 17. This session aims to finalise strategies to assist small enterprises in becoming rice exporters, targeting concrete outcomes in the first quarter of the year. During a meeting on January 10 to discuss pressing policies, Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan instructed all departments…
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Frost warning: Phetchabun chills hit a cool -3 Celsius
In Nam Nao district, Phetchabun province, temperatures have dropped to a chilling -3 degrees Celsius, with frost covering the ground and car rooftops. In 2023, the temperature reached a record low of -5 degrees Celsius. The provincial governor urged close monitoring of the situation. A Facebook user reported that today, January 13, they awoke at 4am to find the temperature…
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Bomb blast near TK Park Pattani injures six officers
A bomb explosion occurred in a side alley near TK Park, central Pattani, injuring six volunteer officers. The incident happened at 8am today, January 13, just 20 metres from the Mueang Pattani Police Station. The assailants had hidden the explosive device in a vehicle parked in front of a row of shophouses, causing damage to nearby buildings. Residents expressed alarm…
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Protesters accuse Thai govt of favouring Thaksin in hospital stay
A group of protesters plans to submit a letter to the government, criticising it for allegedly granting former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra special treatment at Police General Hospital last year. Thaksin, who was meant to be serving a prison sentence for abuse of power, was reportedly allowed to remain in hospital instead, according to former red shirt leader, 58 year…
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Honda CR-V crash causes power outage in eastern Thailand
A Honda CR-V collided with electricity poles, causing three to fall and damage a car, resulting in a widespread power outage. The driver is missing. The incident occurred at 9pm yesterday, January 12, when Police Lieutenant Colonel Nopadon Thaweecharat from Bang Pakong district, Chachoengsao province, was informed of the accident in front of Grand Village on Sukhumvit Road, heading towards…
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Forest fires in Pak Chong extinguished after eight-day battle
Forest fires on Khao Loi mountain in Pak Chong district, Nakhon Ratchasima, have been extinguished after burning for eight days. Officials suspect the fires were initiated to facilitate a wildlife hunt. Chaiwat Chuenkosum, governor of Nakhon Ratchasima, stated that multiple agencies, including the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), the Royal Forest Department, and local administration, collaborated…
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Bangkok taxi driver slashes passenger on face in fare dispute (video)
A Thai taxi driver claimed self-defence after slashing a male passenger’s face on the roadside in the Silom neighbourhood of Bangkok on Friday, January 10. A witness shared a video of the incident near Silom Soi 6 in Bangkok at about 1am on Friday on his Up Dol Facebook account. The video showed the witness intervening in the argument between…
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Swimming, tourist boats banned at Phi Phi Island due to rough seas
Officials have temporarily banned swimming and tourist boats at Phi Phi Island due to strong winds and rough seas. Officials have placed red flags along the beaches in Koh Phai, Ao Nang subdistrict, Mueang Krabi district, and other marine tourist areas to ensure safety. This decision was made yesterday, January 12, following continuous strong winds in the afternoon. Emergency personnel,…
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Belgian kite surfer’s final flight: Tragedy strikes in Khao Kalok
A Belgian kite surfer lost his life after being swept away by a massive wave and trapped headfirst in a rocky crevice at Khao Kalok near Pran Buri. Despite valiant rescue efforts, his life was tragically cut short as he remained pinned 4 metres deep amidst the unforgiving rocks. Pak Nam Pran Police Radio Centre today, January 13, received an…
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Bangkok man arrested for motorcycle theft after licence plate swap
A patrol unit from Phetkasem apprehended a 37 year old man for motorcycle theft, catching him in the act as he attempted to swap out the licence plate of the stolen motorcycle. The arrest occurred yesterday, January 12 at 3pm, in the Lak Song subdistrict, Bang Khae district, Bangkok. The suspect, 37 year old Chaiyot “Boy” Boonyawong, confessed to stealing…
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Thai man smears faeces on rescuer after toilet request denied
A Thai man smeared faeces on a rescuer’s face after the latter refused to let him use his motorcycle to go to the toilet because the man had just crashed his pickup on a road in the central province of Chachoengsao while reportedly rushing home to use the bathroom. The local news Facebook page, Bang Paking News (คนข่าวบางปะกง), reported the…
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Police intercept over 200 motorbikes in Kanchanaburi for violations
Over 200 motorbikes from the Nam Mai Arb gang were intercepted by police in Kanchanaburi for various legal violations. The gang, travelling from Nong Khao Police Station in Tha Mueang district towards Kanchanaburi City, was stopped by police at 7.10am yesterday, January 12, after receiving reports from locals about their noisy presence on Highway 324. Upon receiving the report, Police…
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Nakhon Pathom police seize 79 kg of meth in drug bust
Police in Nakhon Pathom arrested two suspects and seized over 70 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine hidden in a secret room beneath a staircase. The drugs were intended for distribution, with one suspect denying all charges. Yesterday, January 12, at 11pm, senior police officers, including Police Major General Chomchawin Purathananon and Police Colonel Phongsakorn Uppapong, along with other local officials, conducted…
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Thailand video news | Taxi driver slashes passenger in Bangkok, Japan’s ‘Cuddle Cafes’ combat loneliness
In today’s Thailand video news, Alex delivers a comprehensive roundup of stories from across Thailand and Asia. From a shocking altercation in Bangkok’s Silom district to a human skeleton discovery in Chon Buri, the coverage highlights key incidents making headlines. Other stories include an update on Thailand’s weather warnings, the lifting of Phuket’s building restrictions, and a lawsuit by Leicester…
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Russian man remains free after jet ski theft attempt in Phuket
Police are searching for a Russian man who stole a jet ski from a Thai operator on Bang Thao Beach in Phuket on Friday, January 10. Fortunately, the victim managed to retrieve the stolen vehicle. The Thai jet ski rental operator filed a complaint against the Russian man, identified as Mikhail Kolodnyi, at around 3pm on Friday at Choeng Thale…
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Thailand and China unite to tackle call centre scams and trafficking
Thailand and China have joined forces to combat call centre scams, human trafficking, and transnational crime, with a focus on locating missing individuals who have been deceived into travelling to neighbouring countries. A meeting was held yesterday, January 12 at the Royal Thai Police headquarters in Bangkok, attended by senior officials from both nations. Police General Thatchai Pitanilabutr, the National…
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Royal Thai Air Force selects Gripen jets in 19 billion baht deal
The Defence Ministry is backing the Royal Thai Air Force‘s (RTAF) decision to select Swedish-made Gripen fighter jets over the American F-16 aircraft, as announced by Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai. Phumtham, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister, provided insights into the 19 billion baht (US$547 million) plan for acquiring four new fighter jets. The RTAF has opted for Gripen…
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Phuket scam busted: Con artist’s mule accounts hit a dead end
Phuket police slammed the brakes on a staggering 22 million baht scam operation, ensnaring a suspect accused of creating mule accounts for a crafty con gang, with one even masquerading as a top politician The Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) revealed that the devious group duped unsuspecting victims by impersonating a well-known political figure, luring them into investing in a…
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Man escapes as car with LPG system catches fire
A man escaped unharmed when his car, a Honda Accord, equipped with an LPG system, caught fire shortly after he started the engine. The incident occurred at 7pm yesterday, January 12 at a parking lot behind Thammasat University Examination Centre in Rangsit, Pathum Thani province. An LPG system in a car is a fuel system that allows the vehicle to…
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Clearing the air: Bangkok takes a breather with work-from-home push
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt today is rolling out a novel work-from-home initiative alongside a push to expand the clean air shelter project in more schools, all in a bid to tackle the city’s relentless PM2.5 pollution problem. The 58 year old city chief noted a breath of fresh air yesterday, January 12, with improved air quality in Bangkok, as PM2.5 levels…
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Thai transwoman caught with crystal meth while filing police report
A Thai transwoman went from being a victim of theft to a drug suspect after unexpectedly presenting crystal methamphetamine to officers at Bang Lamung Police Station in Chon Buri. The 31 year old transwoman, Nattaphon, arrived at the police station at around 9.30pm on Friday, January 10, to report that a Thai man named Porramate had stolen the key to…
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Myanmar driver hits pedestrian on Vibhavadi Rangsit, fatal accident
A Myanmar national driving a black Chevrolet pickup truck reportedly struck a pedestrian, resulting in a fatality, on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, Pathum Thani, yesterday, January 12. The incident occurred near a previous bus fire tragedy that claimed 23 lives. Police and medical personnel responded promptly to the scene. The accident took place on the inbound express lane of Vibhavadi Rangsit…
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Motorcycle accident in Buriram caused by blanket entanglement
A young couple was involved in an unexpected accident after a blanket they were using for warmth became entangled with their motorcycle’s chain, causing it to crash in the middle of the road. The unfortunate incident, which occurred yesterday, January 12, left the man with a chipped tooth and the woman with a cut lip. Fortunately, a 10-wheel truck following…
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15 year old British-Thai girl rescued after years of rape by mother’s lover
The Be One organisation rescued a 15 year old half-Thai, half-British girl in the Isaan province of Udon Thani, after her Thai mother’s lover had raped her for four years since she was 11. Be One’s founder, Chalida “Ton Or” Palamart, accompanied the 15 year old British-Thai girl and her 41 year old aunt to file a complaint against the girl’s…
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Two men arrested for cable theft in Bangkok’s Si Phraya area
Two men were arrested yesterday for allegedly stealing communication cables in the Si Phraya area in Bangkok. The suspects were apprehended by police after suspicious behaviour was observed, including inconsistent explanations for their presence at the scene. The arrest was conducted by a team led by Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom and several other senior officers, including Police Major General…
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Pattaya on pause: Plan ahead or lose the booze
Local officials in Pattaya issued a gentle reminder to plan carefully for upcoming events in the city including the Chon Buri local elections and the booze bans. Locals, visitors and tourists in Pattaya should mark their calendars as the region is likely to go dry from 5pm on January 31 to 5pm on February 1. While the exact date hasn’t…
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Drunk foreign tourist injured in Pattaya motorbike collision
Chaos erupted in the early hours of today on Pattaya Third Road as a foreign tourist, suspected to be under the influence of alcohol, was mowed down by a motorcyclist, leaving him with head injuries. At precisely 12.10am, today, January 13, Pattaya police were alerted to the scene, swiftly co-ordinating with the dedicated Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan rescue team to attend…
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Tying the Thai: Same-sex love wins big in the Land of Smiles
Love takes centre stage in the Land of Smiles as same-sex couples across Thailand can legally say “I do” at any district office nationwide and even at Thai embassies abroad starting from January 23. This monumental shift comes thanks to the groundbreaking tying the Thai: love wins big in the Land of Smiles, granting same-sex couples the same legal rights…
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