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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?...
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Thai health services brace for refugee influx amid US funding cut
The Tak Provincial Public Health Office is preparing to accommodate a surge of patients from refugee camps along the Thai-Myanmar border, anticipating around 40,000 to 50,000 people. This preparation comes in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s recent decision to halt funding for the International Rescue Committee (IRC). Public health officials in the Nu Po Refugee Camp, located in…
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Thai royal command appoints four military officers as bodyguards
A royal command has been issued, appointing four military officers as royal bodyguards. Yesterday, February 5, the Royal Gazette published the royal command detailing the appointments. These appointments are made under the authority of Section 7 of the Royal Security Act of 2017, in conjunction with Sections 6, 8, and 10 of the Royal Bodyguard Act of 1937, and Section…
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Thai woman confesses to burning father alive over money dispute
A Thai woman confessed to burning her father to death in a hut in the Isaan province of Kalasin after he refused to give her money. The 73 year old man, Boonliang Jannsri, was burned to death in a hut in the Khong Chai district of Kalasin. His body was discovered on January 31, with clear signs of foul play, as…
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Thai mother fears son lured into Cambodian scam gang
A Thai mother has approached the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) to report her 21 year old son’s disappearance, fearing he might have been enticed to join a call scam gang in Poipet, Cambodia, by a woman he met online. The woman, 48 year old Khajorn Somjai, accompanied by her eldest son, 27 year old Boonlong U-Nak, reported the missing person…
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Phuket drug den busted: Cops seize 25,000 meth pills
Thalang Police smashed a major drug operation in Phuket, seizing over 25,000 methamphetamine pills (meth pills)Â and arresting two women in a raid at a housing estate in Srisoonthorn. The bust yesterday, February 5, began with the arrest of 33 year old Prathana Khummit at a rental unit in the Keha Eua-Athorn housing estate. Officers found 602 meth pills and 2.8…
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Smoke signal: Suvarnabhumi sparks smoking rooms outrage
Smoking row ignites as the Airports of Thailand (AoT) makes a shocking bid to reintroduce smoking rooms at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, pushing against the global trend towards smoke-free terminals. As the world gears up for 100% smoke-free airports, Thailand’s move has stirred up a storm of controversy. Associate Professor Dr Naowarat Charoenkha from the Thai Health Promotion Institute, part of…
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Call centre scams stay lit while Burmese locals suffer Thai power cut
Innocent Burmese nationals, affected by Thailand’s measures to combat call centre scams, visited petrol stations to stock up, causing the price to rise. As part of a solution to tackle the call centre scam issue, the Thai government cut off power in five key areas of Myanmar, which were believed to be the headquarters of the scam gangs. In addition…
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Bangkok police raid leads to seizure of illegal contraband, sex toys
Police in Min Buri district conducted raids on three locations linked to a Chinese financier, resulting in the arrest of Thai and foreign nationals for illegal entry and the seizure of a substantial amount of contraband, including over 10,000 sex toys and numerous e-cigarettes. Today, February 6, Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, along with…
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Clean hotels with ‘3C’ initiative launches in Phuket
To ensure a safer travel experience, the Department of Medical Sciences is rolling out its ambitious Clean Hotels with 3C initiative across Thailand’s prime tourist spots. Deputy Director General Dr Ballang Uppong launched a crucial training session at the Royal Phuket City Hotel, aiding hotel operators in Phuket, Krabi, and Phang Nga. With over 250 participants, including public health officials,…
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Fare fight: Bang Lamung bikers protest against ride-hailing rivals
Bang Lamung’s motorcycle taxi drivers are revving up their engines in protest, calling on government departments to clamp down on ride-hailing services they say are taking the wind out of their financial sails. On Tuesday, February 4, representatives from the Public Motorcycle Taxi Association for Tourism met with district chief Patcharapatch Sritanyanont, demanding swift action to curb these so-called interlopers.…
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Thai man assaulted by seller for trying on shoes without buying
A Thai woman took to social media to seek justice for her family after a shoe seller at a shopping mall in the Si Racha district of Chon Buri physically assaulted her husband when their son tried on a pair of shoes but did not buy them. The woman named Ploysai shared videos of the assault on her TikTok account,…
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Man arrested for extorting Bangkok residents at bus stop
A 27 year old man was apprehended for extorting money from residents, including elderly people, at a bus stop in Bangkok. A group of bystanders detained him and handed him over to the police at Rat Burana Police Station for further legal action. Today, February 6, the Rat Burana Police Station received a report that a man was caught by…
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Ayutthaya police intercept illegal Myanmar migrants paying 8,000 to 10,000 baht
Police in Ayutthaya intercepted a group of 31 illegal Myanmar migrant workers, who admitted paying between 8,000 and 10,000 baht each to find work in the city. Yesterday, February 5, Police Colonel Eknirut Wansiripak, head of Highway Police Division 1, discovered an operation transporting illegal foreign workers into Thailand. The migrants crossed the border on foot through natural paths, where…
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VFS Global warns Thai travellers of rising visa scam threats
VFS Global cautioned Thai travellers about visa scams, urging early applications due to increasing outbound travel. The organisation, a leader in visa outsourcing and technology services, hosted an awareness event in Bangkok. Diplomats from Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Norway, and Switzerland attended to address the growing threat of visa fraud. As visa applications surge to record levels, scammers…
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Public debate erupts after over foreign foot masseur in Phuket
Thai netizens demanded action from relevant government departments after a viral video showed a foreign man working as a foot masseur in Phuket. The video showing the foreign man providing a foot massage service to two customers was shared by the Phuket Times yesterday, February 5. In the video, the foreigner was seen cleaning the feet of male and female…
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Police raid uncovers 3.5 million baht online gambling in Nong Khai
Immigration police in Nong Khai yesterday raided a luxury house in Mueang district, uncovering an illicit online gambling operation involving both Thai and Lao websites. The operation saw a daily transaction of at least 3.5 million baht, leading to the arrest of 10 people. Police Major General Waritsiri Leelasiri, acting commissioner of Immigration Division 4, yesterday, February 5, led the…
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American man and Thai wife lose 15.2 million baht in Hua Hin property fraud
An American man and his Thai wife are pursuing justice after being duped by a real estate firm into buying two plots of land and a house in Hua Hin, located in the southern province of Prachuap Khiri Khan, amounting to 15.2 million baht. Despite their investment, they have been unable to gain ownership of the property. The couple, Patrick…
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Thailand video news | Missing British man found dead in Bangkok, Phnom Penh nightclub fire kills two, injures five
In today’s Thailand video news, Alex and Jay cover key stories from Thailand and Asia. Bangkok authorities have found a missing British tourist dead, while a Thai man in Rayong faces outrage for attacking his ex-girlfriend. Five Thai hostages freed by Hamas will return home this week, and confusion surrounds Thailand’s new Digital Arrival Card rollout. In a major crackdown,…
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Vietnamese workers arrested in Pattaya beauty salon raid
The Tourist Police Bureau conducted a raid on a beauty salon in Pattaya, resulting in the arrest of Vietnamese nationals for working illegally in a restricted occupation. The operation took place on Tuesday, February 4, under the directive of Police Lieutenant Colonel Piyapong Raksa, Deputy Superintendent of Investigation at the bureau. Residents had alerted the police about foreign nationals allegedly…
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Thai police rescue student from 1.5 million baht scam
Thai police were commended for rescuing a university student from a call centre scam that held her for a 1.5 million baht ransom. The incident occurred yesterday, February 5, when the call centre gang lured the student from a renowned university in Rangsit, convincing her to transfer nearly 1.5 million baht. Police Colonel Kiattisak Mitprasat of Khlong Luang Police Station…
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Woman accuses soldier boyfriend of assault, sharing explicit videos
A 22 year old woman from Sangkhaom district in Udon Thani province, accused her boyfriend, a soldier, of assaulting her and posting explicit videos on social media without her consent. The incident reportedly happened on February 3 when her boyfriend took her phone and shared private content on Facebook. The victim, Kade, is now seeking action against him. Kade, who…
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PPRP opposes casino legalisation, fears national harm
The Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) announced its opposition to the government’s proposed bill on entertainment complexes, which aims to legalise casino gambling. The party argues that the legalisation of casinos could negatively impact Thailand and its citizens, while the bill disproportionately empowers the prime minister. The party plans to address the casino issue during the no-confidence debate it intends to…
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Middle-aged man crashes sedan into parked truck in Chon Buri
An incident involving a middle-aged man was reported today, February 6, when he allegedly drove a sedan into the back of a parked pickup truck in Chon Buri. The crash occurred outside the Oum Rak Animal Hospital on Samed-Angsila Road, Mueang district, Chon Buri province, and left the sedan severely damaged. The driver, appearing to be in his 50s or 60s,…
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Pattaya shooting leads to surrender of two suspects
A violent incident in Pattaya involving a shooting has led to the surrender of two people, including the father of a 14 year old girl involved in a dispute with another teenager. The shooting resulted in injuries to three people. Two men, 36 year old Kittisak and 30 year old Ekachai, turned themselves in to the Pattaya police on Tuesday,…
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Motorcycle dispute turns violent in Nong Prue, Chon Buri
A confrontation over a borrowed motorcycle led to a violent altercation at a rented room in Nong Prue, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri. Following a dispute about the motorcycle, which had been altered, the borrower was attacked with a knife. At 10.06pm, yesterday, February 5, a report of an assault was received by the Sawang Boriboon Rescue Radio Centre. Emergency…
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Caught with his visa down: Thai cops snare suspected American pedophile
In a dramatic swoop, Thai immigration officers uncovered an alleged American pedophile in the unsuspecting town of Nakhon Ratchasima after police discovered the 57 year old had overstayed his visa. Overstaying his welcome by far more than a few days, the man, named Negri, is a key suspect on the FBI’s radar, hunted down for harrowing charges encompassing child exploitation…
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Prisoners in Thailand may earn early release by reading books
The Department of Corrections (DoC) is considering the implementation of reading as a criterion for prisoners’ early release, as announced by Justice Minister Police Colonel Tawee Sodsong. The proposal involves a project where inmates could earn one day of parole for each book they read while incarcerated. The initiative is designed to encourage learning and ensure prisoners receive basic education…
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Thailand heat up by 3°C, PM2.5 levels to rise across regions
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a warning about an increase in temperatures by 1 to 3 degrees Celsius across Thailand and a likely rise in PM2.5 toxic dust levels, affecting nearly all regions. The south will experience rain, with residents advised to take health precautions until today, February 6. The 24-hour weather forecast predicts weakening high-pressure systems over northeast…
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Escaped Thai inmate from Nonthaburi caught on Chon Buri beach
Police arrested an inmate who had escaped from Nonthaburi Provincial Prison on February 2 while enjoying the beach in Chon Buri. The 32 year old prisoner, Wasan Obnual, seized an opportunity while working for the Department of Corrections at the Corrections Museum in Nonthaburi to escape. He immediately took a taxi back home, which was close to both the museum…
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Trump’s mad, mad, mad, mad world—now with extra madness
It’s a mad, mad, mad, mad, world, about to get a whole lot madder under newly elected United States President Donald Trump. The 78 year old alleged leader of the free world, not content with stirring a hornet’s nest by saying he plans to take over Greenland and make Canada a US state, yesterday, February 5, he announced plans to…
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