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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Thailand video news | Russian tourist dies after Pattaya boat slide incident, Most Indonesian Parents support social media age restrictions
Alex reports on major news stories from Thailand and Southeast Asia, covering key incidents and developments. A Russian tourist dies in Pattaya after using a boat slide, while a harvester accident in Kamphaeng Phet kills a teenager. Phuket police arrest four foreign hackers behind a 560-million-baht scam, and Bangkok authorities detain eight university students for a violent assault. Thailand braces…
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Butterbear helps patient overcome depression in Thailand
A patient’s journey in overcoming depression with the aid of a beloved character, Butterbear, has captured the nation’s attention. Depression remains a growing concern, and treatment typically involves medication, psychotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy, or other doctor-recommended methods. Consulting a doctor is crucial if depression is suspected, as medication or therapy benefits most patients. However, alternative emotional healing methods can also be…
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Uncontrolled fire rages at Ratchaburi candle factory
A fire at a candle manufacturing factory in Ratchaburi remains out of control, echoing a similar major incident a decade ago. Yesterday, February 12, Police Lieutenant Colonel Praman Plathong from Mueang Ratchaburi Police Station received a report of a fire at the factory located in Mueang district. Fire engines were dispatched to assist, and upon arrival, flames were seen erupting…
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Driver trapped as car crashes into Phuket’s Seahorse Circle
A young driver was left trapped and seriously injured after losing control of his car and crashing into a power pole at Phuket’s infamous Nimit Traffic Circle, also known as Seahorse Circle, in the early hours of yesterday morning. Rescue workers from the Phuket Kusoldharm Foundation arrived at the scene at around 3am, yesterday, February 12, to find a wrecked…
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Elderly man killed by grandson in Udon Thani sword attack
An 88 year old man was killed at his home in Mueang district, Udon Thani province yesterday. A 29 year old suspect fled the scene with a long sword and remains at large. The incident occurred around 5pm, yesterday, February 12, with local police, including Police Colonel Pattanawong Chanpol and emergency services, responding to the scene. Phon sustained multiple injuries…
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Smog predicted for 53 Thai provinces as Bangkok chokes on dust
Bangkok and a staggering 53 out of Thailand’s 76 provinces today were engulfed in perilously high levels of ultrafine dust, with the Central Plain and east of the country bearing the brunt. The alarming report comes from the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), painting a grim picture of air quality across the nation. As of 8am, today, February…
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Ex-alcohol chief toasts potential gains from lifting drink sales ban
Former chairperson of the Alcohol Beverage Business Association recently discussed the potential economic benefits of lifting the ban on alcohol sales from 2pm to 5pm as well as on religious holidays. The move aligns with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s directive to review regulations that hinder economic stimulation and contradict tourism promotion policies. Thanakorn Kuptajit highlighted that revisiting these restrictions, including the…
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Student injured by car running red light in Bangkok
A vehicle ran a red light and struck a student from Suankularb School while he was crossing a zebra crossing, causing injuries. The driver claimed unfamiliarity with the area and was distracted by her GPS. Police have pressed charges. Today, February 13, Police Lieutenant Colonel Seksan Chumchaem, Deputy Superintendent of Traffic at Phra Ratchawang, reported the incident occurred on February 10…
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Pattaya Beach stabbing: Suspect caught, drugs found, police investigate
In the early hours of this morning Police Lieutenant Chaowalit Suwanmanee, Deputy Chief of Investigation at Pattaya City Police Station, responded to a report of a violent altercation at Pattaya Beach, near Soi 10. Police and rescue workers from Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Pattaya City rushed to the scene at 1.06am, today, February 13. Upon their arrival, they encountered numerous Thai and…
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Iran seeks to boost tourism ties with Thailand
Iran aims to enhance tourism exchanges with Thailand, as stated by its ambassador during an event celebrating Iran’s National Day in Bangkok on Tuesday, February 11. Nassereddin Heidari, the Iranian envoy in Bangkok, highlighted that over 50,000 Iranians visited Thailand as tourists last year, establishing it as a favoured destination. Iran hopes to see this figure rise. Tehran is eager…
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Making waves: ONWR dives into final stretch of water plans
The Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) is racing to wrap up its ambitious water management plans across 22 river basins this year, as revealed by its Secretary General, Surasee Kittimonthon. The countdown is on as the agency pushes to safeguard the nation’s vital waterways. Already ahead in the game, the ONWR has finalised strategies for the lower southern…
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South Korean drug smuggler arrested in Pattaya condo raid
The arrest of 51 year old Lee Chun Sam, a South Korean national, was announced by Pattaya Police Major General Chairit Anurit yesterday, February 12, at 6pm. He was wanted under an Interpol red notice for involvement in transnational drug smuggling. His arrest occurred at a luxury condominium on the eighth floor of Soi Thepprasit 9 in Jomtien. The Chon…
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Get ready to go ‘Joe Cool’ as Snoopy soars over Pattaya’s kite fest 2025
Get ready for a sky full of wonder as the Pattaya International Kite on the Beach 2025 prepares to dazzle tourists and residents alike with a Snoopy theme. The kite extravaganza, proudly brought to you by Central Pattaya in partnership with the City of Pattaya, the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Pattaya Office, the Pattaya Business & Tourism Association, the Marine…
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Thailand braces for rising heat and southern thunderstorms
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) today forecasts increasing temperatures with hot weather during the day and thunderstorms expected in southern provinces of Thailand. Mariners have been advised to exercise caution due to the high seas. In the next 24 hours, a weakened high-pressure system is affecting northeastern Thailand, resulting in cool morning temperatures and hot conditions during the day. The…
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Thai woman fatally struck crossing dim road in Pattaya
A local Thai woman lost her life after being struck by a car on a perilously dim road beneath a darkened overpass in Bang Lamung. At 10.06pm, Tuesday, February 11, the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Centre received a chilling report of a fatal collision on the notorious stretch of Highway 331, heading towards Sattahip, in Chon Buri province’s Bang Lamung…
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Football aristocracy trades boots for birdies in epic golf showdown
Thailand is rolling out the red carpet for the world of footballing aristocracy next month as they swap pitches for putts in a thrilling Ryder Cup-style golf competition. Twenty-four of the globe’s most highly decorated soccer legends will swap the highly-charged, almost gladiatorial, arenas of their playing days to trade goals, penalties and free-kicks for birdies, eagles and hole-in-ones in…
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Teenagers escape custody vehicle in Nakhon Ratchasima
Two teenagers escaped from a custody vehicle while being transported to a juvenile detention centre. The incident occurred at 3.30pm yesterday, February 11, near a traffic junction at Pakham Market, Mueang subdistrict, Phra Thong Kham district, Nakhon Ratchasima province. The two boys, aged 13 and 14 years old, were involved in separate cases, one for robbery and the other for…
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Teenager tragically killed by harvester in Kamphaeng Phet
A tragic incident occurred in Kamphaeng Phet when a 15 year old boy from Phetchaburi, working in a sugarcane field, was killed by a sugarcane harvester. Relatives claimed the boy was asleep in a furrow, unnoticed by others. Yesterday, February 11 at 2.30pm, Lan Krabue Police Station was informed that the sugarcane harvester had pulled the boy into its machinery…
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Norwegian parents’ cave tour with baby in Thailand sparks debate
A Norwegian couple, known for documenting their global adventures, recently revealed an unconventional solution to include their 10 month old son on an adventure trip in Thailand. The destination of the Norwegian couple, 32 year old Tora and 31 year old Marcus, was the Emerald Cave, a sea cave that leads to a hidden lagoon and beach, accessible only by swimming,…
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Myanmar and Rohingya migrants found abandoned in Thai forest
More than 50 people, identified as Myanmar and Rohingya nationals, were discovered hiding in a forest near a village in Rim Si Muang subdistrict, Khao Kho district. They had been abandoned after being smuggled into the country and left without assistance. The discovery emerged after a Facebook post by Phaitoon Khotsombat, a district official, shared a video of the group…
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Explosion and fire in Samut Sakhon claims two lives
An explosion and ensuing fire engulfed a six-storey commercial building, claiming two lives in Samut Sakhon. The fire, initially reported at 5am today, February 12, was tackled by firefighters from various local organisations who managed to contain it to a limited area. Police Lieutenant Phuwarit Palatja from Bang Nam Chuet Subdistrict Police Station received reports of the fire at a…
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Tragedy in Trat as rubber worker kills toddler
A 25 year old rubber-tapping labourer was apprehended by the police for the murder of a one year old boy in Bo Rai, Trat province. The incident, involving multiple stab wounds, occurred after he allegedly consumed methamphetamine and claimed he was threatened by the child’s father. Police Colonel Thanapon Temsara, deputy inspector at Bo Rai Police Station, reported the arrest…
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Thai boy forced into inappropriate acts by foreign students
An incident involving a seven year old Thai boy being forced by four foreign students to perform inappropriate acts at a school has emerged. The boy’s mother reported the incident to the police, who have been accused of dismissing the boy’s claims as playful experimenting among children. According to reports, the boy, who is in the first grade, was allegedly…
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Thailand considers border ban and export halt to curb scams
The Government of Thailand is considering intensifying its efforts against call-scam gangs operating from Myanmar, potentially including a border ban on suspected accomplices and halting solar panel exports to Myanmar. This was stated by senior officials following recent discussions. Chatchai Bangchuad, Secretary General of the National Security Council, stated yesterday, February 11, that current anti-scam measures will continue. Should these…
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Russian tourist dies after Pattaya boat slide incident
A 33 year old Russian tourist died following a medical emergency after using a tour boat slide near Koh Sak in Pattaya Bay on February 11 at 5pm. The Pattaya Marine Rescue Division publicly identified the tourist. The Marine Disaster Division of Pattaya City and the Sawang Boriboon Foundation Rescue Unit dispatched a speedboat to retrieve Andrew Anganov, who had…
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Phuket cybercrime bust: Six arrested in online gambling crackdown
A significant operation against international cybercrime in Phuket has led to the arrest of six people, including three Taiwanese nationals, connected to a complex online gambling and money laundering scheme. This was part of an initiative by the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB). The arrests were publicised yesterday, February 11, at the CCIB headquarters in Bangkok. The operation, named Hunting…
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Chinese factories in Thailand raided for legal violations
Three Chinese-owned factories in Samut Sakhon’s Mueang district were raided and had their operations suspended for multiple legal violations. The Industry Ministry and the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division of the Royal Thai Police led the inspections after residents raised concerns about night-time black smoke emissions. The factories were engaged in metal smelting and processing non-hazardous waste like…
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Teen attacked by classmates in Buriram school incident
In the Lahan Sai district of Buriram, a 13 year old student has reported to the police that a group of her schoolmates physically assaulted her for approximately one hour. The Grade 7 student, accompanied by her parents, approached the Lahan Sai Police Station yesterday, February 11, after being attacked by at least 10 classmates from both Grade 7 and Grade…
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Eerie occurrence: Music plays on after car crashes in Ratchaburi
In an unusual incident, a car involved in a crash mysteriously began playing a country music song, despite a damaged battery and the keys being turned off. The incident was captured in a TikTok video, which left social media users puzzled. Yesterday, February 10, Chakkrit Hadee, the owner of a slide car garage and a related car cemetery, shared his…
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Thailand launches global task force to combat human trafficking
Thailand is stepping up its fight against human trafficking and scam call centres by establishing an international coordination centre to rescue victims trapped in Myanmar, Police Inspector-General Police General Thatchai Pitaneelaboot announced. Speaking from Tak province yesterday, February 10, Thatchai confirmed that the centre will work with international law enforcement to track down and free people, regardless of nationality, who…
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