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 Is private health insurance in Thailand worth it? Real costs vs risks explained
Thailand has a strong healthcare system with both public and private options. Public hospitals offer affordable care, but many people, including expats, choose private health insurance for faster service, modern facilities, and more treatment choices. To decide if private health...
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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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Chihuahua attacked by delivery worker in Nakhon Si Thammarat
A delivery worker severely injured a Chihuahua named Samlee, sparking widespread outrage. The incident, reported by the Watchdog Thailand Foundation on their Facebook page, involved the worker assaulting the small dog by stomping on it before slamming it against the ground at the dog’s owner’s house in Nakhon Si Thammarat province. The dog’s owner immediately rushed Samlee to the hospital,…
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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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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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GSB windfall: Bangkok man wins 40 million baht jackpot
A man from Bangkok became the lucky winner of a 40 million baht jackpot from a special one-year digital Government Savings Bank (GSB) bond. The GSB Society page congratulated Danai, the lucky winner, on this extraordinary prize, stating that the prize distribution was genuine and congratulating him on winning the substantial amount. Danai, a client from the GSB branch at…
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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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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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Toxic air crisis: 70 provinces choked by dangerous dust levels
Thailand woke up to alarming air quality today, with ultrafine dust particles (PM2.5) reaching hazardous levels in 70 of 77 provinces, and Greater Bangkok bearing the brunt of the toxic haze. The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) revealed that PM2.5 levels surged into the red, or hazardous-to-health, zone in 27 provinces, primarily in central Thailand. At 7am, Samut…
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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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Thai woman left in debt after lending 880k baht to friend
A woman voiced her grievances on social media after lending 880,000 baht to a close friend nearly three years ago, only to have it remain unpaid. While her friend continues to live a comfortable life, she finds herself burdened with a high-interest loan. The incident came to light yesterday, January 20, when the woman shared her story online, revealing the…
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Thai thief poses as jogger to steal over 1 million baht from luxury home
A thief posed as a resident of a luxury village in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok and pretended to jog around the community before breaking into a home and stealing over 1 million baht in cash and valuables. The 30 year old homeowner, Kanin Kosonwittayanan, contacted officers from Rattanathibet Police Station to investigate the theft at his home on the afternoon…
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Driver cheats death after terrifying Pattaya motorway smash
A 55 year old man miraculously escaped a serious accident after his car smashed into a power pole near Pattaya, leaving the vehicle mangled and the pole precariously tilted. The dramatic crash occurred on Sunday, January 19 along the parallel road of Motorway Route 7, at Kilometre 111 in Takiantia, Bang Lamung. Jakkrit Ruenarun, the driver of a grey Chevrolet…
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Cyber police arrest Suphan Buri woman for call centre scam
Cyber police arrested a 32 year old woman from Suphan Buri for her involvement with a call centre scam that targeted a grandmother and her grandson. The scam involved luring victims across the border to Poipet for facial scans, with around 30 people being deceived each month. Yesterday, January 20, Police Lieutenant General Trirong Phiwpan, Commissioner of the Cyber Crime…
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Arrest warrant for Thanasun Nilprasert after fatal teacher shooting
An arrest warrant has been issued for Thanasun Nilprasert, also known as Tee Bangluang, following the fatal shooting of a 60 year old former teacher, Nak Anantarangsi, in Nonthaburi. The incident took place on January 18, along Highway 3011 in Bang Pa-in district, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province. The police are actively pursuing the suspect and have coordinated with immigration…
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Inmate escapes Chumphon prison, manhunt underway
An inmate serving a prison term for a drug-related offence has escaped from Huai Klung temporary prison in Wang Tako subdistrict, Lang Suan district, Chumphon province, sparking a search operation. The escape occurred around 3pm, yesterday, January 20, and seven hours later, the fugitive remains at large. Prison officials, alongside police from the Lang Suan Police Station, have mobilised to…
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Thai man loses 70,000 baht after scammers use fake ID to access his credit card
A Thai man lost nearly 70,000 baht from his credit card balance after a scammer created a fake ID card, gained access to his mobile phone number, and accessed his credit card. The 37 year old oil exploration worker in Bangkok, Kittinat, gathered evidence and sought assistance from the Foundation Campaigning to Reclaim Social Justice after suffering the 70,000-baht loss.…
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Thai FDA warns against unapproved smart devices for blood sugar
The Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning against the use of Smartwatches and Smart rings for blood sugar monitoring, as the devices have not been approved and pose potential health risks. Leutchai Lerwut, the FDA’s Deputy Secretary-General, highlighted concerns that some Smartwatches and rings on the market claim to measure blood sugar levels using medical software. However,…
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Factory worker assaulted by ex-colleague in Rayong street attack
A 29 year old factory worker filed a complaint with Pluak Daeng Police Station in Rayong province yesterday, January 20 at 5pm, after being assaulted by a former colleague on a street. The ex-colleague was previously dismissed from their workplace. The incident occurred on a road in Soi Mae Nam Khu 5, Mae Nam Khu subdistrict, Pluak Daeng district, Rayong,…
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Trump card: Gold prices set to shine amid US policy jitters
Gold prices are predicted to rise by over 6% in the coming three months following Donald Trump’s inauguration as US President, due to uncertainties surrounding US economic and political policies, according to local traders. Hua Seng Heng Gold Futures (HGF) forecasts a 6.38% increase in gold prices within the first three months of Trump’s administration and a 3.3% rise over…
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Gold rush: Daylight thief strikes Phitsanulok market
A thief snatched a gold necklace weighing 2 baht from a 65 year old shop owner in broad daylight at a market in the Phitsanulok province. The suspect fled on a motorcycle, prompting police to launch an urgent search for the thief. The incident took place at the front of First Boutique, located at 109/103 Village 7, Bang Rakam subdistrict,…
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Thai school director accused of raping colleague in car
A Thai woman accused the director of a school in the central province of Prachin Buri of raping her in his car on December 23 last year in Nakhon Nayok. She claims to have the suspect’s semen as evidence. The 29 year old victim, who works as administrative staff at a primary school in Nakhon Nayok, shared her story with news…
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Fiery destruction in Phuket leaves 29 homeless: Safety warning
A fire in Phuket’s Mueang district destroyed six rental homes and left 29 residents in urgent need of temporary shelter. The fire, which broke out yesterday, January 20, prompted the provincial governor to call for increased vigilance during the Chinese New Year festivities. Emergency services, including the Phuket Municipality’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, responded swiftly to the fire…
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Thailand urges release of hostages amid Israel-Hamas ceasefire
Thailand is urging the release of Thai hostages from the Gaza Strip following the initiation of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire on January 19. Yesterday, January 20, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) issued a statement concerning the agreement. The statement called for the release of hostages allegedly captured by Hamas during the conflict in southern Israel which kicked off on October…
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Buriram stray cat survives dart attack, raises 10,000 baht for care
A stray cat was found severely injured with a dart embedded in its head in Buriram province. Concerned residents notified rescue services to assist the animal and the public has since raised funds for its medical treatment. Rescue personnel from the Buriram Highway Police were alerted by villagers in Kradueang village, Thanon Hak subdistrict, Nang Rong district, about a stray…
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Rising PM2.5 pollution forces Bangkok schools to close
Schools throughout the capital city were compelled to close due to rising PM2.5 pollutant levels reaching unhealthy thresholds yesterday, January 20. Nong Khaem district experienced particularly high concentrations, measuring 77.8 microgrammes per cubic metre at 12.30pm, significantly surpassing the Pollution Control Department’s 24-hour safe exposure limit of 37.5µg/m³. Consequently, two schools in the district were instructed to close, as stated…
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Foreign motorcycle rider crashes on dangerous curve in Phuket
A foreign motorcycle rider lost control of the vehicle last night at a curve along Kalim Beach in Phuket, cutting off a Thai man’s car before crashing into a barrier and parked motorcycles. A Thai motorist shared a dash cam video of the accident yesterday, January 20, on Facebook account Mai All Star, with a caption that read… “A foreigner…
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Thai Armed Forces Day cannon explosion injures two soldiers (video)
A video capturing the moment a cannon exploded, and severely injuring two soldiers during a Thai Armed Forces Day salute, has been released. The explosion occurred on Saturday, January 18 at Surasi Camp, where the 9th Infantry Division was firing a ceremonial 21-gun salute using 105mm artillery. As the 17th round was fired, the cannon’s breech exploded, causing significant injuries to…
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