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    Why health insurance costs more each year and how expats in Thailand can save more money

    Each year, many expats living in Thailand see their health insurance premiums go up and often without a clear reason. This can be frustrating, especially when you're trying to plan your budget. But by understanding why prices rise and learning...

  • Pub-goers sound off: Uproar over 4am curfew storms Thai nightlife in major hotspots | Thaiger

    Pub-goers sound off: Uproar over 4am curfew storms Thai nightlife in major hotspots

    A storm of complaints has erupted following the controversial 4am curfew for pubs, bars, and entertainment hubs kicked in across Bangkok, Phuket, Chon Buri, Chiang Mai, and Koh Samui in Surat Thani province. Some 5,785 grievances have been filed since December 15. Amidst the cacophony, a Government House insider revealed that the Cabinet has urgently directed the Interior Ministry to…

  • Pattaya targets 27 million tourists in 2024 with robust strategies | Thaiger

    Pattaya targets 27 million tourists in 2024 with robust strategies

    Thai government officials have set their sights on ambitious targets and goals to bounce back from the economic fallout caused by the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions in 2024. Pattaya, whose economy is heavily dependent on tourism, amounting to about 90%, was majorly impacted as it has not yet fully recovered to the 2019 levels, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand…

  • Thai woman shot with crossbow after saving neighbour from rape attempt | Thaiger

    Thai woman shot with crossbow after saving neighbour from rape attempt

    A Thai woman is seeking help and justice after a man shot her with a crossbow for saving her neighbour from his rape attempt in the central province of Sing Buri. The shooting victim, Nittaya Thongpradit, travelled from Sing Buri to Bangkok yesterday, January 4, to seek assistance from the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive after the Kai Bangrachan Police Station delayed the…

  • Thai man accidentally kills wife’s alleged lover during heated confrontation | Thaiger

    Thai man accidentally kills wife’s alleged lover during heated confrontation

    A jealous husband in Thailand arranged a confrontation with his wife’s alleged lover, which resulted in a violent encounter and death. The incident unfolded around 12.30am yesterday, January 4 when a 39 year old man Anurak allegedly shot and killed Nathaphon 38 year old in front of a fish restaurant called Rak Pla. The Lopburi City Police Station was alerted…

  • Commerce Ministry’s plan to catapult SMEs to 40% GDP by 2027 | Thaiger

    Commerce Ministry’s plan to catapult SMEs to 40% GDP by 2027

    The Commerce Ministry unleashed an ambitious plan to elevate small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to new heights, targeting a staggering 40% contribution to the GDP by 2027. A comprehensive strategy is set to turbocharge consumption, investment, government spending, and international trade, propelling SMEs into the forefront of economic prowess. Acknowledging the pivotal role SMEs play in Thailand’s economic fabric, Commerce…

  • Foreign man arrested for sexually harassing teenage Thai girl | Thaiger

    Foreign man arrested for sexually harassing teenage Thai girl

    Police today arrested a foreign man for the sexual harassment and attempted rape of a 16 year old Thai girl at a hotel in the Asoke neighbourhood of Bangkok. The victim’s mother filed a complaint against her foreign boyfriend accusing him of sexually harassing her daughter in the early hours of this morning, January 4. The woman told police that…

  • PM launches ’30 baht plus’ health scheme in Roi-Et | Thaiger

    PM launches ’30 baht plus’ health scheme in Roi-Et

    Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is set to kickstart a revolutionary healthcare initiative dubbed the 30-baht Plus universal health scheme. The grand launch is scheduled for this Sunday, January 7, in the northeastern province of Roi-Et. This innovative trial, to be initially rolled out in Roi-Et, Phrae, Phetchaburi, and Narathiwat, promises free medical services at state and private hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies.…

  • Bolt boosts safety in Thailand with new app features | Thaiger

    Bolt boosts safety in Thailand with new app features

    European mobility company Bolt strengthened its safety protocols in Thailand by introducing new measures designed to support both drivers and riders. A new feature, driver selfie verification, has been added to the ride-hailing application to minimise instances of driver impersonation and bolster safety for all users. In addition, Bolt launched an innovative trip safety monitoring feature. This facility allows the company…

  • Drug-fuelled party raided in Sattahip, teens arrested | Thaiger

    Drug-fuelled party raided in Sattahip, teens arrested

    Sattahip Police Station orchestrated a shutdown of a raucous drug party at an undisclosed pool villa in the Bang Sare subdistrict of Chon Buri province yesterday, January 4. The villa’s name remains under wraps as authorities delve into the aftermath of the wild revelry. Over 20 officers stormed the villa, responding to numerous grievances from bleary-eyed locals disturbed by the…

  • Rare cinereous vulture found in Kamphaeng Phet now under specialised care | Thaiger

    Rare cinereous vulture found in Kamphaeng Phet now under specialised care

    A juvenile cinereous vulture, discovered on a road in the Lan Krabue district of Kamphaeng Phet last Sunday, is currently under the care of a team of veterinarians from the neighbouring Nakhon Sawan. The bird, weak from its long winter migration, is being prepared for future release. Veterinarian Pimchanok Songmongkol from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation’s…

  • Burmese boxing coach killed in Tak, murderers remain at large | Thaiger

    Burmese boxing coach killed in Tak, murderers remain at large

    Police are searching for the murderers of a Burmese boxing coach in the Mae Sot district in the northern province of Tak. The lifeless body of an 18 year old Burmese man, identified as Ko, was found on the side of the Mae Sot-Umphang Road in the Mae Sot district of Tak on January 3. Ko was in black boxer…

  • Thailand’s 1-trillion-baht Land Bridge megaproject receives robust defence | Thaiger

    Thailand’s 1-trillion-baht Land Bridge megaproject receives robust defence

    The Land Bridge megaproject, a 1-trillion-baht initiative in Thailand, received robust defence from Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and Pheu Thai MPs on Thursday. They stated that the project, designed to boost the country’s economy and development, could significantly improve the national economy if successful. PM Srettha, during the House debate on the 2024 fiscal budget, argued that the Land Bridge…

  • Thailand’s opposition questions rising military budget amid promised reforms | Thaiger

    Thailand’s opposition questions rising military budget amid promised reforms

    Opposition parties in Thailand expressed concern over the budget allocations for the country’s military, arguing that these contradict the Pheu Thai Party’s commitment to reform and downsize the armed forces. The concerns were voiced during a debate on the 2024 budget bill, with Aekkarat Udomamnuay, an MP with the Move Forward Party (MFP), questioning the Defence Ministry’s request for 198…

  • Thailand’s tourism operators question 40 million visitors target | Thaiger

    Thailand’s tourism operators question 40 million visitors target

    The government’s ambitious target of attracting 40 million foreign visitors is viewed as daunting by Thailand tourism operators, considering factors such as high travel costs, diminished demand in big markets such as China and Russia, and competition from surrounding nations. Thanet Supornsahasrungsi, who heads the Association of Chon Buri Tourism Federation, pinpointed the stagnant Chinese market as a significant issue,…

  • Thai man nabbed for illegal soil excavation worth thousands of baht | Thaiger

    Thai man nabbed for illegal soil excavation worth thousands of baht

    Today, in Phichit province, local authorities apprehended a man who had been excavating soil from his land for commercial purposes. This operation, led by Natkrit Noykampun, Director of the 4 Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division, along with his team, was launched following suspicions raised by two trucks heavily laden with wet, sticky soil on a main road. The…

  • British tourist’s lost wallet returned by Thai hotel worker | Thaiger

    British tourist’s lost wallet returned by Thai hotel worker

    A British holidaymaker on Koh Samui Island in Thailand is set to return home with a pleasant memory following a hotel worker’s return of his lost wallet during the new year celebrations. The wallet was found on Bophut Beach by Pakdee Trirat, an employee at the Holiday Inn Samui, amidst the festivities on the night of December 31. Surat Thani…

  • Power play: Energy minister’s plan sparks potential for across-the-board cost cuts | Thaiger

    Power play: Energy minister’s plan sparks potential for across-the-board cost cuts

    Energy Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga unveiled a plan that could slash energy costs across the board. Pirapan declared yesterday, January 3, that a paradigm shift is imminent in the gas supply sector, aiming to empower power producers and significantly cut down on electricity expenses. The key? A strategic merger of gas pools to unleash a domino effect that could alter the…

  • Journey of hope: Thai-American woman seeks long-lost Thai mother | Thaiger

    Journey of hope: Thai-American woman seeks long-lost Thai mother

    A half Thai half American woman reached out to the Thai media in a bid to reunite her with her long-lost mum who is believed to live in the Isaan province of Ubon Ratchathani. The 53 year old Thai-American woman, identified only as Janny, told her story to The Isaan Record, in the hope that someone knows her Thai mother…

  • Pickup truck plunges into Bangkok canal in shocking late-night incident | Thaiger

    Pickup truck plunges into Bangkok canal in shocking late-night incident

    A shocking incident unfolded today when a pickup truck plunged into a drainage canal alongside Vibhavadi Rangsit Road. The driver managed to escape unharmed and reported that the accident occurred while he was swerving to avoid a municipal water truck. Late that night, Police Lieutenant Colonel Theerapoj Thonghet, an investigator at Vibhavadi Police Station, received a report of a pickup…

  • Royal ripple: US court docs weave tangled ties, linking Prince Andrew to Jeffrey Epstein scandal (video) | Thaiger

    Royal ripple: US court docs weave tangled ties, linking Prince Andrew to Jeffrey Epstein scandal (video)

    Newly released US court documents have unveiled a web of connections between high-profile figures and the notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein – including Prince Andrew. The scandalous details, including accusations against the 63 year old Duke of York, and former Presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump, are sending shockwaves through elite circles. Prince Andrew finds himself entangled in the latest…

  • Phuket authorities step up anti-drug operations, apprehend two suspects | Thaiger

    Phuket authorities step up anti-drug operations, apprehend two suspects

    As Phuket’s officials are making moves to address drug use among boat operators, Thalang Police have concurrently stepped up their anti-drug operations. The outcome of these intensified efforts is the recent apprehension of two individuals, confirmed to be in illegal possession of methamphetamine tablets, also known as Yaba, with intentions to distribute. The Thalang Police Force made public the results…

  • LA orthodontist’s narrow escape from electrocution in Thailand | Thaiger

    LA orthodontist’s narrow escape from electrocution in Thailand

    When a Los Angeles-based orthodontist‘s dream Thai vacation took a horrifying turn, it shocked social media with her Instagram and TikTok followers expressing their concern and support. Dr Cara Hodgson, boasting a considerable online following of 25,500 on Instagram and 97,000 on TikTok, usually shares glimpses of her jet-setting lifestyle and dental tips. However, her recent revelation about a life-threatening…

  • Japan Airlines cancel 130 flights amid Haneda Airport runway repair | Thaiger

    Japan Airlines cancel 130 flights amid Haneda Airport runway repair

    Approximately 130 flights were cancelled today by Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL) as the fallout from Tuesday’s accident at Haneda Airport continues to impact operations. The cancellation was necessitated after a collision between a JAL passenger plane and a Japanese coast guard plane at the airport. Reports indicate that one of Haneda Airport’s four runways remains…

  • Major international drug ring busted in Thailand: Over 15 million meth pills and 105 million baht assets seized | Thaiger

    Major international drug ring busted in Thailand: Over 15 million meth pills and 105 million baht assets seized

    A significant international drug ring has been dismantled, leading to the arrest of the operation’s leader and the seizure of over 15 million methamphetamine pills, and more than one tonne each of heroin, ketamine, and ice. The operation also netted assets worth approximately 105 million baht. The announcement came today from the Anti-Narcotics Police Headquarters, spearheaded by Kittirat Phanphet, Deputy…

  • Thai man seeks justice after repeated thefts and 14 stitches to his penis | Thaiger

    Thai man seeks justice after repeated thefts and 14 stitches to his penis

    An 83 year old Thai man yesterday demanded police to take action after suffering repeated thefts and receiving 14 stitches to his penis following an attack by a thief in the Isaan province of Loei. The victim, Tanat, told Channel 3 that his home had been robbed five times. The latest incident took place at about 4am, yesterday, January 3.…

  • Street shootout shakes Phuket: Teen hospitalised, passerby catches stray bullet drama | Thaiger

    Street shootout shakes Phuket: Teen hospitalised, passerby catches stray bullet drama

    A teenager yesterday was hospitalised after a tumultuous shootout on a street near Saphan Hin, Phuket. A passerby suffered a shoulder wound whilst the teen had a head injury. Phuket Police received a report of a shootout near the Phuket Marine police chief’s residence on Phuket Road yesterday, January 3, at 3.10am. Police found a damaged glass louvre in one of…

  • School bus collision in Pathum Thani leaves 25 injured | Thaiger

    School bus collision in Pathum Thani leaves 25 injured

    A shocking bus collision occurred in Pathum Thani while students were headed for a field trip. The accident was triggered by a pickup truck swerving in front of the bus, leading to a multi-vehicle crash. The aftermath left 25 individuals, including students and teachers, injured. The bus driver was trapped in the wreckage and had to be extricated by emergency…

  • Thai graduates form largest group of unemployed, says NSO | Thaiger

    Thai graduates form largest group of unemployed, says NSO

    Concerning statistics were unveiled by Thailand’s National Statistical Office (NSO) yesterday, revealing that newly minted graduates now comprise the largest segment of the country’s unemployed. Results from October’s employment survey disclosed that around 150,000 recent graduates were jobless, a worrying trend that Suwannee Wangkarn, NSO’s Deputy Director, labelled alarming. Every month, the NSO conducts an employment survey among Thai citizens.…

  • City Hall city sweeps streets, leaves residents puzzled: 200 abandoned cars vanish | Thaiger

    City Hall city sweeps streets, leaves residents puzzled: 200 abandoned cars vanish

    City Hall successfully wiped over 200 abandoned cars off the streets of Bangkok, leaving residents baffled. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) disclosed their battle against 1,399 derelict vehicles from 2019 to last year. However, the real jaw-dropper is the 203 abandoned cars that mysteriously disappeared after no owners claimed them. Bangkok Deputy Governor Chakkraphan Phiewngam took charge on January 2,…

  • Government’s budget blunder: MFP MP slams 3.5 trillion baht bill | Thaiger

    Government’s budget blunder: MFP MP slams 3.5 trillion baht bill

    In a fiery critique that rocked the House of Representatives, Move Forward Party (MFP) MP Sirikanya Tansakun aimed at the government‘s 3.48-trillion-baht budget for 2024, labelling it a masterpiece of unprofessional blunders. On the opening day of the budget bill’s inaugural reading, Sirikanya, the deputy leader of MFP, unleashed scathing criticism, claiming that the government had failed to craft a…