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    Thailand health insurance that covers chronic conditions: What expats need to know

    The Thaiger key takeaways Managing chronic conditions in Thailand requires health insurance that covers specialist visits, medications, tests, and hospital stays. Cigna offers high-coverage plans with access to top hospitals, direct billing, and telemedicine support for convenient long-term care. Expats...

  • Motorcyclist dies in Lampang crash, tragic call reveals news | Thaiger

    Motorcyclist dies in Lampang crash, tragic call reveals news

    A tragic accident claimed the life of a young man when his motorcycle veered off the road and struck a utility pole, resulting in his immediate death. While police and medical personnel were examining the scene, a call came through on the deceased’s phone, delivering the heartbreaking news to a shocked woman. Around 8.45pm yesterday, December 26, Siriwetch Jaisanwong, a…

  • Christmas cable heist sparks outrage in Pattaya | Thaiger

    Christmas cable heist sparks outrage in Pattaya

    Pattaya residents were left fuming after two brazen thieves swiped 60 metres of electrical cable worth 27,000 baht on Christmas Day. The audacious theft occurred behind the Pattaya Indoor Sports Stadium, prompting Deputy Mayor Manot Nongyai to demand immediate action from officials and investigators. Huay Yai Police acted swiftly, conducting a thorough investigation at the scene and nabbing the culprits…

  • Thai father kills 2 children before committing suicide, only 8 year old boy survives | Thaiger

    Thai father kills 2 children before committing suicide, only 8 year old boy survives

    A desperate Thai father committed a murder-suicide involving his three children after his wife requested a divorce to start a new family. Tragically, only an eight year old boy survived the horrific incident. The distressing event took place in a bathroom near Mae Khao Tom Reservoir in the northern province of Chiang Rai at around 7.30am on Wednesday, December 25.…

  • Thailand to impose stricter penalties for drunk drivers | Thaiger

    Thailand to impose stricter penalties for drunk drivers

    Drunk drivers in Thailand will soon face stricter penalties, as announced by Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit. The government plans to collaborate with the Interior Ministry to enforce tougher laws aimed at reducing traffic accidents. Suriya highlighted the growing concern over traffic accidents, especially those caused by drunk driving, smartphone distractions, drowsiness, speeding, and other traffic violations. According to the Don’t…

  • Bangkok to Loei bus crash in Chum Phae leaves one dead | Thaiger

    Bangkok to Loei bus crash in Chum Phae leaves one dead

    A Bangkok to Loei bus tragically veered off the road in Chum Phae, resulting in one fatality and multiple injuries. Rescue teams promptly responded to the scene to offer assistance and transport the injured to hospital facilities. The accident occurred at 6.50am today, December 27, when the bus lost control near the Don Lan Forest Park junction on Maliwan Road…

  • Thailand boosts child welfare benefits to 1,000 baht monthly | Thaiger

    Thailand boosts child welfare benefits to 1,000 baht monthly

    Thailand’s Social Security Office (SSO) has announced an increase in child welfare benefits for insured individuals, with payments rising from 800 baht to 1,000 baht per month per child. This adjustment will take effect in January 2025, following a decision made by the Cabinet on December 17. The move is aimed at encouraging childbirth among insured citizens, as Thailand faces…

  • Man suffers electric shock during power line theft near police station | Thaiger

    Man suffers electric shock during power line theft near police station

    A daring incident unfolded today as a man attempted to cut high-voltage power lines just 200 metres from a police station in Samut Prakan, resulting in a severe electric shock and a precarious rescue operation. The man, approximately 30 years old, was found hanging from the power lines after suffering a shock, prompting an urgent response from emergency services. The…

  • Indian customs seize haul of weed smuggled from Bangkok | Thaiger

    Indian customs seize haul of weed smuggled from Bangkok

    Five travellers arriving from Bangkok were busted in a brazen smuggling attempt at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) on Christmas Day. Indian customs officials seized a staggering 26 kilogrammes of hydroponic marijuana—worth 26 Indian crores (approximately 104 million baht)—ingeniously concealed in everyday household items. Acting on a tip-off, the Indian Customs Department intercepted the suspects shortly after they…

  • Cyber theft in Udon Thani drains 2.4 million baht from firm | Thaiger

    Cyber theft in Udon Thani drains 2.4 million baht from firm

    A significant cyber theft incident involving a mobile banking app has emerged, affecting an accountancy firm in Udon Thani. The firm found its bank accounts emptied of 2.4 million baht across three banks, and the lack of notification about these transactions has raised serious concerns. Ornanong Boonto, managing director of a company in Moomon, Mueang district, shared her experience to…

  • Police vehicle attacked in Yala, one officer killed | Thaiger

    Police vehicle attacked in Yala, one officer killed

    An armoured police vehicle was severely damaged in an ambush involving a bomb and gunfire in Yala, Thailand, resulting in the death of one officer. In the evening yesterday, December 26, a violent incident occurred in Thanto, a district in Yala province. An explosive device was detonated by unidentified assailants targeting border patrol police officers, followed by gunfire. The officers…

  • Young man dies in big bike and pickup collision near sugarcane field | Thaiger

    Young man dies in big bike and pickup collision near sugarcane field

    A tragic accident occurred when a young man tragically lost his life in a collision between a big bike and a pickup truck near a sugarcane field. The incident prompted police to initiate an investigation to determine the cause of the accident. At 7.30pm yesterday, December 26, Noppol Han Khunthod, an investigator from Khao Din Police Station in Photharam district,…

  • Holiday mayhem: Govt unveils free tolls plan for New Year’s Eve | Thaiger

    Holiday mayhem: Govt unveils free tolls plan for New Year’s Eve

    The Thai government has announced measures to ease the expected holiday travel chaos. With a staggering 34 million trips anticipated, the Ministry of Transport has unveiled a chaotic cocktail of free tolls, trial road openings, and even free camping spots in a desperate bid to keep the nation moving. Happiness Festival Everywhere in Thailand is the rather optimistic slogan for…

  • Young man dies in motorbike crash on Chon Buri motorway | Thaiger

    Young man dies in motorbike crash on Chon Buri motorway

    A tragic accident claimed the life of a 24 year old man when his motorbike crashed into a streetlight pole. He was on his way to pick up his girlfriend for new year celebrations when the fatal incident occurred. At approximately 3.30am today, December 27, police officer Suchaiyos Chuaykaew received reports of a motorcycle accident along the Don Hua Lo…

  • Christmas horror: Dutchman hits his head in Pattaya pool | Thaiger

    Christmas horror: Dutchman hits his head in Pattaya pool

    An 85 year old Dutchman’s Christmas turned into a near-tragedy when he was rushed to hospital after a harrowing poolside incident at a Pattaya condominium. The Sawang Boriboon Rescue Centre received an urgent report yesterday at 2pm about a foreign man who had nearly drowned at a condo on Soi Yen Sabai. Rescuers raced to the scene to find the…

  • Surat Thani resident uncovers 14k meth pills in fertilizer sack | Thaiger

    Surat Thani resident uncovers 14k meth pills in fertilizer sack

    A resident found a mysterious sack placed in front of their home in Surat Thani province, which, upon inspection, revealed 14,000 methamphetamine (meth) pills. The incident prompted immediate action by local police to trace the origins of the drugs. At the office of the Narcotics Control Centre within Phunphin district, Surat Thani province, officials gathered to address a significant drug-related…

  • Sweet profit: Lopburi melon farm thrives with high demand | Thaiger

    Sweet profit: Lopburi melon farm thrives with high demand

    The Orapan Melon Farm in Lopburi province has become a beacon of agricultural success, with its melons in high demand and orders booked well into the next year. Located in the Suratikarn Organic Farmers Group area, the farm cultivates two melon varieties: the Sanwan melon, a Japanese-style fruit with green netted skin and sweet, fragrant flesh, and the Thaihao melon…

  • Bitch leaves behind puppies after fatal shooting in Songkhla | Thaiger

    Bitch leaves behind puppies after fatal shooting in Songkhla

    A bitch, believed to have been shot, struggled to return to her puppies to nurse them before succumbing to her injuries while they were still feeding. This tragic incident took place yesterday, December 25, in Songkhla province, adding a sad note to Christmas and prompting immediate action from local officials and animal welfare organisations. A video circulated online showed a…

  • 20th anniversary: Phuket looks back on Boxing Day tsunami | Thaiger

    20th anniversary: Phuket looks back on Boxing Day tsunami

    Two decades after the catastrophic Indian Ocean Tsunami, communities along Thailand’s Andaman coast, including Phuket, gathered today, Boxing Day, to honour the lives lost and reflect on the lessons learned from that fateful day in 2004. The disaster claimed an estimated 230,000 to 280,000 lives across multiple countries, with Thailand designating December 26 as National Disaster Prevention Day in its…

  • Polvanera celebrates Christmas Charity Gala Dinner 2024 in Bangkok | Thaiger

    Polvanera celebrates Christmas Charity Gala Dinner 2024 in Bangkok

    On December 12, Polvanera had the distinct honour of sponsoring the highly anticipated Christmas Charity Gala Dinner 2024, hosted at the luxurious Capella Hotel Bangkok, recently recognised as the World’s Best Hotel for 2025. This prestigious event, organised by the Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce, brought together distinguished guests from diverse sectors of the Thai and Italian business community to celebrate…

  • South Thailand: Schoolgirl attacks senior with knife at tourist spot | Thaiger

    South Thailand: Schoolgirl attacks senior with knife at tourist spot

    A shocking incident unfolded recently at a popular tourist spot in Nakhon Si Thammarat province when a third-year secondary school girl attacked a fifth-year student with a folding knife. The incident took place at Ban Wang Yao, Thon Hong subdistrict, Phrom Khiri district, on Christmas Eve, leaving the older student injured and raising concerns about youth violence. The head of…

  • Pattaya mobilises over 400 officers to ensure festive safety | Thaiger

    Pattaya mobilises over 400 officers to ensure festive safety

    A substantial force of over 420 officers and volunteers took to the streets of Pattaya on Christmas Eve, ensuring the safety and security of tourists during the festive period. The initiative, which took place at precisely 6.36pm on December 24, was spearheaded by Yingyot Thepchamnong, Commander of Police Region 2, who orchestrated a comprehensive safety operation for the Christmas and…

  • South Korean gambling suspect arrested in Pattaya luxury condo | Thaiger

    South Korean gambling suspect arrested in Pattaya luxury condo

    A South Korean national, sought for his alleged involvement in a significant illegal gambling operation, was apprehended in a luxurious condominium in Pattaya. Thai immigration officials executed the arrest yesterday, December 25, identifying the suspect as 33 year old Jung. The arrest occurred at a high-end condo in Pattaya, where he was found with passports from South Korea and Vanuatu.…

  • Aussie father fights to survive and heal after losing son to tsunami | Thaiger

    Aussie father fights to survive and heal after losing son to tsunami

    Boxing Day 2004 started as a serene tropical morning for an Australian father, his wife, and their 16 year old son in a beachfront hotel in Phuket. But in moments, tranquillity gave way to catastrophe. “We were admiring the view, and all of a sudden, the water disappeared.” What seemed like an intriguing phenomenon – fish floundering on the exposed…

  • Thai cyber police locate call centre gang in Cambodia | Thaiger

    Thai cyber police locate call centre gang in Cambodia

    Cyber police in Thailand have confirmed the location of a call centre gang on the 25th floor of a building in Poipet, Cambodia, as highlighted in a recent statement by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. This revelation aligns with ongoing investigations and confessions from numerous suspects involved in related cases. At a briefing held yesterday, December 25, at the Technology…

  • Flood mitigation: 95 billion baht plan proposed for Bangkok | Thaiger

    Flood mitigation: 95 billion baht plan proposed for Bangkok

    The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) has proposed a budget of 95 billion baht to the National Water Resources Committee (NWRC) to address flooding in Bangkok by improving the eastern side of the Chao Phraya River. The Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Narumon Pinyosinwat, explained that the initiative aims to tackle drought and flooding issues as part of a larger government…

  • What to do in Bangkok this weekend (December 27 to January 2) | Thaiger

    What to do in Bangkok this weekend (December 27 to January 2)

    This week, we’re saying goodbye to 2024 and welcoming 2025. As expected, Bangkok is packed with fun events to help you celebrate. From festive parties to art exhibitions, there’s plenty to do around the city. And to help you plan the best week ever, we’ve put together a list of the best things happening in Bangkok from December 27 to January…

  • Remembering the 2004 tsunami in Phuket | Thaiger

    Remembering the 2004 tsunami in Phuket

    A disaster that transpired almost two decades ago, yet the wounds are still fresh for many present on the southern island at the time. Although Phuket has evolved to become a powerhouse of Thailand’s tourism as of late, for those present on the fateful day in 2004, the memories of a sunny day quickly turning deadly remain engraved in their…

  • Krabi ferry operators found drug positive suspended | Thaiger

    Krabi ferry operators found drug positive suspended

    Police in Krabi conducted a random drug test on ferry operators and crew members at Koh Lanta, resulting in several individuals testing positive for drugs. The operators, found with purple urine, have been suspended and will undergo rehabilitation. The joint operation involved local administrative officers from Koh Lanta district and regional marine department officials. They carried out these surprise urine…

  • Australian survivor retells harrowing 2004 tsunami ordeal | Thaiger

    Australian survivor retells harrowing 2004 tsunami ordeal

    The morning of December 26, 2004 began like any other for tourists and locals across the Indian Ocean. But by evening, the world had witnessed one of the deadliest natural disasters in history. A 9.1-magnitude earthquake off Sumatra unleashed a tsunami that claimed 230,000 lives, including 26 Australians. For central Victorian Melinda Kennedy, a last-minute decision to board a ferry…

  • Bus carrying dance troupe collides with car in Buriram | Thaiger

    Bus carrying dance troupe collides with car in Buriram

    A dramatic road incident occurred when a bus carrying the Seang Esan Mor Lam dance troupe collided with a car making a U-turn on a street in Buriram, Thailand. Three dancers sustained minor injuries, but the show will go on as planned. Yesterday, December 25, Police Lieutenant Napat Sutthithanakul from Satuek Police Station received a report of a collision between…