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    9 most common health issues covered by insurance for expats in Thailand

    Thailand is a popular destination for expats due to its affordable lifestyle and excellent healthcare system. However, settling in a new country often brings health concerns. To ensure you’re covered for the most common medical needs, understanding what expat health...

  • Slowing Chinese economy may impact Thailand’s exports, tourism and investment | Thaiger

    Slowing Chinese economy may impact Thailand’s exports, tourism and investment

    Economic experts are voicing apprehension over the slowing Chinese economy, citing that the mainland’s deceleration and escalating tensions with the US could potentially affect Thailand in terms of exports, tourism, direct investment, and property. Despite China’s economy surpassing estimates by growing 4.5% in the first quarter, it has since experienced a slowdown. The disappointing figures in terms of investment, consumption,…

  • Young man caught smuggling illegal Burmese workers into Thailand for 24,000 baht | Thaiger

    Young man caught smuggling illegal Burmese workers into Thailand for 24,000 baht

    A 20 year old man was apprehended for smuggling illegal Burmese workers into the country. This marks the fourth time the suspect has been caught in the act. The authorities are preparing to repatriate the workers and proceed with legal action against the suspect. The intensification of vehicle inspections by highway patrol officers led to the arrest of the young…

  • Thai soldier arrested with 11 kilogrammes of crystal meth | Thaiger

    Thai soldier arrested with 11 kilogrammes of crystal meth

    The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) arrested a Thai soldier at Rattanaphon Military Camp in the southern province of Songkhla yesterday for possessing and selling 11 kilogrammes of crystal meth. ONCB officers received a tip-off that a 29 year old soldier working in an administrative office at the Rattanaphon Military Camp was a member of a drug trafficking…

  • Electronics firms poised for a shocking surge in the new year | Thaiger

    Electronics firms poised for a shocking surge in the new year

    Electronics companies listed on the stock market are set to witness a performance upturn in the new year, owing to a forecasted global recovery across all industry sub-sectors, according to KGI Securities. The firm predicts a higher growth rate in the second half of the year on the back of continuing inventory restocking. The outlook is based on the steady…

  • Thai minister heats up COP28 with climate change commitment | Thaiger

    Thai minister heats up COP28 with climate change commitment

    At the COP28 climate talks in Dubai, Thailand’s Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Police General Phatcharavat Wongsuwan, took centre stage, making bold declarations and unveiling ambitious plans to combat climate change. In a fervent address on December 10, Phatcharavat reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, sending shockwaves through the climate change talks. He underlined the urgency…

  • China’s outbound tourism surges due to strategic visa policies and AI use | Thaiger

    China’s outbound tourism surges due to strategic visa policies and AI use

    The increase in China‘s outbound tourism can be linked to the strategic visa policies and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in travel assistants, as stated by Trip.com Group, China’s leading online travel platform. The group’s vice president and managing director of international markets, Boon Sian Chai, highlighted the significance of visa waivers introduced in September in the revival of…

  • Thai military doctor with mental illness surrenders after shooting near Bangkok | Thaiger

    Thai military doctor with mental illness surrenders after shooting near Bangkok

    A Thai military doctor surrendered to police last night after a shooting incident in a village on the Srinakarin Road in the Samut Prakarn province near Bangkok. Bang Kaew Police Station officers received a report of a shooting at 4.45pm yesterday, December 11, and rushed to the scene to find the gunman shouting and waving a gun around outside of…

  • Thai labour minister takes wages for a spin: Cabinet gears up for minimum wage review | Thaiger

    Thai labour minister takes wages for a spin: Cabinet gears up for minimum wage review

    Thai Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn announced that the Cabinet will be looking into a review of the new daily minimum wage rates. This comes after several business organisations urged the government to uphold the decision made by a tripartite wage committee regarding the increase in wages. Phiphat disclosed that he has no authority to review the rates approved by the…

  • Drug suspect accuses police of 300,000 baht extortion and rape | Thaiger

    Drug suspect accuses police of 300,000 baht extortion and rape

    A Thai drug suspect accused Pathum Thani Provincial Police officers of illegally reducing her sentence, extorting 300,000 baht and raping her. The Thai woman and her boyfriend sought help from the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive. The organisation accompanied them in filing a complaint at the Office of the Prime Minister at Government House yesterday, December 11. Addressing the media, the…

  • Phuket: Danish tourists minivan crash with pickup truck in Thalang | Thaiger

    Phuket: Danish tourists minivan crash with pickup truck in Thalang

    Four Danish tourists were left battered and bruised after a collision between their minivan taxi and a pickup truck in Thalang, Phuket. The crash unfolded yesterday morning, December 11 on the Mueang Mai – Paklok Road in Thep Krasattri. Thalang Police received report of a crash at 9.30am, and rushed to the accident scene where a minivan lay battered on…

  • Thailand’s Democrat Party in crisis following mass leadership change | Thaiger

    Thailand’s Democrat Party in crisis following mass leadership change

    The Democrat Party in Thailand teeters on the brink of a crisis, following an overwhelming loss of members due to a recent change in leadership, according to the party’s former leader Abhisit Vejjajiva. Chalermchai Sri-on, the ninth elected leader of the Democrats, took over the reins amidst internal turmoil. Abhisit, in his first public comment since the leadership election on December 9,…

  • Air Canada flight revival: Bangkok to Vancouver route takes off for a holiday high | Thaiger

    Air Canada flight revival: Bangkok to Vancouver route takes off for a holiday high

    Great news for holidaymakers in North America and Thailand, as Air Canada today announced the reinstatement of direct flights between Bangkok and Vancouver. H E Ping Kitnikone, the Ambassador of Canada to the Kingdom of Thailand, extended invitations to esteemed guests and partners for Air Canada’s Agency Reception at the Ambassador’s Official Residence. Air Canada has officially reinstated direct flights…

  • Thailand’s nightlife gets green light: Entertainment venues now open until 6am | Thaiger

    Thailand’s nightlife gets green light: Entertainment venues now open until 6am

    The Interior Ministry today gave the green light for entertainment venues across Thailand to remain open until 6am in a move to bolster tourism and add extra sparkle to new year celebrations. Interior Ministry Spokesperson Traisuree Taisaranakul said the temporary extension of the closing time at entertainment venues across Thailand was aimed at promoting tourism and new year celebrations. Traisuree…

  • Danish family in critical road accident on Phuket’s border area | Thaiger

    Danish family in critical road accident on Phuket’s border area

    A family of Danish tourists experienced a harrowing road accident in Phuket when their van collided head-on with a pickup truck. The accident, which occurred yesterday on the Mueang Mai-Paara Road in the border area between Thepkrasattri and Pa Klok, Thalang, left all four family members and both drivers injured. Around 9.30am, the incident was reported to Phongpipat Kamchomphu, the…

  • Thai high-value sectors to boost economy, exports in 2024 says FTI | Thaiger

    Thai high-value sectors to boost economy, exports in 2024 says FTI

    The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) forecasted that the country’s high-value sectors such as agriculture, food, automotive, and bio-, circular and green (BCG) manufacturing will bolster the economy and exports in the coming year. The BCG initiative, launched as a national agenda in 2021, aligns with global environmental campaigns, encouraging manufacturers to adopt environmentally friendly technologies. Kriengkrai Thiennukul, FTI chairman,…

  • Suvarnabhumi Airport opens automated channels to foreign travellers | Thaiger

    Suvarnabhumi Airport opens automated channels to foreign travellers

    The Immigration Bureau (IB) announced that Suvarnabhumi International Airport’s automated channels are now accessible to foreigners to alleviate congestion for outbound travel. This decision, effective from December 15, aligns with the Prime Minister’s directive, enforced by Srettha Thavasin, to enhance the outbound immigration system. The move is aimed at reducing the density of passengers who need to rush to catch…

  • Football field gunman caught in Chanthaburi following dramatic escape | Thaiger

    Football field gunman caught in Chanthaburi following dramatic escape

    The gunman responsible for an attack at a football field has been apprehended in Chanthaburi province after fleeing the scene. He confessed to the crime, revealing that he had discarded his firearm in a canal. Police are rapidly investigating the motive behind the incident. Today, news emerged that the suspect had been spotted at a checkpoint in Chanthaburi’s Ban Laem…

  • NBTC and Thai police bust illegal communications warehouse worth over 200 million baht | Thaiger

    NBTC and Thai police bust illegal communications warehouse worth over 200 million baht

    The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) and the Royal Thai Police (RTP) demolished an illegal communications radio warehouse in Pathum Thani province. The joint operation aimed to disrupt the network of call centres, seizing CCTV cameras fitted with SIM cards and 58,400 related items, valued at over 200 million baht. At 10am today, Dr Sornchai Boonyachaiyapruek, the chairman of…

  • Ultrafine dust blankets 50 Thai provinces posing serious health risks | Thaiger

    Ultrafine dust blankets 50 Thai provinces posing serious health risks

    Hazardous levels of ultrafine dust engulfed 50 Thai provinces today, as reported by the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA). The Central Plains and the Mortheast were the hardest hit regions. GISTDA’s 7am update on its website PM25.gistda.or.th today, December 11, highlighted that mostly central plains and northeastern provinces were among the 50 out of 77 provinces cloaked in…

  • Plastic predicament: Thailand faces a ton(ne) of trouble with a 62% surge in waste | Thaiger

    Plastic predicament: Thailand faces a ton(ne) of trouble with a 62% surge in waste

    Plastic waste in Thailand has witnessed a surge of 62%, escalating from 2.12 million tonnes in 2019 to 3.4 million tonnes in 2020, according to the Thailand Environment Institute. This increase has been largely attributed to lifestyle changes induced by the pandemic, such as an increased reliance on food delivery services. The Prayut Chan-o-cha government initiated a policy in 2018…

  • Six ex-London police officers arrested for offensive messages | Thaiger

    Six ex-London police officers arrested for offensive messages

    Six former London police officers were arrested in connection to offensive messages targeting Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and other political figures. The incident, which took place on December 8, involved racially and sexually offensive messages sent through WhatsApp. The issue came to light following an investigation by BBC’s Newsnight. The accused include Michael Chadwell, Peter Booth, Anthony Elsom, Trevor Lewton,…

  • Surat Thani’s hidden gems captivate American tourists | Thaiger

    Surat Thani’s hidden gems captivate American tourists

    Tourism operators within the southern province of Surat Thani are pivoting their attention to the US market, showcasing the distinctive local attractions. Atirat Danpattaraworawat, who heads the Cheow Lan Lake Tourism Promotion Association, disclosed on Sunday that their recent networking expedition to the United States, spearheaded by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), garnered considerable interest from the US market.…

  • Thai police step up probe into underage assault linked to ex-Olympic boxer | Thaiger

    Thai police step up probe into underage assault linked to ex-Olympic boxer

    Thai police are accelerating their investigation into the case of a 17 year old girl who reported being sexually assaulted after a night out at a club. They are gathering information before summoning Somluck Kamsing, a former Olympic gold medal boxer, for questioning about the underage assault. The incident occurred today, at an entertainment venue on Prachasamran Road, Khon Kaen…

  • Devastating road accident in Chumphon leaves one dead, six injured | Thaiger

    Devastating road accident in Chumphon leaves one dead, six injured

    A pickup truck, carrying six workers, swerved drastically to avoid an oncoming motorbike, resulting in the vehicle flipping and leaving one dead and six injured. The incident occurred around 5pm yesterday, in Chumphon province. Manoch Plodkankan, an investigative officer from the Lang Suan Police Station, was among the first to arrive at the scene. The accident happened off the Asian…

  • China positions Guangxi as Southeast Asia’s primary gateway | Thaiger

    China positions Guangxi as Southeast Asia’s primary gateway

    Guanxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, bordering Vietnam, is being positioned by China as the primary gateway for businesses and tourists from the ASEAN region. Its southern China location and connectivity to Vietnam through land, sea, and air routes make it a strategic point for Southeast Asia. The region is equipped with three international airports and three deep-sea ports which collectively host…

  • New M81 motorway segment open for new year holiday traffic in Thailand | Thaiger

    New M81 motorway segment open for new year holiday traffic in Thailand

    Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit announced that a portion of the new M81 motorway, set to connect Bang Yai district in Nonthaburi to Kanchanaburi province, will be accessible to drivers over the new year holiday season. Suriya and Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin were in Kanchanaburi on Saturday, where they conversed with officials about the province’s development. During the period from December…

  • Thailand’s minimum wage increase sparks controversy and calls for revision | Thaiger

    Thailand’s minimum wage increase sparks controversy and calls for revision

    The contentious decision to marginally increase the daily minimum wage in Thailand spurred the Ministry of Labour into seeking discussions with the tripartite committee, which approved the hike. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin critiqued the decision as insignificant, stating that the 2 to 16 baht rise approved last Friday was insufficient. The tripartite committee, also referred to as the wage board,…

  • Escaped prisoner recaptured in Thailand following penis enlargement surgery | Thaiger

    Escaped prisoner recaptured in Thailand following penis enlargement surgery

    The Department of Corrections in Thailand recently recaptured an 37 year old escaped prisoner, who had fled from the surgical ward of Bang Lamung Hospital. He was discovered today at approximately 7am, hiding on the rooftop of a one-storey psychiatry ward building, a mere 20 metres from the surgical ward he had escaped from. Thanaphat Mayod, who was serving a…

  • Lamduan drug gang apprehended in high-speed chase by operation unit 238 | Thaiger

    Lamduan drug gang apprehended in high-speed chase by operation unit 238

    Operation Unit 238, tasked with protecting the city of Lamduan, successfully apprehended a drug gang following a high-speed car chase. The operation ended with two young men in custody and almost 70,000 methamphetamine pills confiscated. Another suspect managed to escape during the pursuit yesterday. Anupong Suksomnit, the Provincial Police Region of Sisaket, revealed the details of the drug bust, which…

  • Surat Thani man shoots brother-in-law over land dispute | Thaiger

    Surat Thani man shoots brother-in-law over land dispute

    A brutal domestic dispute escalated to homicide when a man fatally shot his brother-in-law multiple times in front of their family home. The incident, sparked by an argument over inherited land rights, occurred in the Chaiya district of Surat Thani Province. The gunman is now in police custody awaiting prosecution. On the evening of yesterday, at around 10pm, police officers…