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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...

  • Urgent national police investigation into ruthless debt collector suicides in Thailand | Thaiger

    Urgent national police investigation into ruthless debt collector suicides in Thailand

    The National Police Chief launched an investigation into the case of an individual who took his own life due to the extreme pressure from ruthless debt collectors. The investigation, conducted today at the National Police Office, aims to identify any other possible victims and vows to prosecute all cases without exception. The debtor, creditor, and debt collector will be brought…

  • Family ties unravel in murder mystery: Thai trio nabbed for alleged Isaan killing, daughter smells foul play | Thaiger

    Family ties unravel in murder mystery: Thai trio nabbed for alleged Isaan killing, daughter smells foul play

    Police arrested a Thai woman and her two children for the alleged murder of a Thai man in the Isaan province of Sisaket. The suspects accused the deceased of alcohol addiction and abusive behaviour but, in a remarkable twist, the deceased’s biological daughter believes the suspects murdered her father for his money and property. The dead body of the 48…

  • Thai government proposes 15 billion baht plan for informal debtors relief | Thaiger

    Thai government proposes 15 billion baht plan for informal debtors relief

    The Ministry of Finance proposed a plan to the Cabinet to assist informal debtors, allocating a budget of 15 billion baht through the Government Savings Bank (GSB) and the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC). This initiative will also aid debtors affected by the Covid-19 situation who have lost their credit bureau records. At the Government House at 10am…

  • Thai outbound tourism recovery slower than expected due to high costs | Thaiger

    Thai outbound tourism recovery slower than expected due to high costs

    This year has been bleak for both inbound and outbound tourism in Thailand, with a weaker recovery than anticipated. Only 60-70% of Thais who travelled abroad in 2019 are expected to do so present year. High living costs, household debt, and a slump in the stock market have made most Thais prefer saving over spending on outbound trips, which usually…

  • Suvarnabhumi Airport unveils speed passport checks: No more immigration queues | Thaiger

    Suvarnabhumi Airport unveils speed passport checks: No more immigration queues

    In a move set to transform the travel game, Suvarnabhumi International Airport unveiled an upgrade to its passport control system. In an exclusive revelation, Police Lieutenant General Itthipol Itthisarnronnachai, the visionary commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, disclosed that a groundbreaking shift is underway at Suvarnabhumi Airport. Effective from December 15, the airport will extend its automatic passport channels to include…

  • Thai man’s test drive goes viral as EV’s AI says ‘I quit’ | Thaiger

    Thai man’s test drive goes viral as EV’s AI says ‘I quit’

    An amusing incident involving a young man test-driving an electric vehicle (EV) has gone viral on social media today. While attempting to command the vehicle’s artificial intelligence (AI) to lower the windows, the AI responded with the unexpected phrase, “I quit,” causing a wave of laughter across the online community. The story was shared by a user on Facebook’s EV…

  • Thailand’s Central Plain faces escalating smog crisis with soaring PM2.5 levels | Thaiger

    Thailand’s Central Plain faces escalating smog crisis with soaring PM2.5 levels

    Thailand’s Central Plain is grappling with an increasing smog crisis, as PM2.5 dust levels surged to a staggering 134.8 micrograms per cubic metre of air on Tuesday morning, a significant jump from Monday’s reading of 96.6µg/m³, the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) reported. This morning, December 12, saw 15 provinces in the Central Plain, inclusive of Greater Bangkok,…

  • Update: Former Thai boxer denies sexual assault allegations | Thaiger

    Update: Former Thai boxer denies sexual assault allegations

    A renowned former Thai boxer denies sexually assaulting a 17 year old girl from Kalasin province after she lodged a complaint with Khon Kaen police. The incident allegedly took place in a hotel in Khon Kaen after they met at a local club. The accused, Somsak Singmanee, however, vehemently denied the sexual assault accusations, asserting his innocence and respect for his…

  • 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…

  • Unjust arrest sparks outrage over police corruption in Thailand | Thaiger

    Unjust arrest sparks outrage over police corruption in Thailand

    A 50 year old Thai man aired his grievances about police corruption after being unjustly arrested for illegal possession of a gun that was not his. The police demanded a 50,000 baht bail fee, which was eventually negotiated to 20,000 baht, in exchange for his release. The victim, Piboon Tanthai, claimed that someone had left the gun at his house…

  • 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…

  • Major drug trafficking bust in Mukdahan seizes over 600,000 meth pills | Thaiger

    Major drug trafficking bust in Mukdahan seizes over 600,000 meth pills

    A drug trafficking gang was apprehended in the province of Mukdahan, as Region 4 Police seized a staggering haul of over 600,000 meth pills on December 10. Acting on intelligence, the law enforcement officers intercepted a white Mitsubishi Attrage sedan en route from Don Tan district to Mueang Mukdahan district. Behind the wheels was 30 year old Daeng, a resident…

  • 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…

  • Tragic phone distraction causes fatal motorbike collision in Thailand | Thaiger

    Tragic phone distraction causes fatal motorbike collision in Thailand

    A tragic incident occurred when a woman driving a Nissan March car was searching for her mobile phone in the passenger seat, causing the vehicle to lose control and collide with a motorbike. The collision resulted in the death of an 18 year old female student, returning from her Test of General Aptitude (TGAT) examination. The accident took place around…

  • 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…

  • Festive hamper market heats up as retailers vie for consumer spend | Thaiger

    Festive hamper market heats up as retailers vie for consumer spend

    The festive hamper and gift market is witnessing a surge in competition, with major supermarket chains and beauty brands leveraging aggressive campaigns and attractive offers to boost consumer spending during the Christmas holiday season. Following a full recovery from the pandemic’s impact on the retail sector, a substantial budget has been set aside this year to mark the inauguration of…

  • 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…

  • Thai Cabinet reshuffle could impact economy and foreign investment | Thaiger

    Thai Cabinet reshuffle could impact economy and foreign investment

    The Thai Cabinet, currently conducting mobile meetings in Nong Bua Lam Phu – the country’s poorest province, is speculated to face potential reshuffles in leadership or dissolution in the coming year, intensifying the political activities across various Thai provinces. Such changes could pose a risk to the country’s economy, given the current administration is only a few months old. The…

  • 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…