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Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond.

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    Why long-term expats in Thailand say insurance is worth every baht

    Thailand’s warm weather, low cost of living, and good healthcare attract many long-term expats, including retirees and remote workers. Life here feels easy and affordable, but medical costs can be high if something goes wrong. Private hospitals are popular because...

  • Pattaya deputy mayor slams contractors with record fines | Thaiger

    Pattaya deputy mayor slams contractors with record fines

    In response to mounting frustration over delays at the North Pattaya intersection, Deputy Mayor Manot Nongyai has taken decisive action, confirming hefty penalties for the responsible contractor. The construction setbacks have caused major disruptions to residents and the local tourism scene, prompting swift measures from city officials. Manot outlined the scope of the project, which includes resurfacing key intersections across…

  • Severe drought in Nakhon Ratchasima threatens rice farmers | Thaiger

    Severe drought in Nakhon Ratchasima threatens rice farmers

    Nakhon Ratchasima faces a severe drought crisis, with newly sown rice fields wilting due to prolonged dry spells. The irrigation department is urgently pumping water to prevent damage to over 1,000 rai of rice seedlings. The significant drought is particularly felt in the Phimai district. The water allocation officials from the Thung Samrit Irrigation Project, Phimai district, have accelerated efforts…

  • Caught in crossfire: Thai man nabbed for peddling homemade guns | Thaiger

    Caught in crossfire: Thai man nabbed for peddling homemade guns

    Police arrested 22 year old Thai man for selling homemade firearms on social media. The operation aimed to curb crimes involving illegal weapons, a rising concern given recent violent incidents. Police launched this sting operation under the directive of Police General Kitirat Phanphet, acting Commissioner-General, and Police General Thana Chuwong, Deputy Commissioner-General. The plan was executed to address the escalating…

  • Rain or shine: Thailand’s secondary cities steal the travel spotlight | Thaiger

    Rain or shine: Thailand’s secondary cities steal the travel spotlight

    Travellers in Thailand are increasingly shifting their focus to the country’s secondary cities, especially during the rainy season. Digital travel platform Agoda reported a significant rise in accommodation searches for these often-overlooked locales, reflecting a growing trend among domestic and international tourists eager to explore Thailand’s diverse regions. Topping the list as the most-searched secondary city is Chanthaburi, followed by…

  • Political risks threaten foreign investment in Thailand | Thaiger

    Political risks threaten foreign investment in Thailand

    Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) EIC Research Centre warns that heightened political risks are casting a shadow over foreign investment in Thailand’s financial, capital, and long-term direct investment markets EIC Chief Economist Somprawin Manprasert warned that various political risks and uncertainties could significantly impact foreign investor confidence and lead to substantial capital outflows from offshore investors in the Thai equity market.…

  • Motorised cart crash in Chaiyaphum kills elderly woman | Thaiger

    Motorised cart crash in Chaiyaphum kills elderly woman

    A tragic accident involving a motorised cart resulted in the death of a 68 year old woman and injuries to another passenger. The incident occurred yesterday in Chaiyaphum province when the cart, loaded with firewood, failed to ascend a hill and overturned. Kaeng Khro Police Station officers responded promptly to the scene, finding a motorised cart tipped on its side…

  • Insurance giant loses 40 billion baht Covid lawsuit | Thaiger

    Insurance giant loses 40 billion baht Covid lawsuit

    The Central Administrative Court dismissed a colossal 40 billion baht lawsuit against the Office of Insurance Commission, filed by Syn Mun Kong Insurance Public Company. This landmark case revolved around the commission’s prohibition on cancelling the company’s controversial Covid 2 in 1 (jer-jai-job) insurance policies, sold to approximately one million customers at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021.…

  • Police arrest fuel theft suspect after dramatic high-speed chase | Thaiger

    Police arrest fuel theft suspect after dramatic high-speed chase

    A dramatic police chase on foot culminated in the arrest of a suspect who had been on a spree of fuel thefts across three provinces, filling up massive containers with fuel before making a quick getaway in his modified pickup truck. The suspect, identified as 32 year old Natthawut, was finally apprehended in a rental room after a failed attempt…

  • Thai couple jailed for 25 years for acid attack on student | Thaiger

    Thai couple jailed for 25 years for acid attack on student

    A Thai court sentenced a couple to 25 years in prison for attacking an 18 year old female student with acid, causing severe disfigurement. The husband received an additional 10 years and they were ordered to pay over 2 million baht in damages. Chased by law enforcement, 21 year old Jesdaporn, and 25 year old Angkana, were apprehended hiding in…

  • Thailand Video News | Thailand Senate passes landmark same-sex marriage bill, Iranian tourist attacked on Phuket’s party street | Thaiger

    Thailand Video News | Thailand Senate passes landmark same-sex marriage bill, Iranian tourist attacked on Phuket’s party street

    On Thailand Video News today, Alex cover news popping up across the country and how the Senate has passed the landmark same-sex marriage bill. An Iranian tourist was attacked on Saturday on a party street in Phuket, and a village chief is defending traditional burning practices amid the air pollution crisis. A soda bottle exploding has injured a worker and…

  • SCAT Airlines operates new routes from Kazakhstan to U-Tapao | Thaiger

    SCAT Airlines operates new routes from Kazakhstan to U-Tapao

    The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) announced new flight connections at U-Tapao–Rayong–Pattaya International Airport (UTP), courtesy of SCAT Airlines and AirAsia. This move underscores Thailand’s strategic push to enhance accessibility for international business travellers and tourists. SCAT Airlines is operating a charter service using Boeing 737 Max-9 with 213 seats from Almaty, Kazakhstan via flight number VSV5357 every seven to…

  • Cycling rage: 71 year old amputee stabs harasser in Bang Pakong | Thaiger

    Cycling rage: 71 year old amputee stabs harasser in Bang Pakong

    A 71 year old amputee, driven by frustration over persistent harassment, fatally stabbed a younger man before cycling home, only to be arrested hours later by police. Police officers, forensic experts, a duty doctor from Bang Pakong Hospital, and rescue volunteers from Chachoengsao arrived at the scene after midnight. The incident occurred at a roadside pavilion near the entrance to…

  • DES Ministry snags Starlink sets in cosmic online crime crackdown | Thaiger

    DES Ministry snags Starlink sets in cosmic online crime crackdown

    Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry officials confiscated 58 sets of Starlink satellite equipment allegedly intended for use by fraudsters to send and receive high-speed Internet signals via satellite, as part of a broader campaign to combat online crime. DES Minister Prasert Jantararuangthong highlighted that efforts to curb online crimes, such as removing unauthorised cell signal towers and cross-border cables, have…

  • Thailand shoots to the top, leaves Malaysia trailing in ASEAN rankings | Thaiger

    Thailand shoots to the top, leaves Malaysia trailing in ASEAN rankings

    Thailand has rocketed up the global competitiveness rankings, leaving Malaysia in the dust and securing the second spot in ASEAN. The IMD World Competitiveness Centre’s 2024 report catapulted Thailand from 30th to 25th place worldwide, highlighting a significant leap in economic performance. Danucha Pichayanan, the Secretary-General of the National Economic and Social Development Council, briefed the Cabinet yesterday regarding this…

  • Thailand’s cybersecurity spend critical as cybercrime costs surge | Thaiger

    Thailand’s cybersecurity spend critical as cybercrime costs surge

    Thailand’s current expenditure on cybersecurity stands starkly low at just 0.2% of corporate revenue, despite the looming surge in cybercrime-related costs projected to reach US$10.5 trillion globally by 2025, according to cybersecurity firm Fortinet. Krungthai Compass, the research division of Krungthai Bank, anticipates that Thailand’s cybersecurity investment will climb to 18 billion baht (US$490 million) by 2025. This growth, averaging…

  • Black sea menace: Jomtien Beach’s water quality | Thaiger

    Black sea menace: Jomtien Beach’s water quality

    Sanitation engineering officials descended on Jomtien Beach amid alarming reports of black contaminants in the water. An in-depth inspection was carried out on Monday, June 17, at three key locations: Jomtien Beach at Soi 7, in front of The Now Hotel, and in front of Marine Beach Hotel Pattaya. Initial observations of the seawater revealed a green hue and a…

  • Gold prices in Thailand rise to 40,950 baht per baht weight | Thaiger

    Gold prices in Thailand rise to 40,950 baht per baht weight

    Gold prices in Thailand saw a significant rise today, prompting many to check the latest rates. Compared to the closing price from yesterday, June 18, gold ornaments are now being sold at 40,950 baht per baht weight. According to the Gold Traders Association, the price increase today was 150 baht. As of 9.08am, the local gold bar buying price stands…

  • British Airways flights to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur resume soon | Thaiger

    British Airways flights to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur resume soon

    British Airways (BA) resumes flights to Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok this year, marking a significant step in its regional expansion strategy. Chairman and CEO Sean Doyle expressed the importance of this strategic return. “For a global carrier like us, expanding our network in Asia as quickly as possible is crucial. With more aircraft joining our fleet in the coming years,…

  • Tourism troubles: Zero-dollar tours rock Thai industry | Thaiger

    Tourism troubles: Zero-dollar tours rock Thai industry

    Zero-dollar tours, notorious for their rock-bottom prices, are once again plaguing Thailand’s tourism sector and posing unfair competition for Thai operations, particularly targeting visitors from China, Russia, and India. The President of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, claims that this resurgence is severely impacting the industry due to the substandard quality of tours, leaving legitimate Thai…

  • Court orders evidence in PM Srettha’s ethics case | Thaiger

    Court orders evidence in PM Srettha’s ethics case

    The Constitutional Court has thrown the government into turmoil by demanding all parties in Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s ethics case submit evidence within 15 days. The court’s decision came yesterday, setting a new hearing date for July 10 but it remains uncertain whether a ruling will be issued then, leaving the government in a state of anxiety. The case revolves…

  • Residents protest over false advertising and dilapidated clubhouse | Thaiger

    Residents protest over false advertising and dilapidated clubhouse

    Residents of a housing estate are up in arms over false advertising that promised top-notch amenities, only to be shocked by the dilapidated state of the clubhouse. The celebrity Tuck Boriboon allegedly could not tolerate the situation and joined the protest. Dr Monchai Jongkairattanakul, also known as Lawyer Kaew, shared the plight of the residents yesterday through the Facebook page…

  • Parked tragedy: Teen motorcyclist crashes into truck in Samut Prakan | Thaiger

    Parked tragedy: Teen motorcyclist crashes into truck in Samut Prakan

    A 17 year old motorcyclist tragically lost his life after crashing into the back of a parked truck in Samut Prakan. Witnesses confirmed the young rider was speeding and weaving between lanes before the fatal incident occurred. At around 10pm yesterday, officers from Bang Phli Police Station in Samut Prakan were alerted to a fatal accident involving a motorcycle and…

  • Illegal spiritual retreat seized in Thai national forest reserve | Thaiger

    Illegal spiritual retreat seized in Thai national forest reserve

    The Forest Department, military, police, and local administrative bodies joined forces to seize an unauthorised spiritual retreat within a national forest reserve. The site included roads, buildings, and accommodations constructed illegally. Pongpetch Kasupha, head of the Operation Unit of the Internal Security Operations Command Region 4, and Chanchai Kijsakdapap, leader of the Forest Department’s Tiger Unit, accompanied by officers from…

  • Seafood restaurant owner’s son opens fire on employees, kills one | Thaiger

    Seafood restaurant owner’s son opens fire on employees, kills one

    The son of a renowned seafood restaurant owner, angered by his employees drinking beer after work, grabbed a gun and opened fire, killing one employee and severely injuring the other. The son quickly fled the scene of the restaurant in Bangkok and currently remains at large. At 3.30am today, the Deputy Inspector at Thian Talay Police Station, Thassani Kudsub received…

  • Tourists spot black panthers at Kaeng Krachan National Park (video) | Thaiger

    Tourists spot black panthers at Kaeng Krachan National Park (video)

    A black panther was spotted by tourists at Kaeng Krachan National Park in Phetchaburi province, calmly walking along the road to Panoen Thung without showing signs of fear towards vehicles. Mongkol Chaiphakdee, head of Kaeng Krachan National Park, confirmed that a tourist named Amy captured the rare sighting near Kilometre 20 on the way to Panoen Thung. Amy managed to…

  • Couple found dead in car in Suan Luang, Bangkok | Thaiger

    Couple found dead in car in Suan Luang, Bangkok

    A couple was found dead in a parked car on Phatthanakan Soi 12 in Bangkok with the engine running until the fuel was exhausted. CCTV footage revealed they had entered the vehicle after leaving their workplace. The incident occurred around 8.20pm yesterday. Police Lieutenant Sirichai Kaewprasith from Khlong Tan Police Station responded to the discovery of two bodies, one male and…

  • Police escort eight oil tanker crew to Bangkok for questioning | Thaiger

    Police escort eight oil tanker crew to Bangkok for questioning

    Police escorted eight oil tanker crew members to Bangkok for further questioning after arresting them for allegedly stealing three confiscated vessels and smuggling oil. The suspects were apprehended and brought ashore in Songkhla, where initial investigations occurred. Deputy Commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), Jaroonkiat Pankaew, led the operation, which saw the crew members transported to Wing 56 in…

  • Family suspects foul play in drowning of three year old daughter | Thaiger

    Family suspects foul play in drowning of three year old daughter

    A family is mourning the loss of their three year old daughter who drowned in a pond near a childcare centre in Sisaket Province. The family suspects foul play and believes the drowning to be a staged murder. Initial autopsy findings at Sisaket Hospital revealed that the child, Alice, died from asphyxiation while drowning, with water being aspirated into her lungs,…

  • Wat’s the charge? Temple’s electricity bill leaves abbot in asterisk-ing confusion | Thaiger

    Wat’s the charge? Temple’s electricity bill leaves abbot in asterisk-ing confusion

    The abbot of Wat Pa Amphawan Khunanusorn in Buriram was left puzzled after receiving the temple’s electricity bill, which lacked both the FT charge and the total amount due, instead showing only asterisks. This led to confusion about how to pay the bill or if the temple might be getting free electricity this month. He urged officials to thoroughly check…

  • Why is Thailand a great place to get custom suits made? | Thaiger

    Why is Thailand a great place to get custom suits made?

    Custom clothes are a common site, not just in Thailand but across Southeast Asia. Tailoring is an age-old profession in Thailand and Vietnam and is especially popular within the Sikh communities. In Thailand, tailoring is more than just a service; it’s an experience that shows how traditional skills can be combined with modern style. Let’s explore the world of custom…