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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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Sponsored 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...
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Bangkok taxi driver returns 170,000 baht to Laotian tourist
A Bangkok taxi driver is being praised for his kindness after going the extra mile to return 170,000 baht to a Laotian tourist travelling in Thailand. Bangkok taxi drivers may have received a record amount of complaints last year over bad manners, rejection of passengers, doctored meters, dangerous driving and overcharging. But one tourist from Laos will assure you that…
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G7 leaders convene in Hiroshima to discuss Russia sanctions, China strategy
G7 leaders have gathered in Hiroshima, Japan, to discuss tighter sanctions against Russia and protective measures against China’s “economic coercion”. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is hosting the summit in a city marked by its history of nuclear destruction. Over the course of three days, leaders, including US President Joe Biden, will work on presenting a united front on issues…
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Thailand’s National Health Security System starts free condom initiative
Thailand announced a new initiative to provide free condoms to individuals holding universal healthcare cards as part of the National Health Security System, also known as the 30-baht health scheme. The initiative aims to prevent unwanted pregnancies and the transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among people of reproductive ages, Pattaya Mail reported yesterday. Deputy Government Spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek highlighted the…
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Man found dead in love hotel after taking Viagra
A 62 year old Thai man died after taking half a Viagra pill in a love hotel in the central province of Suphan Buri. A woman in the room with the man believed to be a sex worker, fled the scene after he died. A member of the hotel staff discovered the dead body of the man yesterday evening and reported…
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Cops catch last suspects in Pattaya robbery of Chinese tourists
Cops caught all the last suspects involved in the robbery case targeting Chinese tourists in Pattaya on May 3. The arrests were made at a border location in Thailand’s eastern Sa Kaeo province. Yesterday morning, Pattaya Police apprehended the three remaining suspects linked to the robbery. The individuals were identified as 31 year old Sarawut Suthaphot, the alleged mastermind behind…
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Heartbreaking tragedy: 9 year old girl takes her own life in Phuket
A tragic incident occurred yesterday in Pa Khlok, Phuket, when a nine-year-old girl reportedly committed suicide by hanging after being denied permission to join her sister on a trip to a local waterfall. The child’s body was discovered at her family home by her grandfather. Upon finding the girl’s body hanging from a clothesline tied between a coconut tree and a…
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Disturbed Buddhist monk in Thailand adopts, kills and burns at least 18 cats
A disturbed Buddhist monk in Thailand confessed to adopting cats via Facebook and beating them to death. Yesterday, the burned carcasses of 18 cats were dug up from behind his living quarters at a temple in Chachoengsao province. Watchdog Thailand Foundation (WDT), an animal rights charity, reported the horrific discovery of animal cruelty at the hands of an ordained Buddhist monk…
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Thailand detects FU.1 Covid sub-variant, 50% more transmissible than XBB.1.16
Thailand’s Centre for Medical Genomics has reported a single case of the Covid-19 sub-variant known as “FU.1” or XBB.1.16.1.1, which is said to be 50% more transmissible than XBB.1.16. The Omicron variant continues to mutate into new sub-variants, despite a decrease in global Covid cases. Currently, the dominant Omicron sub-variants are XBB.1.5, XBB.1.16, and XBB.1.9.1. The Centre for Medical Genomics…
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Former RTN sailor seriously injured after accidentally shooting himself
A former Royal Thai Navy (RTN) sailor suffered a serious injury after accidentally shooting himself while playing with a gun in a rental room in the Isaan province of Burriam. The sailor, Phattarapong Kongkird, was found by his girlfriend last night. She arrived home to discover her 41 year old boyfriend lying unconscious in a pool of blood with a…
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Rural Doctors Society president faces probe over procurement irregularities
An investigation committee has been established by the Public Health Ministry to probe alleged procurement irregularities involving Dr Supat Hasuwannakit, the president of the Rural Doctors Society (RDS). The allegations date back to when Dr Supat was the director of Chana Hospital in Songkhla between 1999 and 2022. Dr Rungrueng Kitphati, a spokesperson for the ministry, announced yesterday that the…
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FTX founder eyes Supreme Court ruling in bid to dismiss fraud charges
FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried is seeking to use a recent Supreme Court ruling to strengthen his defence against fraud charges related to the collapse of his cryptocurrency exchange. However, legal experts have suggested that the chances of having the charges dismissed remain low. Bankman-Fried requested on May 8 that most of the charges against him be dropped, arguing that some…
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Off duty soldier confronts rescue volunteer in Chon Buri
A traffic accident in Chon Buri led to a heated exchange between a local volunteer rescue worker and an off-duty soldier, raising concerns about the behaviour of an individual in military uniform towards civilians during an emergency. On April 16, around 5.50pm, a pickup truck collided with a motorcycle on Sukhumvit Road in Chon Buri. Two people sustained injuries in…
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Dead bodies of couple discovered at condominium in Chon Buri
The management of a condominium in the Si Racha district of Chon Buri made a grim discovery last night as they stumbled upon the dead bodies of a Thai couple in room number 12 on the 12th floor. Law enforcement officers suspect that the man killed the woman before taking his own life. Upon entering the room, officers from Si…
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Buckingham Palace gives no comment on Meghan and Harry’s NYC car chase
Buckingham Palace did not comment on Meghan Markle and Prince Harry‘s reported involvement in a “near catastrophic car chase” in New York City on Tuesday night. People magazine reached out to the palace for a statement yesterday, but no comment was provided. The palace usually does not comment on matters involving 38 year old Prince Harry, and 41 year old Meghan,…
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Bail denied for Polish murder suspect in Bangkok, Thailand
UPDATE #2 A court in Bangkok, Thailand, denied the bail request of the Polish tourist accused of murdering and dismembering his Ukrainian girlfriend at a high-rise condo last weekend. South Bangkok Criminal Court denied bail to 25 year old Jan Jerzy Lagoda-Filippow, citing that he is a flight risk since he already tried to flee the country for Cambodia once.…
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Montana becomes first US state to ban TikTok over Chinese surveillance fears
Montana becomes the first US state to ban the Chinese-owned TikTok app, with Governor Greg Gianforte signing legislation that prohibits Google and Apple’s app stores from offering it within the state’s borders. The ban is set to take effect on January 1, 2024. TikTok, which has over 150 million American users, has faced increasing calls for a nationwide ban due…
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Speedboat crashes in Phuket, 37 injured
A speedboat crashed into a channel marker in Chalong Bay in Phuket, southern Thailand, yesterday injuring four Thais and 33 foreign tourists, mostly Russians. The driver is thought to have fallen asleep as he crashed into the huge concrete pillar in the sea about 100 metres away from the shore of Chalong Bay at 5.30pm. The boat, the Thanathip Marine…
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Man creates fake dating profile of RTP Deputy Commissioner to flirt with women
The Thai Cyber Police apprehended a Thai man who created a fake social media profile of the Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police (RTP), Torsak Sukvimol, and used it to flirt with more than 20 women. Despite having a mental health problem, the suspect did not cause any harm. During their investigation, the police came across a Facebook profile…
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Shirtless Patong man scares people with machete
A shirtless Patong man scared locals and tourists by walking around and swaying a machete back and forth. Patong Police arrested the man yesterday morning near the Suwan Khiriwing Temple (Patong Temple). Officers found the shirtless man swaying the machete and wandering aimlessly in the area. Residents were scared since there is a large number of tourists in the area.…
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Pattaya Police ban prostitution on the beach
Thailand’s Tourist Police have banned sex workers from selling services on the beach in Pattaya. Last night, Tourist Police and officers from Pattaya City Police Station headed down to Pattaya Beach and instructed the city’s ladies and ladyboys of the night to move along. The police informed the sex workers that from now on, they are no longer permitted to…
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Youngest ever royal defamation charge: Thai girl, 16, released on bail
A 16 year old girl from Phitsanulok, Thailand, has been granted bail after being charged with royal defamation, making her the youngest individual ever charged under Section 112 of the Criminal Code, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR). The alleged offence occurred when the girl, known only as “May”, was 14 years and one month old. Police investigators…
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Royal Ploughing Ceremony predicts plentiful harvests and thriving economy
At 8.30am today, His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen arrived at the Royal Ploughing Ceremony area within the Sanam Luang ceremonial grounds by royal car to preside over the auspicious Royal Ploughing Ceremony for the Buddhist year 2566. This year, 58 year old Prayoon Inskul, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, served as the…
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Rare golden venom-spitting cobra discovered in Thai village
A rare golden spitting cobra recently caught the attention of locals in a village in Nakhon Nayok province, Thailand. The snake, measuring around 1.2 metres in length, generated significant interest among villagers, who gathered to view the mesmerising creature. The story behind the snake’s discovery started when Piyapan Bua-Phae, a Facebook user, posted photographs of the golden cobra. An assistant village…
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Diesel prices dip amid global economic recession fears and interest rate hikes
On Monday, Diesel prices have fallen to around 32 baht per litre, as global crude oil prices continue to decline amidst concerns about an economic recession. The Oil Fuel Fund Office (Offo) has attributed this decrease to economic contraction, resulting from central banks’ interest rate hikes. As central banks, including the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank (ECB), continue…
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Japan ramps up G7 security after PM attack and Abe assassination
Japan is ramping up security measures for the G7 summit in Hiroshima, deploying around 24,000 security personnel to ensure the safety of the event. The increased security comes in the wake of an attack on Prime Minister Fumio Kishida last month and the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022. Patrolling police have been visible in the city’s…
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Australian woman saves 3 lives in Krabi tour company fire
An Australian tourist has been hailed as a hero after saving three lives in Thailand by alerting local firefighters and rescue workers to a fire. The blaze broke out at a residential home in Mueang Krabi, which had a tour company at the front of the building. The woman’s quick thinking enabled three people who were asleep inside the house…
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Thaksin hails MFP’s social media mastery, urges generals to retire
Thailand’s former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, praised the Move Forward Party (MFP) for their recent election victory, attributing their success to their mastery of social media and user-generated content (UGC). Thaksin, who remains an influential figure in Thai politics despite his self-imposed exile, highlighted the party’s ability to gain votes organically without resorting to big-spending campaigns or vote-buying. In a…
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Financial institutions step up to help mortgage customers amid rising interest rates
Financial institutions are taking steps to assist mortgage customers in coping with increasing rates as Central Bank hikes impact floating mortgage interest rates. Thakorn Piyapan, president of TMBThanachart Bank (ttb), mentioned that the bank provided some mortgage clients with the option to raise their monthly debt repayment amount or prolong the loan period to alleviate the higher monthly debt burden…
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AIS resumes HBO partnership, offers affordable streaming via AIS Play app
Advanced Info Service (AIS) has renewed its collaboration with global content provider HBO, making content available to customers through the AIS Play mobile app and AIS Playbox set-top box platform at competitive rates. Pratthana Leelapanang, Chief Consumer Business Officer at AIS, stated that the move aims to capitalise on the growing market for streaming services, encompassing both short-form and long-form…
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Court sentences future MFP MP to prison for drink driving in Bangkok
UPDATE A court in Bangkok sentenced Move Forward Party (MFP) list member Nateepat Kulsetthasith to a two-month prison sentence suspended for two years, 12 hours of community service, and a fine of 4,000 baht after she was caught drink driving in Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday morning. Minburi Criminal Court found Nateepat guilty of violating the Road Traffic Act of 1979 after…
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