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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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Mono next to test AI-generated news anchors on digital platform
Mono Next, a publicly traded media and content provider, announced plans to test artificial intelligence (AI)-generated news anchors on its Mono 29 digital TV channel and online platform. The trial run, set to kick off next month, will be used to gauge audience reactions to these AI-generated anchors. Patompong Sirachairat, Mono’s chief executive, clarifies that the move is not aimed…
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Foreign currency deposits surge in Thailand
The past year has seen a significant upturn in foreign currency deposits (FCDs), spurred by appealing interest rates due to global rate hikes. According to data from the Deposit Protection Agency (DPA), member financial institutions observed a surge in FCDs to a total value of 812 billion baht (US$22 billion) by November 2023, up from an earlier figure of 640…
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Rama II expressway construction issues prompt contractor downgrade considerations
The construction of the Rama II Road expressway, currently plagued by delays, substandard work and safety concerns, has prompted Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin to consider downgrading contractors responsible for the project. The state budget office was instructed to investigate possible penalties for the contractors involved. Patricia Mongkhonvanit, director-general of the Comptroller General’s Department, was called to meet with the prime…
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Swiss national’s visa status under review following Phuket assault
The visa status of a Swiss national, embroiled in an assault case in Phuket, is set to undergo review by the immigration police, according to Deputy Phuket Governor, Adul Chuthong. The Swiss national, known as Urs Fehr or David, whose visa is due to expire on March 13, is the operator of several Thai businesses and has a registered foundation…
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Unexpected roadside delivery: Thai woman helps stranger give birth
A sudden roadside birth turned a routine day into an unforgettable experience for a Thai woman on her way to a temple, as a pregnant stranger delivered a healthy baby boy in her car. On March 3, Thitiwan Keardpum shared an extraordinary encounter on Facebook, detailing how a heavily pregnant woman unexpectedly gave birth in her vehicle. The post, accompanied…
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Pattaya woman injured by glass thrown in dog-caused dispute
A 37 year old local woman named Amawalee Tongfark, found herself in an unfortunate altercation when a glass, thrown by a foreign man, left her with an arm injury in Pattaya. The incident, which was sparked by an agitated response to a barking dog, occurred at a cafe near Jomtien Beach where Amawalee and a friend were spending time. The…
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Drunken altercation in Pattaya ends in injuries and property damage
In Pattaya, a heated altercation escalated into a violent incident in a rented room in the Nongprue sub-district, Banglamung district, Chon Buri province. The incident, which occurred at around 2am yesterday, ended in multiple injuries and a considerable amount of property damage. The police were first alerted to the situation when they received a call from the Nongprue Police Station…
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Suspect surrenders in Pattaya Bolt rider murder case
Pattaya experienced a shocking turn of events when a man suspected of a brutal murder yesterday voluntarily handed himself over to the police. Piriyapong Nampetcharoenphon, known locally as U, presented himself at the Nongprue Police Station at 12.30pm on Monday, March 4, following an arrest warrant issued by the Pattaya Provincial Court. The warrant was connected to the fatal shooting…
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Beauty pageant entrance stirs debate with dramatic emergency
The recent staging of a dramatic entrance by Kanyaphatsaphon Rungrueang Misgrand Pathum Thani at a beauty pageant sparked a mix of criticism and concern across social media platforms. Kanyaphatsaphon, representing Pathum Thani in the Miss Grand Thailand 2024 competition, made her debut with the sound of emergency sirens blaring, as she was laid on a stretcher, ostensibly receiving CPR, before emerging…
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Thai call center scam mastermind nabbed at border
The Thai authorities arrested a Thai national, on charges related to operating a call centre scam that duped victims into installing fake electricity utility apps and draining bank accounts of up to 1 million baht. The suspect, 24 year old Supharit, who received a 10-20% commission per scam, totalling over 500 million baht, is also linked to a case where…
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Thailand intensifies crackdown on illegal short selling
The Chairman of the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), Pichai Chunhavajira, announced plans to intensify the country’s crackdown on illegal short selling as shares continue to underperform. Currently, the law permits penalisation of only the securities companies that initiate the short-selling order. However, the market authorities are contemplating amending the law to allow the prosecution of both individuals and companies…
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Bangkok hosts Lim Ko Niao spiritual event for devotees
Bangkok’s Po Teck Tung Foundation currently hosts a revered spiritual event, inviting devotees to venerate the goddess Lim Ko Niao from Hat Yai. The event at the foundation’s headquarters in Plabplachai is a collaborative effort with the Samakkhi Mitrapap Foundation (Thung Siang Tung) from Hat Yai. It runs from March 10 to 13 corresponding to the Western calendar. On Sunday,…
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Thai cop spills beans on bid to hush British backpacker’s drugs dealing bust (video)
An unnamed Thai police officer revealed that his superiors attempted to suppress a story about the arrest of a British backpacker for selling Category 1 drugs on a notorious island in Thailand. Andrew Brett was arrested on Thursday, February 29, for allegedly selling ecstasy and LSD to other foreign tourists at the Ecco Bar on Koh Tao island in the…
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Thai minister ready to battle over funding for Russian helicopter
Thai Interior Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, is set to challenge the parliamentary subcommittee’s refusal to approve funding for a new Russian-made helicopter. The helicopter is intended to augment the capabilities of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), particularly in dealing with the country’s increasing wildfires and haze pollution. The subcommittee, tasked with scrutinising the fiscal budget for 2024, had…
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Thai racing champion faces backlash after gym altercation
A well-known Thai racing driver is currently facing scrutiny after a video surfaced online showing the athlete assaulting a Mahidol University student in a condominium gym. The incident, which occurred on February 27, stemmed from a dispute over the use of gym equipment. The altercation took place in the late afternoon at 5.45pm when Non, a 21 year old student…
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Tesla in Thailand: The future of green mobility and autonomous vehicles
Following its debut in Thailand at the end of 2022, US-based automobile giant Tesla continues to expand its influence in the Thai market and it is also exciting to purchase a new car in Thailand. With a test centre open in Ramkhamhaeng, customers can try driving various Tesla models as they wish, buy Tesla products, and pick up their ordered…
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Surin school head arrested for drug trade, 2.4 million pills seized
The Thai Ministry of Education is currently carrying out a stringent investigation following the shocking arrest of a school director in Surin province for his involvement in a drug trafficking operation. The director was caught with a staggering 2.4 million methamphetamine tablets and has been promptly dismissed from his position to face the full force of the law. On March…
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Bangkok’s Rama followed the deer as far as Paris
Khon Ramayana episode: “Phra Ram Tam Kwang” (Rama Followed the Deer) is one of the Thai performances that the Thai Arts and Culture Group from the Culture, Sports and Tourism Department performed at the activity area on the rooftop of the Galeries Lafayette department store, located in a major shopping area in the middle of Paris. It attracted a lot…
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Bitcoin nears all-time high, marking a 50% rise this year
Bitcoin’s value witnessed a steep rise today, reaching a two-year high of US$64,285, a mere 2% shy of its all-time record of US$68,999.99 set in November 2021. This surge marks a 50% increase in the cryptocurrency’s value since the beginning of this year, with the majority of this growth observed in recent weeks. The rise in Bitcoin’s value corresponds with…
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Chiang Rai hits highest air pollution levels in Thailand
Air pollution has reached critical levels in the northern and northeastern regions of Thailand, with 36 provinces reporting particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations exceeding the safe standard, according to a recent report from the Air Pollution Control Department (APCD) under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The province of Chiang Rai recorded the highest levels in the country. Over the…
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Phuket road tragedy: Two vendors killed by speeding car
A road tragedy in Phuket claimed the lives of two street vendors when a car, driven at high speed by an airline employee, collided with their motorcycle. The incident happened early in the morning on a local road in Thalang district. At approximately 6.16am today police and emergency responders were dispatched to the scene of a fatal collision on the road…
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LH Bank reveals strategy for mid-sized status by 2030
Land and Houses Bank (LH Bank), the financial subsidiary of property giant Land and Houses Plc (LH), unveils its ambitious plan to become a mid-sized bank by 2030. The bank’s strategy is founded on robust loan growth and an increasing income stream. LH Bank’s five-year business strategy involves a comprehensive restructuring of its loan portfolio, aimed at driving loan expansion…
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Chinese tourist’s beach drive ends in Phuket sand trap (video)
A Chinese national on holiday ignored a warning sign advising against driving on the beach and subsequently ended up getting his car stuck in the sand at Kamala Beach in Phuket province. A local posted a video on his Facebook account, อามิตร อามอ อิสลาม, at about 8am yesterday, March 3, showing a green Jeep partially submerged in the water at…
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BAAC to launch e-commerce platform with Chinese tech firm
The Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) is in discussions with a prominent Chinese technology firm to establish a joint venture. The focus of this venture is to create an e-commerce platform to streamline the sale of agricultural commodities to China, as revealed by Chatchai Sirilai, the bank’s president. In this joint venture, the BAAC will not be considered…
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Thailand’s TQM Insurance introduces cover for PM2.5 pollution-related diseases
Health concerns over PM2.5 air pollution in Thailand are escalating, prompting insurance companies to develop policies that cover respiratory diseases attributed to the hazardous particulate matter. TQM Insurance Brokers, in collaboration with Bangkok Insurance (BKI), has introduced a novel health insurance policy specifically designed for ailments related to PM2.5 dust exposure. The policy stipulates that if an insured individual is…
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Thai gold prices surge, reach new high at 35,750 baht per baht
Gold prices in Thailand saw a continuous surge today, prompting those interested in trading the precious metal to act swiftly. The Gold Traders Association (GTA) reported a significant increase compared to yesterday’s closing rates, with the selling price of gold ornaments per baht weight reaching 35,750 baht today marking a 50 baht increase from the previous day. The domestic market…
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Foreign woman critisised for walking around Phuket in bikini (video)
Facebook page Phuket Hotnews shared a video of a foreign woman walking around Phuket Old Town in a bikini, sparking criticism from Thai netizens. The Facebook page posted a video of the foreign woman in a black bikini last night, March 3. The caption said… “Phuket is super hot! A foreign tourist wore a bikini and walked around Phuket Old…
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Indian man escapes after hitting Thai boy with motorcycle on footpath
An Indian man finally surrendered to police and paid 5,000 baht in compensation after he hit a six year old Thai boy with a motorcycle on a footpath in the Lat Krabang district of Bangkok on February 29. A Thai mother sought help from Channel 7 after her son suffered a bruise on his cheek in a motorcycle accident on…
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Thailand gov urges bank to cut interest rate amid economic crisis
The ongoing feud between Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and Bank of Thailand Governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput regarding interest rates remains the focus of media attention. Meetings of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) have been closely watched as elements of the government and business sector believe the central bank needs to reduce the policy rate. The MPC is set to meet six…
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Mekong River’s diverse fish populations face extinction threat
The Mekong River, a lifeline stretching almost 5,000 kilometres from the Tibetan Plateau to the South China Sea, is under grave threat. A recent report reveals that unsustainable development is severely endangering the river’s health and diverse fish populations. Consequently, one-fifth of the fish species in this Southeast Asian lifeline are on the brink of extinction. The Mekong River plays…
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