News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourismāstay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. The Thaiger delivers the latest national news that matters.
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Whatās not covered by health insurance in Thailand?
Health insurance in Thailand has important limits that everyone should know. Many policies do not cover pre-existing conditions, motorcycle accidents, extreme sports, or specific treatments. These gaps can lead to unexpected costs during emergencies. Coverage for outpatient care and hospital...
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SEC considers banning NVDR securities for Thai investors
With plans to limit Thai investors from making investments in non-voting depository receipts (NVDRs), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is setting up a public hearing to enforce a ban on securities companies offering such services. Citing concerns over NVDR securities as a mechanism to sidestep compliance with regulations or as a means to obscure shareholding data, the SEC believes…
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Thailand’s tasty revival: Spending spree at food shows signals economic upswing for MICE sector
A surge in spending at food and packaging trade shows indicates a revival in the economy and a favourable trend for business tourism this year. Thailand remains a favoured location for the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) sector, according to Informa Markets Thailand, a leading trade show organiser. Kotchasorn Tocharoentanapol, the Deputy Event Director at Informa Markets Thailand, noted…
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Thailand probes private ownership of 153 lions after Pattaya Bentley incident (video)
Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation revealed that there are 153 lions in the possession of 24 Thai nationals, highlighting the controlled status of these wild animals and the legal requirement to declare ownership. This announcement comes amidst a high-profile investigation following the circulation of a video showing a lion being driven around Pattaya in a Bentley,…
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Israeli involved in Phuket heist apprehended
An Israeli suspect was arrested by Patong Police in connection with a currency exchange heist in Phuket. The 26 year old suspect, whose identity remains undisclosed, was nabbed in a police operation orchestrated by Patong Police Chief Police Colonel Chalermchai Hernsawad. The incident unfolded on December 31 last year in the Patong area when the suspect targeted a woman at…
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Record-breaking business registrations and foreign investment in Thailand
Business registrations in Thailand soared to an all-time high in the previous year, exceeding 85,000, a figure not seen in the last decade. These registrations represented a total registered capital of 560 billion baht (US$15 billion). Foreign investment also saw a significant rise, hitting 130 billion baht (US$3.6 billion) in 2023, with Japan leading the investment pool. Projections for the…
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Dispute over dropped phone leads to fatal stabbing in Buriram
A dispute over a dropped phone in a rural shack escalated into a deadly confrontation when 47 year old Kittisak fatally stabbed 38 year old Atit in self-defence. The incident occurred yesterday around 3.30pm in the Nong Ki district of Buriram Province. Police Deputy Inspector Thongsuk Prongthalee was alerted to the violent altercation and the subsequent death, prompting an investigation…
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Fatal ride: Garbage truck tragedy as sanitation workers hit a dead-end on tunnel rooftop
Two sanitation workers tragically lost their lives when they were seated on the roof of a garbage truck while it passed through a tunnel in the central province of Kanchanaburi. The workers sustained fatal head injuries as the vehicle entered the tunnel, colliding with its ridge. Officers from the Tha Rua Police Station received a report of the accident at…
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Former MFP opposition leader Pita’s fate hangs on Constitutional Court verdict
All eyes will be fixed on today’s Constitutional Court ruling, a potential game-changer in the media shareholding scandal involving Pita Limjaroenrat, the former leader of the opposition Move Forward Party (MFP). The court’s decision could determine his political destiny, with the looming threat of losing his MP status. Legal expert Komsan Phokong weighed in on the pivotal case, hinting at…
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Local fishermen hooked over Vietnam warplane wreckage found in Mekong
Thai and Lao men discovered the wreckage of a Vietnam warplane while fishing in the Mekong River within the Isaan province of Nong Khai. In light of safety concerns, locals have been banned from accessing the site, given the potential presence of explosives within the wreckage. A 40 year old Thai man, Chonnathep Suriwong, shared his account of finding the…
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Mobile Cabinet allocates 552 million baht for Andaman Coast development
A total of 552 million baht (US$15 million) has been allocated by the mobile Cabinet towards the development of 18 new projects across six southern provinces on the Andaman Coast. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced yesterday, January 23, after a Cabinet meeting in Ranong. The projects, proposed by the Joint Public and Private Sector Consultative Committee responsible for the southern…
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Thailand’s media spending to see 4% growth driven by online and TV
Anticipating a 4% growth in media spending this year, mirroring the trend from 2023, the market is set to be driven by online, TV, and out-of-home media. This predicted growth is attributed to political stability and economic stimulus initiatives introduced by the government. The burgeoning e-commerce platform landscape has catapulted affiliate marketing into a key media tool for brands. This…
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Thai government ends after-school caretaking duties for teachers
The Thai government has approved the termination of after-school caretaking duties for teachers, following a recent assault on a primary school teacher in Chiang Rai by a 38 year old man during her shift. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced yesterday, January 24, at the mobile Cabinet meeting held at the Ranong Civic Centre. The caretaking duties, which were imposed on…
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Leatherback sea turtle death sparks concern among Thai wildlife officials
The untimely demise of a leatherback sea turtle on a beach in Phang Nga this week triggered a wave of concern among wildlife officials and conservationists. The cause of death was an unfortunate entanglement in a fishing net, which was discovered when the turtle’s carcass washed ashore. Athapol Charoenshunsa, stationed at the helm of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife…
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PM Srettha promises to consider opposition’s concerns on Land Bridge megaproject
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin assured opposition groups that he would take into account their concerns regarding the Land Bridge megaproject. The discussions took place at Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University’s education centre in Ranong, following a mobile Cabinet meeting. The megaproject, valued at 1 trillion baht, is designed to create a logistics network linking Ranong with Chumphon. It consists of a…
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Thai military and police ramp up counter-drone tech training
The Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTAF) and Royal Thai Police (RTP) are set to enhance their focus on counter-drone technology training as part of their yearly exercises and drills. This decision was made public at a joint meeting of military and police commanders, steered by Chief of Defence Forces, General Songwit Noonpackdee. The session was an avenue for discussing plans…
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German president’s state visit to Thailand after 22 years sparks hope
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier embarked on a state visit to ThailandĀ today, following an invitation extended by Srettha Thavisin, the Prime Minister of Thailand. This marks the first visit by a German president to Thailand in 22 years, as stated by Chai Watcharonke, the Thai Government Spokesperson. The three-day visit has its highlight set for tomorrow, where a discussion on trade,…
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Infant with critical heart defect rushed to Bangkok for life-saving surgery
A seven-month-old baby with a critical heart condition was successfully transferred to Chulalongkorn Hospital in Bangkok for emergency life-saving surgeryĀ after showing signs of severe distress and requiring a ventilator. The infant’s journey from the Nong Khai border region included bypassing the city of Udon Thani via Mittraphap Road and onward through Khon Kaen to the capital. Today, at 1.20pm, the…
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Hotel bookings skyrocket as visitors flock in
Hotel giant Minor International Plc witnessed an astonishing 20 to 30% spike in bookings for the first two months of 2024 compared to last year. Minor International Plc, dominating the hospitality scene as the nation’s largest hotel operator, is on the brink of a prosperous year. Chairman Bill Heinecke unveils the exciting news, projecting a tourism spending spree in Thailand…
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Probe into e-cigarette sales by officer’s wife sparks police ethics inquiry
Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) police are investigating allegations that a police officer provided his wife with confiscated e-cigarettes to sell online for profit. This inquiry was initiated after a Facebook page disclosed information regarding the alleged incident. The Deputy Chief of the Technology Crime Suppression Division, Athasit Sudsanguan, revealed that the National Police Chief, Torsak Sukwimon, was aware of…
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State agencies and Mirror Foundation tackle surge in mentally unstable homeless
Four state agencies and a private foundation forged an alliance to confront the escalating crisis of mentally unstable homeless individuals. The groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), inked yesterday, January 22, binds the Social Development and Welfare Department, the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth), the Mental Health Department, the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Department, and the privately operated Mirror Foundation.…
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Phuket eyes 50 million baht funding for critical environmental projects
A sense of optimism is in the air as Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat expressed confidence that the province would secure funding for two critical environmentalĀ projects. These projects are part of the emergency budget deliberations at the mobile Cabinet meeting in Ranong. The governor elucidated that each province has an allocation of 50 million baht under consideration. The funds are intended…
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Thai influencer condemned for risky action of filming herself on road (video)
Thai netizens condemned a female social media influencer for her risky action after she filmed herself daringly walking in the middle of the road as several speeding vehicles passed by. Renowned Twitter account Red Skull shared a video of the female influencer, Nutsima “Bell” Sirisoonthorn, filming herself on the road while motor vehicles passed by her on January 21. The…
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Miss Grand Trang 2024 turns live sales into charity for Thai school
Narisa Yeesun, known as Miss Grand Trang 2024, recently took to livestreaming to sell goods online, with a heartfelt mission to support underprivileged children. Today, she successfully turned her online sales into a charitable event by purchasing educational supplies and snacks for the students at the Municipal School of Trangkhapoom Putthawas in Kantang district, Trang province. The initiative was warmly…
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West Thailand: Police uncover 6 million baht crystal meth bust in Sam Roi Yot
Police netted a colossal 150-kilogramme crystal methĀ haul in a major drug seizure operation in Sam Roi Yot, Prachuap Kiri Khan province. The discovery was made during a routine traffic check that led to the arrest of two individuals. Deputy Governor Kittipong Sukphakulkul, representing the Governor, and District Chief Montchai Noonoi, spilled the beans in a press conference held yesterday, January…
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Beats behind bars: Belgian shooting suspect caught spinning tunes in Phuket nightclub
A fugitive wanted for a shooting in Belgium ten years ago has been apprehended in Phuket, where he was spinning tracks as a DJ in a Patong nightspot. Phuket immigration police, led by Police Major General Phanthana Nuchanart, swooped in on 36 year old Achmal (surname undisclosed) at an apartment on Patong beach. The wanted man, holding both Belgian and…
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Shell shocker: Tragedy strikes leatherback turtle on Phang Nga beach, but record-breaking nest brings hope
A leatherback turtle met its demise on a Phang Nga beach, ensnared in a trap.Ā However, amidst the sorrow, a record-breaking moment unfolded as another of these incredible creatures left a legacy with an astounding 92-egg nest. Attapol Charoenchansa, Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, unveiled the discovery of a deceased leatherback turtle. This female giant,…
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Barbaric Thailand monk under fire for beating man in a bid to expel evil spirits (video)
A video of a barbaric Thai monk beating the crap out of a Thai man and trampling on him to expel evil spirits went viral on social media and sparked concerns among netizens about the inappropriate behaviour of Thailandās monks. The video showed a group of monks, and other men, holding a man in a white shirt while one monastic…
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Bangkok Design Week promotion under fire for using AI-generated artwork
AriAround’s promotional image for the upcoming 2024 Bangkok Design Week ignited a fierce debate among netizens for allegedly using artificial intelligence (AI)-generated art. The controversial image left many questioning the event’s commitment to showcasing the authentic creativity of local artists. The Facebook post, shared on Saturday, January 20, triggered a barrage of comments expressing outrage at the alleged use of…
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School bus crash in Mae Sot leaves teen critically injured
A horrifying car crash that saw a school bus plough into an electricity pole and a roadside stall in Mae Sot, Tak province, left a 14 year old boy critically injured. The 57 year old driver, Aminullah, admitted to falling asleep at the wheel after consuming heart medication and cold medicine. The incident occurred on the main road passing through…
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Thailand’s economic growth falls short of projections amid potential crisis
The pace of Thailand’s economic recovery slackened last year, falling short of the official predictions, as disclosed by government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke. This could increase the likelihood of the central bank considering an early easing strategy. Chai revealed today, January 23, that the Thai economy only expanded by 1.8% last year, a drop from the 2.6% growth experienced in 2022.…
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