News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay 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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What’s 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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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…
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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…
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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…
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Four Thai teens drown after electrocution in public pond
A tragic incident unfolded in Ubon Ratchathani, where four teenagers drowned after being electrocuted in a public pond. The event happened near a ruined temple, where an electrical fault had caused a live current to pass into the water. The deputy investigation officer of Nam Yuen Police Station in Ubon Ratchathani was informed today, December 12, of the fatal accident…
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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…
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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…
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Parent’s tutor requirements spark online debate over Rajabhat University
Social media users have been divided over a post by a parent seeking a tutor for their seven year old child but specifying that they mustn’t be a graduate from Rajabhat University. The post, which was shared in a Facebook group for finding home tutors, sparked a flurry of criticism and debate, with some accusing the parent of belittling the…
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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…
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Drug suspect accuses police of 300,000 baht extortion and rape
A Thai drug suspect accused Pathum Thani Provincial Police officers of illegally reducing her sentence, extorting 300,000 baht and raping her. The Thai woman and her boyfriend sought help from the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive. The organisation accompanied them in filing a complaint at the Office of the Prime Minister at Government House yesterday, December 11. Addressing the media, the…
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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…
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Debate arises over child’s safety as zoo employee drapes python around him
The appropriateness of a zoo employee placing a large python around a young boy sparked a debate online. A member of the Facebook group, AtHome Reptile, posted a photo of the incident, questioning whether the staff member could have ensured the boy’s safety in time in case of an emergency. The photo, taken yesterday, December 11, shows a man, presumably…
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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Thailand’s nightlife gets green light: Entertainment venues now open until 6am
The Interior Ministry today gave the green light for entertainment venues across Thailand to remain open until 6am in a move to bolster tourism and add extra sparkle to new year celebrations. Interior Ministry Spokesperson Traisuree Taisaranakul said the temporary extension of the closing time at entertainment venues across Thailand was aimed at promoting tourism and new year celebrations. Traisuree…
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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…
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Viral TikTok video sparks empathy for elderly woman living in Thai forest (video)
A late-night encounter with an elderly woman asleep on her tricycle sparked a viral sensation and an outpouring of sympathy. TikTok user @nongpraew56, a young model, mistakenly turned down a dim side street and discovered an elderly woman sleeping on a three-wheeled bicycle laden with collected scrap. Accompanied by a friend, the model approached the sleeping woman, waking her gently.…
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Retired Indian civil servant sets up unique Constitution Temple
A 71 year old Sivadasan Pillai, a retired civil servant, converted his small residence in Kudappanakkunnu, Thiruvananthapuram, into Bharanaghadana Kshetram or Constitution Temple, using his pension funds. This unique temple hosts the Constitution of India for worship, similar to the sanctum sanctorum of traditional temples housing deities. Since its official proclamation on January 26, 1950, after three years of independence,…
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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,…
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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…
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Football field gunman caught in Chanthaburi following dramatic escape
The gunman responsible for an attack at a football field has been apprehended in Chanthaburi province after fleeing the scene. He confessed to the crime, revealing that he had discarded his firearm in a canal. Police are rapidly investigating the motive behind the incident. Today, news emerged that the suspect had been spotted at a checkpoint in Chanthaburi’s Ban Laem…
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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…
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