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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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Travel vs international health insurance: Which coverage do you need overseas?
The Thaiger key takeaways Travel insurance is ideal for short-term trips, covering emergencies, cancellations, and lost luggage, but not routine care. International health insurance suits expats and long-term residents, offering full medical coverage, including checkups, maternity, and chronic care. Choosing...
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Thailand Video News | New Eco-tourist, astro-tourist, and digital nomad visas coming soon, Millions celebrate Songkran across the land of smiles
In this video, Alex and Jay delve into the news stories across Thailand. Thailand’s vibrant Songkran Festival sees millions join nationwide water fights while the nation introduces new visa categories for eco-tourists and digital nomads. Yet, amidst the celebrations, a daring gold necklace heist shocks Samut Prakan Mall, and a violent brawl disrupts a traditional procession in Chiang Mai, incurring…
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Relocation of cadmium tailings from Bangkok commences May 7
The logistics of relocating cadmium tailings from Samut Sakhon, Bangkok, and Chon Buri back to their original location in Tak is set to start on May 7. Bound & Beyond Plc, the company responsible for the task, has a deadline of 36 days to execute the operation, as stated by Pimphattra Wichaikul, the Industry Minister. Pimphattra revealed yesterday that the…
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Duo steals million-baht diamond bracelet from Bangkok mall
A sophisticated heist unfolded at a renowned shopping mall in Bangkok’s Pathumwan district yesterday, where thieves made off with a diamond bracelet valued at over 1 million baht. The pair, posing as customers, managed to deceive the staff and conceal the high-value item before fleeing the scene in a waiting taxi. The two criminals orchestrated the brazen theft yesterday, April…
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Upcoming super app to integrate with digital wallet scheme
The up-and-coming super app, designed for the 10,000-baht digital wallet scheme, is slated to seamlessly integrate with existing banking applications on users’ smartphones, as per Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat’s statement. This application, which has been developed in partnership with the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) and the Digital Government Development Agency (DGA), is designed to optimise the…
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Bangkok police seize 40,000 meth pills in Sai Mai district bust
A significant drug bust occurred today when police apprehended a 32 year old man with a shipment of 40,000 methamphetamine pills in Bangkok’s Sai Mai district. The arrest took place in a desolate area within Soi Sukhaphiban 5 Soi 32, following a covert investigation that linked the drug dealer, Teerapong, to the distribution of drugs to local retailers. The arrest…
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Thailand’s foreign tourism boom: 10 million visitors fuel 500 billion windfall
Thailand has welcomed over 10 million foreign tourists this year alone, leading to revenue exceeding 500 billion baht, reported the Tourism and Sports Ministry. The data, up to date as of yesterday, shows 10,723,953 foreign visitors have contributed to an income of 518 billion baht (US$14 billion). Chinese tourists led the pack with over 2 million visitors, followed by 1.39…
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Nakhon Ratchasima farmer wins 12 million baht lottery
A timely stroke of luck has befallen a widowed farmer in Nakhon Ratchasima as he won a staggering 12 million baht in the lottery, with plans to generously donate a boat to a local rowing club because of his grandchild’s national team success. Manat Samleeklang, a 58 year old widowed farmer, yesterday, April 16, experienced a life-changing moment when he…
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Foreign man drowns while retrieving water gun in canal in Bangkok
A foreign man drowned while reportedly retrieving his water gun in the Saen Saep Canal in Bangkok during the Songkran Festival on April 14. His nationality wasn’t specified. Phayathai Police Station officers were notified about the drowning near Pratunam Pier in the Saen Saep Canal on the evening of April 14. Then, police officers rushed to the scene with volunteer…
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Nearly 100k return to Bangkok post-Songkran via public transport
The acting director and president of Transport Company Ltd made a public announcement yesterday, disclosing the substantial numbers of citizens returning to Bangkok after the Songkran festival. Between April 15 and 17, passenger logs recorded more than 99,995 individuals making their round trips using public buses and vans. The total number of trips during this period exceeded 6,689. Atthawit Rakchamroon…
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Road dispute in Mueang escalates into shooting, two kids injured
A road dispute escalated into a shooting incident in Mueang, Pathum Thani, yesterday. Three teenagers on a motorbike allegedly shot at a taxi, injuring a 10-year-old boy and a seven-year-old girl. The Mueang Pathum Thani police revealed the details of the case at a public briefing held at 10am. The 51 year old taxi driver, Suraphon, was en route to…
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Liquor firms exploit music marketing to boost product visibility
Stop-Drink Network Thailand has raised concerns about liquor corporations’ use of music marketing tactics to advertise their products. Teera Watcharapranee, the network’s director, unveiled that a network survey revealed beverage enterprises leveraging music marketing to fuse artists and performers, conducting concerts to boost their product’s visibility, particularly across social media platforms. The investigation was carried out during the Songkran festival…
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Pathum Thani taxi attack: Children injured as teens open fire
A shocking act of violence shook the community of Pathum Thani when three reckless teenagers on a motorcycle exhibited extreme indifference to human life by shooting at a taxi filled with passengers, including small children, injuring two. The incident, which occurred last night, is currently under intense investigation by local authorities. The 51 year old taxi driver, Surapol, escaped injury,…
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Gold prices in Thailand surge to historic 42,050 baht high
Gold prices reached a new high today, with the Gold Traders Association (GTA) reporting a significant increase to 42,050 baht per baht weight, marking a historic surge. In a remarkable shift, gold ornament prices soared by 600 baht compared to the previous day’s closing figures. The GTA website showed that as of 9.02am, domestic gold bars were purchased at 41,450…
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Phuket’s seven days safety campaign shows zero fatalities
Phuket’s Seven Days safety campaign for Songkran 2024 continues to make its impact as the island remains free of any road fatalities since the commencement of the initiative on April 11. Over the past four days, 39 incidents have been recorded by officials, resulting in the same number of people being hospitalised due to injuries. The report compiled by the…
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Tourism sector divided over elected versus appointed governors
The debate over elected provincial governors versus appointed heads is intensifying, revealing a divide among tourism operators. This issue gained momentum during last year’s general election, when several political parties, including Pheu Thai, proposed allowing locals to elect their governors, a practice already in place in Bangkok and Pattaya. Pheu Thai’s coalition government, during its policy announcement, introduced a CEO-governor…
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Procession brawl in Chiang Mai leads to hefty 75,000 baht fines
Chaos erupted during a traditional procession in Chom Thong, Chiang Mai, when a violent brawl broke out among participants, undeterred by the potential for a hefty fine of 75,000 baht. The incident took place yesterday, April 15, as 19 groups paraded the sacred Bo tree supports into Wat Phra That Si Chom Thong amid loud music and a large crowd.…
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Four arrested in Phuket with over 12,000 meth pills seized
Four individuals have been apprehended by Thalang Police in Phuket on charges related to drugs, with over 12,000 methamphetamine pills, locally known as Yaba, confiscated in the process. The arrests were carried out across three distinct operations yesterday. Among those apprehended was Duean Jarachit, a 42 year old resident of Moo 1, Mai Khao. She was taken into custody on…
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Chinese firms eye EV supply chain in Thailand’s Smart Park
Chinese companies have shown keen interest in the EV supply chain and energy sectors of the Smart Park Industrial Estate, situated in Rayong, Thailand. This industrial estate is due to open by the end of the current year, according to the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT). The companies aim to establish factories manufacturing EV components to cater to the…
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Thai govt plan for energy cost surge amid Israel-Iran conflict
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce issued directives to state bodies to devise strategies to mitigate potential surges in energy costs in the event of an escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict. The directive follows Iran’s missile and drone assault on Israel, a retaliatory move against Israel’s alleged attack on Iran’s consulate in Damascus earlier this month. This marked the first direct attack…
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Thailand’s CPPD calls for collective action against youth vaping
A plea has been made by the Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD) for collective action to safeguard Thai youngsters from the adverse health effects of e-cigarettes. Police Major General Wittaya Sriprasert, CPPD chief, stressed the need for educators, school personnel, parents, and relatives of young children to collaborate in imparting knowledge about the health hazards linked with vaping. In addition,…
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Post-Songkran travel surge leads to heavy traffic into Bangkok
Traffic swelled on the roads heading towards Bangkok as the long holiday season drew to a close, with authorities opening additional lanes to manage the influx. Yesterday, citizens began returning to the capital in droves after celebrating the Songkran festival. The Mittraphap Road, a major thoroughfare connecting the northeastern region of Thailand to Bangkok, experienced significant congestion, particularly at the…
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Tak’s disposal pits scrutinised ahead of cadmium tailings relocation
The disposal pits in Tak are under tight scrutiny by the Industry Ministry and local agencies, as they prepare for the relocation of cadmium tailings from Samut Sakhon. The permanent secretary for industry, Nattapol Rangsitpol, confirmed he had discussions with Tak governor Somchai Kitcharoenrungroj about the readiness of the province to handle the relocation. In collaboration with several local agencies,…
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Chiang Mai battles extensive forest fires and severe air pollution
Chiang Mai, a city in the northern region of Thailand, is currently combating an alarming number of forest fires, with over 15 fires reported, some of which have been persisting for three days. As per the local authorities, 17 out of 153 hotspots were detected in the city yesterday. Five of these hotspots are located in the Chiang Dao district,…
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Japanese man dies in Bangkok hotel fall, lands on car
A 52 year old Japanese man died after falling from a Bangkok hotel, landing on a parked car. He was staying alone and no signs of violence were found when the room was searched. The Thai authorities responded to the incident at 1am today, April 15, and coordinated with the Japanese Embassy to notify the man’s relatives. The tranquillity of…
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Sudden scaffolding collapse prompts investigation on Rama II Road
A sudden scaffolding collapse on Rama II Road in Samut Sakhon province prompted an immediate investigation, as ordered by Department of Highways Director-General Sarawut Songsivilai. Alongside the investigation, all steel scaffolding along the elevated Motorway 82 (M82) project is set to undergo a thorough security check. The M82 project, which stretches over 81 kilometres above Rama II Road (Highway 35),…
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Southeast Asia lags in green investments
Southeast Asia is significantly lagging in green investments aimed at reducing emissions, according to a report by Bain & Company, a global consultancy. The region’s energy consumption is projected to increase by 40% within this decade, leading to a continued rise in carbon dioxide emissions due to its heavy reliance on fossil fuels. The report, produced in collaboration with green…
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Young woman nabbed for running fake loan scam in Thailand
A young woman was arrested in Nakhon Ratchasima for her involvement in a sophisticated loan scam operation that duped victims into transferring money for non-existent loans. The sophistication of online financial scams and the importance of being vigilant when sharing personal information and transferring money over the Internet is been crucial these days. The police urge the public to be…
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Bangkok ramps up AI security for safe Songkran festivities
Bangkok tightens security for Songkran celebrations with artificial intelligence (AI) and emergency measures. Bangkok is bracing for Songkran, the traditional Thai New Year, with stringent security measures in place, particularly in popular celebration areas such as Silom and Khao San Road. In previous years, overcrowding has been a significant concern, prompting authorities to implement new strategies to ensure public safety.…
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Thai government profits from increasing Philippine rice imports
As the Philippines’ demand for rice imports swells, the Thai government is capitalising on this increasing requirement. The Southeast Asian country is set to import more rice this year than previously estimated, providing a lucrative opportunity for Thailand’s rice export market. Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has thus instructed the Department of Foreign Trade (DFT) and the commercial attaché in the…
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Inside the numbers: the potential of a Phuket property bubble
One of the most common questions I am asked these days is about a potential Phuket real estate bubble. While it’s a popular buzz term, so many who ask the question don’t understand what a bubble is. The most notable real estate bubble in recent history was the subprime housing crisis in the United States in 2007. In other sectors,…
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