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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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What do you need before moving from the US to Thailand?
The Thaiger key takeaways The most common medical emergencies for expats in Thailand include motorcycle accidents, tropical diseases, and food or water-borne illnesses. Air pollution and heat-related conditions like heatstroke also pose serious seasonal health risks, especially in northern and...
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Bangkok bracing for temperature drop and dust pollution fluctuations
The capital city of Thailand, Bangkok, is set to experience a slight drop in temperatures tomorrow, January 24, amid ongoing concerns over high levels of dust pollution. As forecasted by the Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD), temperatures are predicted to decrease by 1-3°C for a single day. Meanwhile, other regions of the country, barring the south, will see a temperature…
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NASA closely monitors 2300 asteroids posing potential threat to Earth
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is keeping its eye on 2,300 potentially dangerous asteroids. These celestial bodies pose a risk of colliding with Earth as they orbit the Sun. The exact times and dates of these potential impacts have been disclosed, and astronomers have shared how to mitigate the dangers posed by these fast-moving space objects. A small…
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Update: British man who contracted leukaemia whilst on vacation in Thailand loses battle
The British man from Southend who fought a battle against leukaemia, contracted whilst on holiday in Thailand, in late November last year, has passed away at Southend Hospital. Dean Penson’s fateful journey began when he fell critically ill during a holiday in Thailand, prompting a 10-day hospital stay where doctors initially feared the worst – leukaemia. A desperate fundraising effort…
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Temple tails: Abbot’s plea as abandoned pets become a ‘paw-sible’ problem
A recent plea from Phra Maha Charan Siridhammo, the abbot of Wat Phra That Khao Noi, situated in the southern district of Mueang, Nan province, spotlighted a concerning issue. He has urged people to stop the improper action of abandoning their dogs and cats at temples when they find them difficult to care for. Such actions, he explained, are akin…
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Magnitude 7.0 earthquake tremors hits China and three other nations
A powerful land earthquake of magnitude 7.0 struck China today, causing tremors felt across four countries, followed by 17 aftershocks ranging from magnitudes 4.1 to 5.8. The incident took place today early this morning as reported by the Disaster Management Centre of the Department of Mineral Resources at 1.09am local Thai time. The earthquake’s epicentre was located at a depth…
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Bitcoin plunges 20% following launch of US Bitcoin ETFs
Bitcoin, the world’s leading digital currency, has seen a sharp decline of nearly 20% since January 11. This follows the launch of the inaugural Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) that invest directly in Bitcoin. The downturn has been attributed to increased caution among investors regarding the potential effects of these new financial products. On the day of the ETFs’ launch, Bitcoin soared…
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Thai deputy PM calls for abolition of controversial teacher-guardian system
In a significant administrative shift, Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is advocating for the cancellation of the teacher-guardian system, asserting that it is the responsibility of security agencies, not teachers. He emphasises that the simplest and most immediate solution is to return teachers to the classroom. This development emerged following an incident where a teacher was physically assaulted while guarding…
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Thai woman found dead alongside sister’s husband and daughters
A Thai woman was found dead alongside her sister’s husband and their two young daughters in their Costessey family home near Norwich, in the United Kingdom. The woman, 36 year old Kanticha Noon arrived in the UK on December 27 last year for a family visit, staying at the residence with her sister Nanthaka’s family. The gruesome discovery of their…
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Thailand braces for temperature drop and thunderstorms across 19 provinces
The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) forecasts a fresh bout of cold wind resulting in a sharp 5 degrees Celsius drop in temperature. Accompanied by thunderstorms in 19 provinces, the TMD also warns of a storm wreaking havoc in the southern region. In the next 24 hours, a relatively strong high-pressure system will gradually cover the northeast region and is…
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Tragic road accident in Trat claims life, leaves one injured
A tragic road accident in Trat province led to the death of one man and left a woman injured. The incident occurred when a pickup truck lost control and collided with an electricity pole, causing it to fall and overturn the vehicle. The 49 year old driver, Somai Saengphloi, was killed, and his 22 year old passenger, Sirikan Junmareong, was…
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Thai police officer allegedly faked marriage certificate and swindles money from woman
An angry Thai woman accused a police officer in the northern province of Lamphun of forging a fake marriage certificate and defrauding more than 300,000 baht from her and her mother. The 39 year old woman named Aut urged Thai news agencies to help her seek justice after she and her mother lost more than 300,000 baht to a police sub-lieutenant…
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Surge in Covid-19 infections and rising death toll in Thailand
According to the latest report from the Department of Disease Control (DDC), a staggering 718 patients were admitted to hospitals between January 14 and 20 in a skyrocketing surge in Covid-19 infections. The grim statistics reveal a grim reality, with the death toll soaring to 11, a stark contrast to the four reported just a week earlier. The average daily…
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Thai economy experts predict 3% growth despite digital wallet scheme delay
Leading economist Somchai Phakapaswiwat foresees a 3% economic growth despite the government’s 500-billion baht handout scheme‘s potential delay. Renowned economist Somchai Phakapaswiwat set tongues wagging yesterday, January 22, when he confidently declared that Thailand’s economic trajectory remains unscathed, poised for an impressive 3% growth, despite uncertainties surrounding the government’s 500-billion baht handout scheme. According to Somchai, the delay in the…
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Rayong: Residents draw the line against U-Tapao Airport noise nightmare
Nearly 500 households in Ban Chang district, Rayong, united against the U-Tapao-Rayong-Pattaya International Airport expansion. The bone-rattling aircraft noise has reached a fever pitch, and tensions are soaring as authorities remain deaf to their pleas. The community, armed with determination, has drawn the line with an imminent demonstration at U-Tapao Airport. Chawalit Romruen, the headman of the Samnakthon sub-district, alongside Prasert…
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SET anticipates Oliver Wyman’s report on Thailand’s securities trading
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) anticipates an imminent report from international consultant Oliver Wyman. The report, expected to be completed in the first week of February, focuses on the suitability of Thailand’s securities trading programs and the prevention of naked short selling. This initiative, led by SET President Pakorn Peetathawatchai, follows investigations into four alleged instances of naked short…
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Handcuffed Thai car thief escapes from police station in Chiang RaiÂ
Officers are set to rearrest a Thai car thief two days after the suspect successfully escaped from Mueang Chiang Rai Police Station in northern Thailand despite being handcuffed. The thief stole a black Mitsubishi from a Thai woman in the northern province of Chiang Rai on January 13. He even posted a video of himself and the stolen car on…
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Rock ‘n’ roll on Sukhumvit: Chinese tourist’s bizarre antics shock Pattaya
A Chinese national attracted attention when he exhibited erratic behaviour on Sukhumvit Road, Pattaya, resorting to self-harm by smashing his head with a rock, last Saturday, January 20. The shocking scene unfolded in broad daylight, triggering immediate concern from alarmed onlookers. Quick-thinking passers-by wasted no time and alerted the authorities, sparking a rapid response from the police and rescue units.…
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Thai SMEs threatened by proposed minimum wage hike and high loan rates
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) warned that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) could be significantly affected by the proposed daily minimum wage hike and high loan interest rates. This comes as the government persists in its efforts to increase wages. Towards the end of 2023, a resolution was reached by the tripartite wage committee, composed of representatives from the…
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Kuwaiti woman killed in motorcycle accident in Kamala, Phuket
A Kuwaiti woman was killed yesterday morning in a motorcycle accident in Kamala, Phuket. The incident was reported to Kamala Police by a passerby at around 3am. Two individuals who were riding the motorcycle were transported to Patong Hospital. A Honda PCX motorcycle was found in a drainage ditch, as well as a broken blue helmet. The motorcycle driver, a…
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Tragic road accident in Trat leaves one dead and three volunteers injured
Tragedy struck on the rain-soaked roads of Trat province, unveiling a heart-wrenching narrative of a fatal collision between a rescue vehicle and a woman’s car, highlighting the perilous challenges faced by volunteers in their quest to save lives. A severe road accident occurred in Trat province, resulting in the fatality of a 36 year old woman, Wanpen Insaeng, and leaving…
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Teenager in Thailand brutally assaulted by notorious youth gang
A brutal assault on a 13 year old boy by a notorious youth gang in Nonthaburi, Thailand, led to a formal complaint being lodged at the Ratthanathibet Police Station. Ekapop Luengprasert, an adviser to the interior minister and founder of the Sai Mai Tong Rod (Sai Mai District Must Survive) Facebook page, accompanied the mother of the victim to the…
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Russian roulette: Five nabbed in Phuket villa for illegal gambling and shisha stash
Officers from the Investigation Division of the Provincial Police Region 8 and Chalong Police Station yesterday arrested five Russian nationals for illegal gambling and the illicit possession of water pipes for shisha smoking at a luxury villa in the Rawai sub-district of Phuket. Officers received a tip-off that a group of foreigners turned a lavish accommodation in Soi Salika in…
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US-China tensions fuel e-commerce growth in Thailand
The mounting geopolitical tension between the US and China is precipitating an influx of new e-commerce entities into Thailand, a development set to escalate market rivalry and broaden the scope of the cross-border e-commerce industry. Thanawat Malabuppha, the CEO of Priceza and honorary president of the Thailand E-Commerce Association, asserts that the escalating US-China geopolitical strife has triggered an expansion…
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TAT targets 7 billion baht tourism revenue surge for Ranong
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) aims to boost Ranong province’s tourism revenue to 7 billion baht (US$196 million) in the current year, a substantial rise from 6.72 billion baht (US$188 million) in the preceding year. The strategy is to increase the share of international tourists to 15% of total visitors, a significant recovery from the previous year’s slump. Ranong,…
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Seaplane terminal boosts tourism in Phuket
Airports of Thailand (AOT) announced Thailand’s inaugural seaplane terminal, slated to grace Phuket International Airport. AOT’s visionary project aims to meet the demand for coastal tourism, taking reference from the Maldives. The ambitious initiative involves a comprehensive study to bolster tourism links between Phuket and the Andaman islands and beaches while concurrently enhancing the airport’s capacity. With the study, encompassing…
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Changan Automobile targets selling 20,000 EVs in Thailand this year
With positive optimism about the electric vehicle (EV) market in Thailand, Changan Automobile, a renowned manufacturer based in Chongqing, China, has set an ambitious plan. The company aims to sell 20,000 EVs in Thailand within this year and has designated the nation as its strategic export hub. Shen Xinghua, who chairs Changan Auto Sales (Thailand), revealed that the Thai government’s…
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Muay Thai aims for Olympic recognition as part of Thailand’s soft power strategy
National Soft Power Strategy Committee Deputy Chairperson Paetongtarn Shinawatra is championing the cause for the integral Thai martial art, Muay Thai, to be recognised as an Olympic sport. Paetongtarn sees the inclusion of Muay Thai in the Olympics as part of a broader strategy to elevate the martial art as a key tool of Thailand’s soft power. “We will get…
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Chiang Rai man charged for assaulting teacher and young woman
Two teenage women lodged a complaint concerning a 38 year old man, who had allegedly assaulted a female teacher in a school in Chiang Rai. The incident occurred at around 3pm yesterday (January 22), in a school at the Ban Pong Klua village in the Doi Lan sub-district of Chiang Rai province. According to the 18 year old complainant, the…
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Thai government officials inspect 1-trillion-baht Land Bridge megaproject amid environmental concerns
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit embarked on an official visit to the Andaman region, with Ranong, the site of the 1-trillion-baht Land Bridge megaproject, as their first stop. The project, expected to generate significant benefits across the southern region, is facing criticism due to its potential environmental impact. The officials inspected a…
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Protesters intensify demonstrations over Thaksin Shinawatra’s preferential treatment
The Students and People’s Network for Thailand Reform (STR) are intensifying their demonstrations over the alleged preferential treatment of Thaksin Shinawatra, the convicted former prime minister. The protesters are set to stage a sit-in outside the Government House starting February 2. According to Pichit Chaimongkol, the STR leader, there are plans to protest indefinitely alongside other groups that are targeting…
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