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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Thai woman exposes employer’s lewd advances, explicit messages
A Thai woman took to social media to expose her employer, a restaurant owner in the Isaan province of Khon Kaen, for sexually harassing her by sending lewd messages and pictures, including an image of his penis. The 30 year old victim, Nat, resigned from the restaurant and filed a complaint against the owner at Mueang Khon Kaen Police Station.…
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Illegal foreign tour guides threaten Thailand’s tourism industry
The growing issue of illegal foreign tour guides in Thailand, exacerbated by extended visa-free stays and lax enforcement, is concerning industry experts. The Professional Tourist Guides Association of Thailand has raised alarms about foreigners illegally managing both tour companies and guide services in major tourist destinations. Recent social media reports highlighted an incident involving an unauthorised Russian guide leading a…
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Phuket police profile trans workers to boost nightlife safety
Police in Phuket are actively compiling profiles of transgender people working in a bustling nightlife area of the city to bolster public safety measures. This initiative, undertaken by local police and administrative officials, is happening along Bangla Road, a popular spot near Patong Beach frequented by tourists. Head of Patong Police StationĀ Chalermchai Hernsawat explained that this effort is primarily aimed…
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Thailand targets US$308bn exports by 2025 amid trade optimism
The Commerce Ministry has ambitious plans to boost Thailand’s export sector, setting a target of 2% to 3% growth for 2025. The goal, projected to bring in US$305 to US$308 billion, follows a robust performance in 2024, where export growth is expected to reach 5%, generating a record US$300 billion. These figures reflect optimism driven by the electronics, agricultural, and…
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Thailand seeks family of woman found in Germany 35 years ago
The Mirror Foundation of Thailand are looking for the family of a Thai woman found dead in Germany 35 years ago so they can identify her. The foundation posted the details on its official Facebook page yesterday, December 18, along with an artistās simulation of her appearance and an image of the clothing she was wearing when discovered. The details…
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2 million baht in valuables stolen from secure apartment in Pattaya
A shocking burglary took place yesterday at an apartment in Pattaya, leaving a woman stunned as thieves managed to infiltrate her room and break into a safe hidden within a storage cabinet. The thieves made off with nearly 2 million baht worth of valuables, including gold jewellery and cash. There were no signs of forced entry into the room, leading…
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Thailand GDP set for 3% growth despite global economic challenges
The Tisco Economic Strategy Unit (ESU) forecasts a 3% growth in Thailand’s GDP for the coming year, aligning this growth with a projected 3.2% expansion of the global economy. This comes amidst concerns over potential trade wars and rising inflation, which may pose challenges to these optimistic forecasts. Economist Methas Rattanasorn highlighted that the anticipated growth for Thailand is driven…
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Thailand’s power plan may see revisions for climate goals
Thailand’s 2024 power development plan (PDP) may undergo significant revisions to enhance the management of the nation’s long-term energy supply and bolster efforts against global warming. This was suggested by Energy MinistryĀ Permanent Secretary Prasert Sinsukprasertas after he highlighted the need for adaptation in response to evolving energy concerns. The Energy Policy and Planning Office is currently evaluating the PDP. Once…
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Phuket plans major disaster drill for flood preparedness
Phuket is set to enhance its disaster preparedness with an integrated exercise aimed at tackling potential floods and mudslides. Scheduled for January 16, 2025, the event is designed to boost the island’s readiness and response capabilities in the face of such emergencies. A significant planning session took place recently at the Phuket Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office (DDPM Phuket).…
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Chinese man arrested in 70 million baht heroin bust in Nong Khai
Police in Nong Khai apprehended a Chinese national involved in a transnational drug trafficking operation. The suspect allegedly concealed 120 kilogrammes of heroin within car batteries, claiming he was merely hired to manage logistics and inspect the parcels. Yesterday, December 18, Police officials, including Piratch Udompisutikun, Yutthana Ngamchat, Rattasart Chidchu, and Suchart Thonmanee, collaborated with various police and military units…
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Thai film ‘Grandma’ shortlisted for 97th Academy Awards
A significant milestone for Thai cinema unfolded yesterday, December 18 as Thai film studio GDH announced that How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies has been shortlisted for the 97th Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category. The film, directed by Pat Boonnitipat and penned by screenwriter Ped Thodsapon, stands out among 85 international submissions, marking a first…
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3 Thai girls fake forest blackout after resort stay with man
Three Thai girls, initially reported missing, confessed to going to a resort with a man they met on a dating app after lying to their parents that they fainted in an abandoned house in a deep forest for a night. Three families filed missing persons reports to Thamenchai Police Station officers in the Isaan province of Buriram after three girls,…
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Landslides devastate Huai Kaeo, isolating communities in Nakhon Si Thammarat
Landslides have ravaged the Huai Kaeo community in Si Chon, Nakhon Si Thammarat, leaving homes in ruins and cutting off communication. Local officials urgently seek help as 23 districts report damage, with 10 fatalities confirmed. Heavy rain has caused severe landslides across Nakhon Si Thammarat, particularly affecting the Huai Kaeo village in the Si Chon district. The village, located in…
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Thailand video news | Thailandās new E-Visa simplifies travel, U.S. repatriates Guantanamo detainees to Malaysia
In today’s Southeast Asia news roundup, Alex highlights major developments across the region. From Thailand’s groundbreaking E-Visa launch and its renewed focus on attracting foreign filmmakers to a British mother’s heartfelt warning about drug dangers, these stories reveal the country’s evolving travel, legal, and social landscape. Additional updates include Bangkok’s ambitious plans to host its first Formula One race, Gordon…
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Thai woman critically injured in Pattaya sidecar and car collision
A serious accident involving a motorcycle sidecar and a car near Pattaya left a 54 year old woman critically injured. The Sawaeng Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Center was alerted to an accident on Huay Yai Road yesterday, December 18 at 6.16am. Rescue workers, in coordination with Huay Yai police, quickly responded to the scene. Upon arrival, they discovered a white Honda…
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Young man arrested after fatal knife attack in Samut Prakan
A 21 year old man was taken into custody following a fatal altercation with a 16 year old. The incident, which involved a knife attack, occurred after a confrontation over perceived hostility. The suspect expressed remorse and apologised to the victim’s family. The tragic event unfolded yesterday, December 18, at 9.46pm when police in Samut Prakan received a report of…
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Love struck Thai teen ignores injuries to save girlfriendās sandals
In a heart-stopping dramatic scene that unfolded yesterday afternoon, a love struck teen ignored his own well-being and injuries following a violent collision with a pickup truck to save a treasured gift from his girlfriend. The 17 year old motorcyclist, affectionately known as Off, had a brush with disaster yesterday, December 18, in front of a school on Road 3371…
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2 foreigners caught pulling police-seized motorcycle in Phuket (video)
A viral video surfaced yesterday showing two foreigners ignoring a Thai police wheel clamp and legal consequences, as they pulled a police-seized motorcycle along a road in Phuket. The video, shared on Facebook by a Thai man named Somsak Lerchai, quickly gained attention. In his caption, Somsak sarcastically remarked, “Wheel lock doesn’t work with Grade A tourists. #OneDayButThousandsSituations.” In the…
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Police chase in Suphan Buri leads to migrant smuggling arrest
A dramatic police chase unfolded yesterday on Highway 340 in Suphan Buri, resulting in the arrest of a Thai driver smuggling eight illegal migrants from Myanmar into Bangkok. The incident began yesterday, December 18, when highway police, led by Somkid Yamthip, noticed a suspiciously slow-moving van. The van, a white Toyota with registration number 1ąøąø 7681 ąøąøąø”, initially appeared to…
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Khlong Toei residents unite to control fire in Bangkok village
A fire erupted in the Khlong Toei community in Bangkok, specifically in the 70 Rai Village, where residents joined forces to extinguish the flames. The fire was brought under control by 10.41pm yesterday, December 18 after a quick response from local firefighters. The Rama Radio Centre received a report via hotline 199 about a blaze affecting residential homes in the…
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Chumphon businessman dies from electrocution amid flooding
A tragic incident unfolded in Chumphon, as a prominent local businessmanĀ succumbed to electrocution while attempting to pump water out of his flooded home. The entrepreneur, who owned multiple petrol stations, was deeply mourned by his employees, who regarded him as a father figure. Yesterday, December 18, police and emergency services received reports of an unconscious man at a residence adjacent…
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Thailand faces pressure over trafficking in Myanmar
Thailand is at the centre of an international appeal for assistance, as two House committees engage in discussions prompted by 14 countries seeking help to rescue their citizens trafficked into Myanmar by scam centre gangs. Hundreds of foreigners find themselves ensnared by these online scamming and human trafficking networks, which operate just across the Moei River from Mae Sot in…
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Pickup truck fire in Chon Buri ends without injury as driver escapes
A dramatic fire engulfed a pickup truck at a busy intersection in Chon Buri, leaving only a metal frame behind. Fortunately, the driver managed to escape unscathed. The incident occurred yesterday, December 18, at the Ban Bueng Bypass intersection in Mu 6, Ban Suan subdistrict, Mueang district, Chon Buri province. Officers from the Chon Buri City Police Station quickly coordinated…
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Myanmar babies in Thai hospitals not eligible for free healthcare
Babies born to Myanmar parents in Thailand’s border hospitals are not eligible for free healthcare benefits like Thai nationals, despite receiving a 13-digit identification number. The National Health Security Office (NHSO) clarified this policy yesterday, December 18, highlighting that these ID cards specifically categorise the newborns as migrants born in Thailand, not as Thai citizens. Dr Jadej Thammatacharee, NHSO Secretary…
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2 Vietnamese men arrested for thefts at love hotel, over 500 evidence seized
Police arrested two Vietnamese men at a love hotel in Nonthaburi province, near Bangkok yesterday, December 18, following a spate of thefts in the area. Over 500 pieces of evidence were seized. Officers from Chaiyaphruek Police Station received multiple complaints regarding thefts in the Bang Bua Thong, Bang Kruai, Bang Si Mueang, and Chaiyaphruek areas of the province. A covert…
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Thailand prepares for chill, temperature drop and strong winds
Thailand braces for a cold snap as a mass of cool air spreads across the country, bringing a drop in temperatures and strong winds. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasts a temperature decrease of 1 to 3 degrees Celsius, with frost expected in some mountainous areas. The latest weather forecast from the TMD reveals that a moderate high-pressure system from…
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Court dismisses claims of favouritism in Thaksin hospital stay
The Constitutional Court dismissed allegations yesterday that state officials facilitated former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s hospital stay during his prison sentence. The petition, brought forward by Kongdecha Chairat, accused key figures, including Justice Minister Police Colonel Tawee Sodsong, the Department of Corrections (DoC) Director General, and the chief of Bangkok Remand Prison, of allowing Thaksin to serve his sentence at…
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CCTV footage leads to arrest of caretaker for abuse of old woman
Police arrested a Thai caretaker for brutally abusing an 85 year old bedridden woman during her employment at the victim’s home in Bangkok. The victim’s son sought help from non-profit organisation Saimai Survive after viewing the CCTV footage of the brutal abuse of his mother. He filed a complaint against the suspect, later identified as 49 year old Napasorn, with…
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Apply for international driving licences via Paotang app in Thailand
The Department of Land Transport (DLT) and Krungthai Bank launched a new service allowing people to apply for international driving licences through the Paotang app, offering convenience and speed with 24-hour accessibility. This collaboration aims to enhance public services through digital technology. The initiative was announced by Suparpong Piyachote, Deputy Minister of Transport, alongside Jirut Wisanjit, DLT Director General, and…
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Thailand goes high-tech: New E-Visa set to transform travel
Thailand is taking a leap into the digital age with the launch of its revolutionary Thai E-Visa system, simplifying life for globe-trotters everywhere. From January 1, 2025, international travellers can kiss goodbye to cumbersome paperwork and apply for their visas online with ease. This slick new development promises to make the visa process faster, safer, and more convenient, ensuring the…
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