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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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Outrage as Thai rape sentence slashed in half, raising questions about justice system
A Thai woman and her boyfriend questioned the justice system in Thailand after a Bangkok taxi driver’s rape sentence was reduced from six years to only three years. The victim suffered both physical and mental health damage as a consequence of the sexual assault. The victim’s boyfriend shared the story about his girlfriend on Facebook on Thursday, May 11. He…
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Thailand’s giant panda Lin Hui died of multiple organ failure, experts rule
UPDATE Post-mortem examinations ruled that Thailand‘s beloved giant panda Lin Hui, who passed away at 21 years old at Chiang Mai Zoo last month, died of multiple organ failure. China loaned the giant panda to Thailand in 2003 as a goodwill ambassador between the two countries for 20 years. She was set to return home this year. A joint team…
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12 year old boy killed by crocodile in Sabah, second attack in a month
A 12 year old boy was fatally attacked by a crocodile in Sabah’s Sandakan district, located in eastern Malaysia’s Sabah state. The tragedy occurred on Sumangat Payau Island, and the victim’s body was found around 2 kilometres away from the last sighted location. The incident took place on Tuesday, 23 May, at around 8am local time. Hamza Isnurdini, assistant operations…
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Leopard cat struck by car in southern Thailand
A leopard cat is seriously injured after being hit by a car in Phang Nga province in southern Thailand on Monday. A young man named Somchai (pseudonym) from Thung Kha Ngok subdistrict was driving his motorbike along the Phang Nga – Takua Pa route when he saw an animal get hit by a car. He parked his motorbike to check…
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Future Thailand PM at odds with cannabis sellers and government over drug law reform
Cannabis sellers and several governmental departments have clashed with future Prime Minister, Pita Limcharoenrat, and his Move Forward Party (MFP) over the reclassification of cannabis and the reversal of the drug laws. The sellers are demanding clear clarification from the concerned departments on this issue. On Monday, May 22, the MFP, led by Pita, and leaders of the coalition parties…
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First flight from Russia’s Red Wings Airlines makes its way to Phuket
Russian tourists are continuing to flock to Thailand’s holiday paradise of Phuket. Yesterday morning, officials and staff at Phuket International Airport welcomed the first Red Wings Airlines flight from Zhukovsky, Russia, to Phuket. The flight carried 400 passengers. Earlier this month, it was reported that Russians were Thailand’s fourth largest tourist group this year, with a total of 115,743 tourists so…
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Bangkok to expand Google Classroom project to all 437 schools by 2026
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has unveiled its plans to implement the Google Classroom project across all 437 schools under its jurisdiction within the next three years. The announcement follows a successful pilot project in collaboration with Google at Thainiyomsongkroa School in the Bang Khen district. The Google Classroom project emphasises “learning connectivity and data accessibility,” providing each student with…
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Tigray conflict displaces thousands, demand withdrawal of invading forces
Thousands of displaced individuals from Ethiopia’s Tigray region took to the streets to demand a return to their homes and the withdrawal of “invading forces,” according to witnesses and local television. The conflict in Africa’s second most populous country lasted two years, resulting in countless civilian deaths and displacing around two million people before a surprise truce was declared in…
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Only a week left to experience Grand Canyon of Thailand before rain
Travellers are advised to seize the opportunity to witness the extraordinary beauty of a natural site known as Thailand‘s “Grand Canyon,” locally known as Sam Phan Bok, before the end of May, when it will start to rain more. This leaves only a week left for exploration. Located in the Ban Pho Sai district of Ubon Ratchathani province in Thailand’s…
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Body found in Thailand forest wearing someone else’s school uniform
A man searching for wild mushrooms discovered a corpse wearing a high schooler’s gym shirt in a forest in Chanthaburi province in central Thailand today. Officers at Mueang Chanthaburi Police Station were informed that a local man found the body of a man wearing a gym shirt from a famous high school in a ditch in the forest in Moo…
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South Thailand bus crash leaves 10 wounded
A bus crash in South Thailand‘s Songkhla province left 10 people wounded yesterday morning. The bus was carrying 30 passengers from Bangkok to Hat Yai. Rattaphum Police were alerted to the incident on Asia Road in the Kamphaengphet sub-district of Rattaphum district. Emergency responders arrived at the scene and found the bus on the side of the road. Ten injured…
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Young daughter marries man who cares for her to silence mum’s constant complaints
A young daughter recently shared a story about her mother’s constant complaints about her laziness and late waking habits. Her mother would question who would care for her if she got married and didn’t have her mother around anymore. However, a few years later, the woman’s response to her mother’s concerns became evident through the photographs she shared on social…
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Thai family seeks help moving deceased father to temple amidst wild bees concerns
A Thai family asked for emergency services assistance in transferring their deceased father to a temple for a funeral ceremony, amid concerns that noise and lights from the event might disturb a hive of wild bees situated near their residence. The authorities in the Buriram area responded to the request in order to ensure the safety of the hosts and…
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France bans short-haul flights with train alternatives to cut emissions
In an effort to reduce carbon emissions, France has implemented a ban on domestic short-haul flights where train alternatives are available. The legislation comes into effect two years after it was initially approved by lawmakers, targeting routes where train journeys can be completed in under two-and-a-half hours. This restriction essentially eliminates air travel between Paris and cities such as Nantes,…
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DeSantis announces presidential bid with Musk in live Twitter event
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is set to announce his challenge for the Republican party’s 2024 presidential nomination, presenting his ultra-conservative record as a potential blueprint for the nation. The announcement will be made during a live Twitter event with the platform’s owner, Elon Musk. “I will be interviewing Ron DeSantis and he has quite an announcement to make,” Musk confirmed,…
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Speeding pickup truck flips on Si Rat expressway – driver dies in collision
A high-speed collision involving a pickup truck on the Si Rat Expressway in Bangkok resulted in the vehicle flipping over and the driver tragically losing his life. The incident occurred at the expressway’s entrance near Ngamwongwan Road, where the pickup truck was found completely wrecked. The accident involved an Isuzu D-Max, which collided with a cement barrier due to excessive…
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Thailand to ease yuan rules for trade amid rising US dollar volatility
Amid the increasing volatility of the US dollar in relation to other global currencies, regulators are considering loosening restrictions on the utilization of the yuan in yuan-baht trade transactions. The Bank of Thailand, in collaboration with Asian and ASEAN central banks, is actively working toward establishing frameworks for local currency settlements. This initiative aims to encourage the use of local…
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31% of Thais eye battery electric vehicles as next car choice
A recent survey by Deloitte Thailand revealed that 31% of Thai consumers are likely to opt for a battery electric vehicle (BEV) as their next car, the highest percentage in Southeast Asia. Despite this, internal combustion engine vehicles continue to be the preferred choice in the region. The survey, conducted between September and October last year, focused on consumer behaviour…
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Thailand’s state grid to ink 5.2GW renewable deals in Q3
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) anticipates that power purchase agreements (PPAs) will be signed with companies chosen to participate in the 5.2-gigawatt renewable energy scheme during this year’s third quarter. The Office of the Attorney General is currently reviewing the legal aspects of the scheme, which includes power plant construction projects proposed by 175 selected companies. Following the completion of…
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Hundreds of porn DVDs discovered in ex-temple abbot’s quarters spark outrage
Villagers in Nakhon Ratchasima province were shocked when they discovered hundreds of porn DVDs hidden in a former abbot’s residence at a local temple. The 73 year old former abbot had been expelled from the temple by the villagers on February 19, due to inappropriate behaviour, financial mismanagement, and alleged misconduct with female devotees in a washroom. The villagers demanded…
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Police impostors arrested for attempting to bribe officers to release illegal Chinese immigrants
Officers from Chiang Saen Police Station in the northern province of Chiang Rai arrested four suspects for posing as high-ranking police officers and attempting to bribe the police with 350,000 baht in exchange for the release of four Chinese nationals who illegally entered the country. The situation unfolded after officers from Chiang Saen Police Station apprehended a Thai national along…
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‘Last push’ to get injured English tourist stuck in Thailand hospital back home
UPDATE The 25 year old English tourist who crashed his motorbike into a shopfront in Phuket on May 1 remains in a hospital in Thailand over three weeks later. Doctors say he is almost ready to be transferred to a hospital in the UK, once his hospital bill is paid in full. After suffering significant blood loss and falling into…
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Thai food exports target 10% growth amid rising demand, quality standards
The Thai Commerce Ministry aims to boost food exports by 10% in 2023, driven by growing demand and enhanced Thai standards for quality, safety, and sustainable production processes. Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit announced the target during the opening of THAIFEX-ANUGA ASIA 2023, expecting food exports to reach 1.55 trillion baht this year, up from 1.36 trillion in 2022. The food…
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Thailand flight sales soar, searches for outbound trips up 200% in Q1
The first quarter of this year saw international flight sales to Thailand surpass 2019 figures, while searches for outbound Thai flights and overseas accommodation rose by 200%, according to online travel agency Traveloka. Iko Putera, the company’s chief executive of transport, anticipates a positive travel trend for Thailand and the rest of Southeast Asia this year. This is driven by…
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Thailand’s FA bans two footballers for six months over SEA Games brawl
UPDATE Thailand’s Football Association (FA) banned two Thai footballers from playing in national games for six months over the brawls that erupted during the men’s football final between Indonesia and Thailand at the SEA Games in Phnom Penh on May 16. The FA banned three staff members who stormed the pitch for an entire year, citing their lack of maturity.…
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Man’s body found floating in sea off Thailand’s Chon Buri province
A man’s body was found floating in the sea off Thailand‘s eastern Chon Buri province yesterday. The body of the man, believed to be a missing Cambodian boat worker, was discovered near a mangrove swamp in Sattahip district. An unidentified citizen reported the body to Sattahip Police at around 11.30am. The body is suspected to be that of Yook Thienia…
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Knife rampage: Man terrorises shoppers, vandalises cars outside mall after losing job
A man wielding knives went on a rampage near a busy shopping centre in Nonthaburi, Thailand, allegedly due to stress from being unemployed. Officers from the Bang Bua Thong Police Station were alerted to the frenzied incident at around 8pm yesterday, which saw the man brandishing sharp weapons and attacking cars amongst nearby pedestrians. At the scene, officials discovered a…
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Priceless piece of history: Last Emperor of China’s watch fetches record-breaking US$5.1 million at Hong Kong auction
A rare Patek Philippe watch once owned by Aisin-Gioro Puyi, the last emperor of China‘s Qing Dynasty, has been sold at auction in Hong Kong for a record-breaking HK$40 million (US$5.1 million). An anonymous buyer purchased the timepiece, which had been gifted by Puyi to his Russian interpreter during his imprisonment by the Soviet Union. The sale price, which did…
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‘Personally, I love dogs,’ says Thai man who killed girlfriend’s dogs, forced her to eat dog poo
UPDATE Watchdog Thailand seized a Beagle, a Shih Tzu, and a rabbit from the man who confessed to beating his Thai-British girlfriend, forcing her to eat dog poo, and buying and killing many of her pet dogs yesterday. During interrogation at Bang Bo Police Station in Samut Prakan yesterday, 24 year old “Fin” confessed to killing and burying “more than…
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Bangkok blaze devastates 44 homes in rapid inferno
A massive fire engulfed over 44 wooden houses in Bangkok’s Talat Phlu district, near Soi Wutthakat 18-20, leaving local officials battling the flames for more than 45 minutes. There were no reported injuries or deaths. The authorities received the emergency report at approximately 5.45am and coordinated with the Bangkok Fire and Rescue Department, as well as volunteers from the charity…
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