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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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Sponsored Thailand health insurance that covers chronic conditions: What expats need to know
The Thaiger key takeaways Managing chronic conditions in Thailand requires health insurance that covers specialist visits, medications, tests, and hospital stays. Cigna offers high-coverage plans with access to top hospitals, direct billing, and telemedicine support for convenient long-term care. Expats...
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Phuket aims for 500 billion baht tourism boost with new initiatives
Phuket aims to boost its tourism revenue to 500 billion baht in the latter half of this year by implementing policies targeted at high-end tourists. Rewat Areerob, President of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO), announced the revised revenue goal, which had previously been set at 420 billion baht (US$12.6 billion). He emphasised that the new target underscores Phuket’s potential…
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Baby boom or bust: Labour Ministry in child welfare cash boost
In a bid to boost birth rates and tackle looming labour shortages, the Labour Ministry is gearing up to increase the monthly child welfare support for social security subscribers in Thailand from January next year. Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has revealed plans to make family life a little more financially feasible for the nation. Currently, if you’re covered under sections…
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Phuket police crackdown on illegal Chinese tour guides ahead of High Season
Phuket Tourist Police initiated a crackdown on illegal Chinese tour guides in preparation for the upcoming tourism High Season. Yesterday, October 14, Phuket Tourist Police, in line with orders from Police Lieutenant General Saksira Phueak-am, Commissioner of the Tourist Police Bureau, began efforts to combat illegal activities threatening the tourism industry. This directive was shared in a report posted by…
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Belief in ghosts ignored: Thieves steal from cinerary urns in Buriram temples
Residents urged the police to swiftly arrest thieves who stole money kept in the cinerary urns of their deceased family members at four temples in the Isaan province of Buriram, allegedly to buy drugs. In line with Thai Buddhist traditions, it is customary to place coins in urns or containers with the ashes and bones of the cremated deceased, with…
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Croc-and-awe: Residents splash over Ping River crocodile sighting
Residents of Chom Thong, Chiang Mai, are in a right flap after a suspected crocodile was spotted having a lazy float in the Ping River. The provincial fisheries department quickly jumped into action, sending out snaps of mysterious footprints to the experts for a gander. Jesada Thangmanee, the district’s top fish wrangler, jumped on the croco-drama tipped off by buzzing…
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Firefighters prevent explosion at Nakhon Ratchasima restaurant
A dramatic incident unfolded in Nakhon Ratchasima when a gas cylinder caught fire at a restaurant near a renowned university. Firefighters quickly intervened, preventing an explosion and containing the blaze before it could spread. Firefighters were alerted to a fire at a restaurant in front of Rajamangala University of Technology Isaan. Responding to the call promptly, they arrived on the…
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Fan-tastic feud: Foreigner claims bar girl stole 130 baht, throws fan
Police summoned a foreign man and his wife for questioning yesterday after he accused a bar worker in the Isaan province of Udon Thani of stealing 130 baht and throwing a fan at one of the bar girls. The owner and workers at the Sky Blue bar in Udon Thani sought justice yesterday, October 14, by sharing video footage of…
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ID check-mate: DLT gears up for tight security drive with ThaID app
The Department of Land Transport (DLT) is cracking down on security, rolling out mandatory identity checks with the ThaID app from November 1 for anyone booking driving license and vehicle registration slots. That’s right, no more easy rides—it’s high-tech all the way via the DLT Smart Queue app and website! Today, October 15, Seksom Akkharaphan, the no-nonsense Deputy Director-General and…
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Love triangle turns deadly in Phuket with fatal point-blank shooting
A fatal shooting over a love triangle occurred outside Katu Police Station in Phuket on Sunday, October 13, when two men and one woman arranged a meeting to resolve the matter. Officers at Katu Police Station followed a white pickup belonging to the gunman, later identified as 32 year old Thitipong, who fled the scene after the shooting. Police managed…
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Thai execs ‘gen’-erate buzz, placing big bets on AI for success
In a bold business move, executives in Thailand are betting big on generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), catapulting it to the top of their corporate agendas, reveals a sizzling study by global CRM giant Salesforce. Amidst economic turbulence, Siddharth Rastogi, Salesforce’s vice-president for the ASEAN, insists it will work. “We’ve got the magic mix for AI adoption, thanks to the nation’s…
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Bank of Thailand to keep rates steady amid US Fed caution
Analysts predict the Bank of Thailand will maintain its policy rate during its meeting tomorrow, citing a recovering domestic economy and potential changes in US Federal Reserve interest rate cuts if inflation revives. Chaiyot Jiwangkul, head of research at Krungsri Securities (KSS), attributed the economic rebound to increasing tourist arrivals, government budget disbursements, and a 10,000-baht (US$300) cash handout to…
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Thai transwoman arrested for drunk driving bites, punches cop
A Thai transwoman failed to escape a drunk driving arrest at a checkpoint in the northern province of Lampang, so she opted to bite and punch one of the police officers during her arrest. Officers from Mueang Lampang Police Station set up the checkpoint on Duangrat Road in the Suan Dok sub-district, Mueang district, Lampang, on the night of Sunday,…
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Thailand to explore new tax system for ageing population
Thailand must urgently adjust its tax structure and increase tax participation to address future expenses related to its ageing population, according to Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat. The Finance Ministry is exploring a negative income tax (NIT) system to assist individuals with incomes below a government-set threshold. Julapun clarified that the goal is to ensure residents can sustain their livelihoods,…
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Brake-ing bad: Car turns ambulance trip into road rage drama
A viral video captures a white sedan dangerously cutting off an ambulance twice before abruptly braking, causing distress to the patient, medical staff, and relatives inside. Yesterday, October 14, a Facebook user named Makeke Steiker posted a plea to identify the driver of a white Toyota CH-R sedan. The incident occurred yesterday between 3.05am and 3.10am. The TNB Ambulance, carrying…
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Motorcyclist dies in crash with parked forklift in Ratchaburi
A tragic accident occurred when a man riding a motorcycle collided with a parked forklift, resulting in his death. His wife and seven year old daughter sustained injuries. The forklift’s owner had not placed warning signs on the road. Police officer Theerawat Athornsirirat from Mueang Ratchaburi Police Station received a report of a motorcycle collision with a forklift, resulting in…
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iCon Group leaves 635 investors short-changed in 232 million baht bust
In the wake of the iCon Group’s alleged Ponzi scheme scandal, 635 people filed complaints against the company, reporting losses exceeding 232 million baht. Investigations are currently underway into the involvement of a policeman, a politician, and a fraudulent doctor linked to the organisation. The iCon Group, a beauty and supplementary products company, has become a hot topic in Thailand…
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PM Paetongtarn under fire for media freedom feud
Prolific petitioner Ruangkrai Leekitwattana has once again targeted Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra with a fresh complaint, charging her with an alleged assault on media freedom—a move he claims could topple her from power. Today, October 15, Ruangkrai announced that he’s officially lodged a request with the Election Commission (EC), urging a probe into PM Paetongtarn’s supposedly controversial chat with a…
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Thailand video news | Thai worker killed by leftover ammunition in Israeli orchard, Indonesia asks Apple and Google to block Chinese E-commerce platform Temu
In Thailand video news, Alex covers stories from Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries. The coverage includes a Thai activist demanding an inquiry into law enforcement procedures following a crash involving singer Tik Shiro, raising concerns about police accountability. Meanwhile, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are affecting Thailand’s economy, with rising oil prices and shipping disruptions posing significant challenges.…
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Human skeletal remains found along Ratchaburi canal road
Police in Ratchaburi province are investigating the discovery of human skeletal remains along a canal road, believed to belong to an individual who may have died unnoticed and whose body was later disturbed by animals. The remains were found yesterday near Wat Baan Mai I Chang in Bang Phae district. Police Lieutenant Santi Nuchuay of Bang Phae Police Station received…
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Paws and effect: RTA to unleash 64 ‘unfit’ service dogs in auction
The Royal Thai Army’s Veterinary & Remount Department is rolling out the red carpet for an unusual auction tomorrow in the heart of Nakhon Ratchasima’s Pak Chong district. Some 64 furry recruits are up for grabs, having failed to cut elite service dogs. On the auction block are two prestigious breeds: German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois. Prospective parents can choose…
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German tourist nabbed for drugs and overstaying in Phuket
Patong police yesterday dramatically swooped on a 29 year old German tourist, arresting him on charges of drug use and overstaying his visa in Thailand. The bust went down at 2.30pm, yesterday, October 13, right in the comfort of his hotel room on Prachanukroh Road. According to insider info from the boys in blue, the unnamed German traveller was whisked…
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Heavy rain forecast for 31 provinces, Bangkok at risk
Heavy rainfall is expected today, affecting 31 provinces across Thailand, including Bangkok, which faces a 60% chance of showers. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a warning about potential flash floods and forest runoffs, especially in the southern regions. The TMD forecasted weather conditions for the next 24 hours, highlighting that easterly and southeasterly winds are bringing moisture from the…
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Thai man severely injured after balcony collapses on Bangkok path
A 65 year old Thai man sustained severe injuries after a balcony of a four-storey building collapsed onto him while he was walking along the footpath on Charansanitwong Road in the Bang Phlat district of Bangkok on October 12. The 36 year old deep-fried chicken vendor, Wae Nawae, who witnessed the accident, called officers from Bang Phlat Police Station and…
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Sattahip squad busts a gamble of gals in illegal gaming ring
Police in Sattahip arrested a group of Thai women for illegal gambling after receiving a tip-off from concerned citizens. The women were caught playing Pok Deng behind a local restaurant near the Bang Saray Night Market. Police responded immediately to the report and apprehended four women. Evidence seized at the scene included a deck of Pok Deng cards, 240 baht…
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Hippo hooray! Sisaket zoo celebrates new exotic addition
Somdet Phra Srinagarindra Park Zoo in Sisaket yesterday joyfully welcomed a new member to its family of exotic animals—a hippopotamus calf. Veterinarians have not yet determined the gender of the calf, as the protective mother is keeping them at a distance from her newborn conceived at 6am, yesterday, October 13. Following the announcement of the calf’s birth, the zoo experienced…
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31 Thai university students injured in Nakhon Pathom bus accident
A coach bus driver crashed into a 12-wheel truck carrying pigs on Phet Kasem Road in the central province of Nakhon Pathom yesterday, October 14, leaving 31 university students injured. Officers from Mueang Nakhon Pathom Police Station investigated the accident at about 6.45pm, along with rescuers from the Suksalanukroh Nakhon Pathom Foundation. The windscreen of the bus was shattered and…
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Bangkok to sign MoU for Orange Line, road closures expected
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is set to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) for the transfer of areas during the construction of the Orange Line’s western section this week. Tawatchai Napasaksri, director of BMA’s Public Works Department, confirmed that the committee overseeing the handover of roads in Bangkok, along with…
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Phuket couple face charges after daughter suffers fractured skull
A couple in Phuket is facing serious charges after their two year old daughter was discovered unconscious with a fractured skull, the result of a horrific beating. Investigating officers revealed that both parents tested positive for drugs, adding to the grim nature of this tragic case. A concerned neighbour, alarmed by the ongoing abuse, called emergency services to the family’s…
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The breast cancer-fighting food that big pharma doesn’t want you to know about
When it comes to preventing breast cancer, many of us focus on regular screenings and medical treatments. But there’s something simple and natural that can also play a role in the fight against breast cancer: the food on your plate. One food, in particular, has been gaining attention for its potential cancer-fighting benefits, it’s cruciferous vegetables. Think broccoli, Brussels sprouts,…
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Thailand retains 10th spot in Asia Power Index 2024
Thailand maintained its position as the tenth most powerful and influential country in the Asia-Pacific region, according to the Asia Power Index 2024 released by the Lowy Institute. Scoring 19.8 points, Thailand gained 1.1 points from last year but remains in the same ranking as in 2023. The Lowy Institute praised Thailand for its cultural influence and economic relationships, where it…
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