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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. The Thaiger delivers the latest national news that matters.

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    Answers to the most common questions about international health insurance

    If you’ve been thinking of staying in Thailand long-term, you’ve probably already asked the big question, “Do I actually need international health insurance?” It’s a question that often comes up among expats, digital nomads, retirees, and even frequent travellers. Sure,...

  • Thai prime minister set to meet world leaders at APEC summit in San Francisco

    Thai prime minister set to meet world leaders at APEC summit in San Francisco

    Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is set to meet US President Joe Biden among other world leaders at the 2023 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in San Francisco. Discussions on a broad spectrum of issues are projected to take place today during their meeting at the APEC Summit dinner. In addition to the US president, the 61 year old prime minister’s…

  • Thai toddler rescued from debtors in central Thailand

    Thai toddler rescued from debtors in central Thailand

    Chalida Palamart, also known as Ton Aor, from the One Foundation, yesterday coordinated with police and local officials to rescue a one year old Thai toddler girl from a tense situation in a house in Chachoengsao province. The child’s mother, 38 year old Pern, had contacted the foundation from abroad for help, as the toddler was being held by a…

  • Export growth: Thailand’s commerce ministry targets US8 billion by 2024

    Export growth: Thailand’s commerce ministry targets US$288 billion by 2024

    The Commerce Ministry of Thailand has established an export growth goal for next year, aiming for an increase of 1.99%, which equates to approximately US$288 billion or 10 trillion baht. This information was shared by permanent commerce secretary, Keerati Rushchano, following a meeting attended by Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, other ministry heads and representatives from the private sector. The gathering…

  • Dried fish maw seized by Thai customs in smuggling operation

    Dried fish maw seized by Thai customs in smuggling operation

    A staggering 40.38 kilogrammes of dried fish maw, a species nearing extinction, were seized in a smuggling operation from Mexico, worth an estimated 58 million baht. Panthong Loikunnan, a consultant for tax development and management, and spokesperson for the Customs Department revealed the Thailand Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Srettha Thavisin, has implemented stringent policies for the Customs Department…

  • Thailand sees 5% tourism expenditure rise despite high living costs

    Thailand sees 5% tourism expenditure rise despite high living costs

    The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) predicts a 5% surge in tourism expenditure during this year’s Loy Krathong festival, amounting to a total of 6.1 billion baht. The anticipated increase comes despite the country’s locals exercising caution due to escalating living costs. TAT forecasts that the festival will witness around 2.04 million domestic journeys, a 10% rise from the previous…

  • Thailand weather: Bracing for thunderstorms and a 5 degree drop

    Thailand weather: Bracing for thunderstorms and a 5 degree drop

    Thailand Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a warning for thunderstorms and strong gusts today, followed by a temperature drop of 2 to 5 degrees Celsius. The southern region is forecasted to experience heavy rainfall. The public is advised to avoid open spaces at 5am today, followed by the changes in Thailand weather. A high-pressure system or cold air mass is currently…

  • Wedding gift woes: Ex-boyfriend’s 1140 baht sparks online debate

    Wedding gift woes: Ex-boyfriend’s 1140 baht sparks online debate

    A bride was delighted to receive a large red envelope wedding gift from her ex-boyfriend, the content of which totalled 233 yuan. Despite the sum not being substantial, it displayed sincerity, causing some online commenters to be alarmed, suggesting the amount harbours an ominous meaning. The narrative of inviting former lovers to weddings occasionally provides comedic tales, largely due to…

  • Goat carcasses spark disease outbreak concerns in Prachuap Khiri Khan

    Goat carcasses spark disease outbreak concerns in Prachuap Khiri Khan

    Five goat carcasses were found discarded on the roadside in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, raising fears of a disease outbreak. Residents alerted the animal health officials to investigate the situation. Yesterday, a resident, rummaging for old items, discovered several goat carcasses dumped in a roadside ditch along the Pranburi-Cha-Am bypass at kilometre marker 43-600, northbound near a vehicle turnaround and…

  • Unexpected love story: Woman finds true connection on the streets

    Unexpected love story: Woman finds true connection on the streets

    A 28 year old woman was evicted from her home by her mother for refusing to attend a matchmaking event, leading her to sleep on the street. In this unexpected love story, she met an audacious young man who proposed to be her boyfriend. The woman was discovered sleeping on the pavement instead of her comfortable bedroom at home. She…

  • Thai prime minister addresses small investors’ crisis of confidence in the stock market

    Thai prime minister addresses small investors’ crisis of confidence in the stock market

    Thailand’s Prime Minister and Finance Minister Srettha Thavisin has spoken about the news of small investors planning to stop trading on November 20 due to a crisis of confidence. The situation, the Thailand prime minister says, is serious and warrants investigation. The government, he assures, is not taking negative measures against the Thailand Stock Exchange, but is trying to improve multiple…

  • Fueling frustration: Thailand Energy Minister alarmed as petrol prices play a seesaw despite promised relief

    Fueling frustration: Thailand Energy Minister alarmed as petrol prices play a seesaw despite promised relief

    Peeraphan Salirathaviphak, Thailand’s Minister of Energy, raised concerns about the constant fluctuations in petrol prices, which have seen a continuous rise over the past two days, despite a recent government announcement of a 2 baht per litre reduction. In a statement made at the Government House at 1pm this afternoon, Peeraphan argued that petrol prices should not fluctuate like stocks…

  • Rayong: Help needed to make Christmas special for HIV-affected children

    Rayong: Help needed to make Christmas special for HIV-affected children

    In a heartfelt appeal from the Camillian Social Centre in Rayong, they shed light on the lives of the 45 children under their care who are either living with HIV or affected by it. The centre has been organising a cherished annual tradition since 2006, where these children are taken to Big C Rayong for a special Christmas shopping trip.…

  • Nationwide crackdown puts the brakes on illegal exhaust pipes, curbs street racing in Thailand

    Nationwide crackdown puts the brakes on illegal exhaust pipes, curbs street racing in Thailand

    A nationwide crackdown on the production and sale of illegal exhaust pipes for motorcycles took place today. The operation, led by the Royal Thai Police’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), targeted 21 locations across 11 provinces. The mission aimed to curb street racing activities, especially as winter season trips by groups of young people are on the rise. The CIB, headed…

  • Tango of revenge: Argentine man mastermind’s samba trip to Brazil, funded by unfaithful girlfriend

    Tango of revenge: Argentine man mastermind’s samba trip to Brazil, funded by unfaithful girlfriend

    An Argentine man devised a cunning plan to exact revenge on his unfaithful girlfriend by taking her on a luxurious trip to Brazil, all funded by her. The video of the incident, shared on TikTok, has drawn attention from millions of viewers, garnering over two million views. Charlie captured himself and his girlfriend walking along the beach in the video…

  • Northeast Thailand: Villagers flock to Ya Kok shrine for lottery luck

    Northeast Thailand: Villagers flock to Ya Kok shrine for lottery luck

    Residents of the village of Mab Krad, Khok Krachai, Khon Buri, and Nakhon Ratchasima, are gathering at the Ya Kok shrine to seek good fortune for the upcoming lottery draw. This follows the appearance of the second-prize lottery number. Residents offer worship items including savoury and sweet food like pork heads, boiled chicken, and beverages. They lay their purchased lottery…

  • Iguana invasion: Wild population surge puts Thai officials on edge, sparks import halt pondering

    Iguana invasion: Wild population surge puts Thai officials on edge, sparks import halt pondering

    The increased iguana population in the wild across numerous provinces in Thailand has provoked the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) to consider halting the importation of the species. Attapon Charoenchansa, the department’s director-general, revealed yesterday that the decision comes on the heels of an uptick in iguana sightings in natural habitats and urban areas. “The burgeoning…

  • Chon Buri: Loan-sharking couple arrested following deadly shooting

    Chon Buri: Loan-sharking couple arrested following deadly shooting

    A couple, involved in a loan-sharking gang, were arrested following a shooting that resulted in the death of a 45 year old fruit vendor named Itthipol (surname withheld). The incident occurred near a convenience store on Sukhumvit Road, Soi 109, Plutaluang, Sattahip, Chon Buri. The suspects, 29 year old Somchai Homkaraket, and Ratchadaphon Sirirat, also 29 years old, were apprehended…

  • Phuket police apprehend duo for vandalising Russian tour buses

    Phuket police apprehend duo for vandalising Russian tour buses

    The tranquil island of Phuket was shaken as two men were seized by police for allegedly vandalising Russian tour buses. The duo was said to be receiving a bounty of 1,000 baht for each vehicle they damaged using a slingshot and ball bearings. They managed to wreak havoc on ten buses before their arrest. The arrests were made following a…

  • Chinese student steals show at sports festival in backless dress

    Chinese student steals show at sports festival in backless dress

    A female student at Jiangxi Normal University in China‘s Jiangxi province recently stole the show wearing a backless evening dress at a university sports festival, earning herself the nickname goddess. As she hurried onto the field, her long backless dress fluttered in the wind, drawing the attention of all present. The university stadium was packed as most of the students…

  • Decapitated Thai man’s head found in water tank, murderer remains at large

    Decapitated Thai man’s head found in water tank, murderer remains at large

    Following the murder of a Thai man in the southern province of Surat Thani, police finally located his missing head after five days of extensive search. However, the identity of the killer remains unknown. The lifeless body of Sangiam Penrum, a 53 year old man, was discovered outside his residence in Surat Thani on November 11. Sangiam had been decapitated,…

  • Vietnamese investor-led network raided in Thailand for false milk powder sales

    Vietnamese investor-led network raided in Thailand for false milk powder sales

    A Vietnamese investor-led network, falsely advertising and selling a specialised milk powder with exaggerated health benefits, was raided by the Royal Thai Police (RTP). The authorities seized more than 42 million baht in assets and accused the network of misusing the name of a renowned former national football player, Piyapong Pue-on, in their marketing. The operation took place at 10am…

  • Thai police probe mysterious murder of Taiwanese man at Bangkok hotel

    Thai police probe mysterious murder of Taiwanese man at Bangkok hotel

    Thai police are investigating the murder of a Taiwanese man found tied and bound in the Niran Grand Hotel in the Udomsuk neighbourhood of Bangkok today, November 16. The tragic discovery of the Taiwanese man was made at the hotel on Soi Udomsuk 17, also known as Soi Sukhumvit 103, in Bangkok’s Bang Na district. An employee found the body…

  • Good cop, bad fall: Chinese policewoman’s rescue mission turns into accusations and yuan showdown

    Good cop, bad fall: Chinese policewoman’s rescue mission turns into accusations and yuan showdown

    A Chinese policewoman who aided an elderly man who had fallen in the street was met with accusations and a hefty compensation demand of 13,000 yuan (65,500 baht), leading her to reveal her true identity as a police officer, silencing her accusers. The incident occurred recently in Tianjin, China when a policewoman, on her way to work, came across a fallen…

  • Royal Thai Army to pay over 2 million baht compensation for Lahu tribe defender’s death

    Royal Thai Army to pay over 2 million baht compensation for Lahu tribe defender’s death

    The Royal Thai Army (RTA) has been ordered to pay over 2 million baht in compensation to the family of Chaiyaphum Pa-sae, a human rights defender from the Lahu tribe, as ruled by the Supreme Court today. This case stems from an incident in 2017 where Chaiyaphum was shot dead by military officials at a checkpoint in Chiang Mai. Despite…

  • Thai man forces daughter to drink alcohol and watch porn before raping her (video)

    Thai man forces daughter to drink alcohol and watch porn before raping her (video)

    A Thai father reportedly forced his 12 year old daughter to drink alcohol and watch porn before he raped her. The alleged rapist father was also accused of sexually assaulting his 15 year old daughter. The victim’s uncle, Noom, took the matter to the social media influencer, Guntouch “Gun” Pongpaiboonwet, and asked him to help process the legal charges against…

  • Police crackdown on drugs and firearms disturbs peace in Phuket

    Police crackdown on drugs and firearms disturbs peace in Phuket

    The tranquil calm of Tambon Thepkrasattri in Phuket was shattered yesterday when Thalang police executed a successful operation against illicit activities. Two individuals were apprehended in the ongoing crackdown against drugs and firearms that has been plaguing the region. The first individual, Surasak “Sak” Nakklap, a 44 year old local from Moo 11, Thepkrasattri, was arrested in the vicinity of…

  • Vietnamese family dispute over children’s health goes viral

    Vietnamese family dispute over children’s health goes viral

    The troubling case of a Vietnamese family in dispute has been reported by the popular Docnhanh platform. The husband claims his wife had been cruelly denying their children water, leading to their illness. However, the wife counter-argued, stating he had been forcing their offspring to regularly drink salt water under the guise of treatment. Previously, the father, referred to as…

  • Burglary busters: Thalang police nab duo, bringing relief to southern Thailand’s crime-weary community

    Burglary busters: Thalang police nab duo, bringing relief to southern Thailand’s crime-weary community

    In a series of successful home burglary crackdowns, Thalang police apprehended two suspects in Thepkrasattri, in southern Thailand. This recent breakthrough in the investigation came as a relief to the local community, which had been plagued by a spate of break-ins and robberies. The two men, 41 year old Anon “Nont” Somphet, a resident of Moo 4, Thepkrasattri, and 44…

  • Baby boom: Thailand minister aims to boost nation’s population with Give Birth Great World campaign.

    Baby boom: Thailand minister aims to boost nation’s population with Give Birth Great World campaign.

    Thailand’s Public Health Minister is set to increase the population in Thailand by encouraging Thais to have more children in a campaign called, Give Birth Great World. Cholnan Sikaew revealed in a meeting within the ministry yesterday, November 15, that the average fertility rate of women across the world would reduce to 1.7 children per woman by 2100 if the…

  • Famed Thai fortune teller year-end zodiac forecasts reveal financial and career prospects

    Famed Thai fortune teller year-end zodiac forecasts reveal financial and career prospects

    Famed fortune-teller, Uy Chanitta, has revealed her predictions for the zodiac signs as we approach the year’s end. With some signs set to pay off debts and experience good fortune, while others should beware of significant financial loss, her forecast spans a range of outcomes for the zodiac signs. According to Chanitta, those born under the Aries sign should be…