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5 hidden healthcare costs in Thailand and how to avoid them
Thailand's healthcare system is affordable and supported by the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) scheme, offering essential services to most citizens. However, hidden healthcare costs can surprise patients and lead to unexpected expenses. These include specialist fees, insurance gaps, emergency services,...
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Where to celebrate Christmas in Bangkok 2023
The most wonderful time of the year is coming! And after all those Christmas shopping, you deserve a festive feast. Luckily, numerous restaurants and hotels in Bangkok are offering extravagant and delightful Christmas dining experiences to turn up the holiday cheer. From roast turkey with all the trimmings to seafood and Thai dishes, you can treat yourself and your loved ones…
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Distinctive underwear leads to arrest of tobacconist robber a year later
A trio of armed robbers stormed a tobacconist on 109th Ave, USA, on September 14 last year before escaping, only to be caught a year later due to the distinctive underwear one of the culprits wore during the crime. The criminals, all wearing masks, arrived in a Mazda car. Two of them pointed guns at staff and customers while the…
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Will the 2024 fiscal year save the Thai economy?
Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat revealed that Thailand‘s eagerly awaited 3.48 trillion baht budget for the 2024 fiscal year won’t see the light until early May. Originally set to kick off on October 1, the budget got tangled in the web of politics, with May’s election and the lengthy government formation process pushing the official start to September 5. According…
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Thailand eyes pre-pandemic tourism levels by 2024, revamps VAT refund process
Thailand, a popular tropical destination, is anticipating a return to near pre-pandemic tourism levels by 2024. In 2019, the country welcomed nearly 40 million overseas visitors, contributing 12% to the nation’s GDP. However, the Fiscal Policy Office projects a recovery to approximately half that number this year, following the pandemic, and predicts a return to 90% of the 2019 levels…
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Middle-aged Chinese bride marries without dowry demand
A 47 year old bride has married for the first time, making no demands for a dowry, house, or car, only wanting her groom, who is remarkably handsome. The wedding took place in the city of Fujian, China, where the middle-aged woman discovered true love and donned a wedding dress for the first time. Despite the age gap seeming significant,…
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Stranded man sells appliances for 800 baht to visit ill sister
A 56 year old man was deceived and abandoned by a van driver, leaving him stranded along Bang Na-Trat Road, Bang Phli district, Samut Prakan province. Phorncharoen Saengthothep, originally from Udon Thani, was travelling back home to care for his sick sister suffering from diabetes and had sold his rice cooker and fridge for 800 baht to fund his journey.…
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Vet shares unusual tale of pet pig choking on pork meatball on TikTok (video)
A bizarre incident occurred when a local villager brought his pet pig to a vet in a fertiliser sack, after it choked on a pork meatball, yesterday, December 20. The incident was shared on TikTok by user @naynaykung019, who happens to be the treating veterinarian. The video clip shows the pet pig owner seeking help, stating that his pet pig…
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Thailand government expands Red Line electric train to Ayutthaya and Nakhon Pathom
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has received a directive from the government to broaden the Red Line electric train system to include Ayutthaya and Nakhon Pathom. Surapong Piyachote, Deputy Transport Minister, on Wednesday disclosed that the existing 8.8 kilometer stretch from Rangsit to Thammasat University’s Rangsit Campus will be extended to Ayutthaya. In a similar vein, the 14.8 kilometer…
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Northern Thailand: Endangered red-headed vulture lays egg in sanctuary in Uthai Thani
A significant milestone has been reached in Thailand‘s conservation efforts with the laying of an egg by a critically endangered red-headed vulture (Sarcogyps calvus) in Huai Kha Khaeng wildlife sanctuary, Uthai Thani. The exciting development was announced on social media by Ornyupa Sangkamarn, secretary-general of the Sueb Nakhasathien Foundation, who remains hopeful about the egg’s fertility and successful hatching. The…
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Thailand’s commerce ministry targets 2 trillion baht in cross-border trade by 2027
Aiming to increase the value of cross-border and transit trade to 2 trillion baht by 2027, the Commerce Ministry is expediting the application of the cross-border trade strategy. The Ministry is establishing four dedicated task forces to tackle border trade-related issues. Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, following Wednesday’s committee meeting on trade, cross-border, and transit trade promotion, shared that the committee…
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Thai health charter chairman advocates for cannabis in wellness tourism
Dr Kampon Sriwatanakul, chairman of the Thailand National Charter of Health, has called for the adoption of a holistic wellness technique to leverage the potential of cannabis in bolstering the nation‘s tourism. He delivered these remarks at the 4th CISW MedCann Investment Summit 2023, which took place yesterday, December 20. The chairman advocated for a wellness tourism model revolving around…
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Thai worker returns to Israeli farm amidst conflict to support family
A 33 year old man from Buri Ram has opted to return to his job on an Israeli farm, notwithstanding the ongoing conflict in the region. He had initially returned to Thailand as part of the government’s repatriation initiative that brought thousands of Thai workers home from Israel. With mounting debts and a family to support, Tom Prongjit found the…
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Northern Thailand: Teenager caught using foreign currency at self-service kiosk
A suspicious incident involving currency manipulation at a self-service payment kiosk was reported in Wichian Buri district, Phetchabun province today, December 20. A local shop owner, Sarayut Singchangchai, spotted a foreign banknote, specifically a 500 Kyat note from Myanmar (equivalent to approximately 8 baht), in his payment kiosk. This discovery led to an investigation and the eventual identification of the…
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Bangladesh on the brink: Opposition calls for general election boycott amidst political turmoil
Bangladesh‘s political landscape is teetering on the edge as the main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), intensifies its calls for a boycott of the upcoming January 7 general election. The stakes are high, with the BNP warning of a one-sided dummy election unless Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina steps down. Struggling with key leaders either imprisoned or in exile,…
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Thai TikToker condemned for encouraging cheating and partner manipulation
Thai netizens condemned a Thai TikToker for encouraging his followers to cheat on their partners and manipulate them for money and other benefits. The videos which now under fire were created and shared by the TikTok account, ครูตี๋ สà¸à¸™à¸ˆà¸µà¸šà¸ªà¸²à¸§. which means learning how to flirt with girls with teacher Tee. The TikToker is identified as Tee. He has over 500,000 followers…
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Uthlum case: The Thai legal concept preventing children from suing parents
Thai law and cultural norms often intersect, as the longstanding legal concept of Uthlum demonstrates. This term, which translates to forbidden cases, refers to the prohibition against a child bringing a lawsuit against a parent or guardian. Despite the complexities and potential controversies surrounding this unique legal concept, it’s an integral part of Thai culture and law that demands a…
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Survey reveals half of Thai workers unprepared for retirement
In a startling revelation, a recent survey conducted by the Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy at Chulalongkorn University has unveiled a concerning truth – a staggering 50% of working-age Thais are not financially equipped for retirement. The implications are dire, as experts warn of the impending challenges faced by the nation’s ageing population. The survey, involving 2,400 participants nationwide, disclosed…
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MFP Pita defends himself over shareholding charge at Constitutional Court
Pita Limjaroenrat, the advisory chairman of the Move Forward Party (MFP), defends himself at the Constitutional Court over the charges against him for the iTV shareholding case. The Court was poised to dissect his involvement in the beleaguered iTV – a spectacle eagerly anticipated by political enthusiasts. At precisely 9.10am, Pita, exuding an air of calm confidence, addressed the media.…
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Thai wage committee upholds 2.37% minimum wage increase
Yesterday, a senior government official announced that the tripartite wage committee has decided to uphold their previously agreed-upon plan to increase the average daily minimum wage by 2.37%. The committee, consisting of representatives from the government, employers, and employees, has agreed to uplift the pay threshold range to 330 to 370 baht, starting in January. This was confirmed by Pairoj…
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Erroneous English signboard at Trang airport rectified following social media uproar
An incorrect English translation on a signboard leading to Trang Airport has been rectified following public criticism. The sign, which was meant to point towards the airport, was found to be using the Karaoke language style in its English translation. It should have read Trang Airport, but instead it was written as THAAGRAD SAYAITHANG. The error has now been corrected,…
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Motorbike rider cheats death in Pattaya cable catastrophe
In Pattaya, a Bolt motorbike rider narrowly cheated death when he collided with a hanging cable, leaving his neck gruesomely wounded. The motorbike rider, 22 year old Ethan Ketwongsa, took to Facebook to recount his harrowing ordeal that unfolded on December 17. Cruising down Soi Ban Nern Thang Rotfai 1, just off the parallel railway road in East Pattaya, Ethan…
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Thai woman falls off building while fleeing mentally ill neighbour
A Thai woman fell from the third floor of a building in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok while she was fleeing from a mentally ill neighbour who attempted to stab her. Mueang Nonthaburi Police Station officers were called to rescue a Thai woman, 63 year old Chamaiporn, who fell from her room on the third floor to an awning on the…
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Young firefighter steals hearts and extinguishes flames
Capturing the internet’s attention, six year old Peerapat, a kindergarten student at Wat U-Tapao Kindergarten in Chon Buri, has become a viral sensation after a video of him extinguishing a forest fire alongside adult firefighters surfaced on social media. The video, shared on Thai social media on December 18, has amassed over 2 million views, turning Peerapat into a symbol…
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Brazilian woman’s fatal encounter with poisoned chocolate
A 27 year old woman in Brazil, known as Fernanda Silva Valas da Cruz Pinto, tragically lost her life after consuming chocolate. This followed a recent fortune-telling session where she was ominously predicted to die prematurely. After eating the chocolate, she suffered severe abdominal pain, vomited blood, and foamed at the mouth. Despite being rushed to the hospital, she was…
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BWH Hotels signs Best Western Hotel at Jomtien Beach, Pattaya
BWH Hotels (BWH), the leading global hospitality network comprising WorldHotelsâ„¢, Best Western® Hotels & Resorts, and SureStay® Hotels, has continued the rapid expansion of its portfolio in Thailand with the signing of the Best Western Jomtien Beach Pattaya, a brand-new midscale hotel which is being constructed just steps from the golden sands of Jomtien Beach. Just a short drive from…
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Illegal meatball factory raided, dirty products flood Bangkok and surrounding areas
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) police conducted a raid at an illegal meatball factory in the central province of Pathum Thani on December 18. The substandard and dirty products were found to be shipped throughout Bangkok and surrounding provinces. CIB officers launched proactive measures and operations against illegal food producers in the country after six children suffered dizziness and rapid…
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Illegal labour crackdown in Phuket ensnares 30 Chinese men
Yesterday in Tambon Thepkrasattri, an enclave in Phuket, Thailand, police apprehended 30 Chinese men on charges of illegal labour. The detained, aged between 24 and 59 years old, were caught in the act, with 12 of them arrested at a construction site in Baan Pa Khlok Cheep, and the remaining 18 along Wong Chalerm Village Road. Now, further investigations are…
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Thai government ditches 300-baht fee for tourists: Massive insurance plan
In a bold move to restore tourist trust, Thailand‘s Tourism and Sports Ministry has abandoned the long-delayed 300-baht tourism fee and is now looking for another type of insurance for tourists. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is spearheading a grand plan to offer a whopping 500,000 baht coverage for injuries and a jaw-dropping 1 million baht in the event of a…
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Marriage equality bill final draft to be submitted to Parliament
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin declared yesterday, December 19, that the Cabinet is set to propose the Marriage Equality Bill final draft to Parliament tomorrow, December 21. Expressing unwavering confidence in the bill’s potential, Srettha envisions a future where same-sex couples bask in the same marital rights as their heterosexual counterparts, pending parliamentary consideration. The final draft of the bill, an…
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Thailand warned of escalating PM2.5 dust levels: GISTDA
The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) issued an urgent warning about PM2.5 dust particles exceeding safe levels in various parts of Thailand. Samut Sakhon saw the worst conditions with PM2.5 levels reaching 76.7 micrograms per cubic meter, more than double the standard limit of 37.5 micrograms. In Bangkok, 22 districts experienced PM2.5 levels exceeding the standard limit, with…
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