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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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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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Debate blooms over Nanjing Station design: Plum blossom or sanitary pad?
A new railway station design in Nanjing sparked a lively debate on Chinese social media. The contentious issue arose from the design’s resemblance not to the intended plum blossom but to a sanitary pad, according to the public. The station, which has received approval from the Jiangsu government and the China Railway Group, is set to begin construction in the…
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Plant-based meat popularity fuels new ventures in Thailand
The appeal of plant-based meat production continues to rise as companies recognise the lucrative potential of this burgeoning sector. The opportunity to tap into a new revenue stream and cater to health-conscious consumers has led to collaborations between local entrepreneurs, scientists, and international firms, said Buranin Rattanasombat, the senior executive vice-president for new business and infrastructure at PTT Plc. “In…
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Singapore introduces flexible work options from December 1
Singapore employees are set to enjoy a new level of workplace flexibility starting from December 1, with the ability to request four-day work weeks, increased remote working days, and varied work timings. This move is part of a broader global shift as governments and companies loosen traditional office structures to retain skilled staff. The Ministry of Manpower has revealed that…
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Sweet sorrow: Thailand’s sugarcane harvest takes a hit
A significant reduction in Thailand’s sugarcane yield in the 2023–24 crop year has been reported by the Office of the Cane and Sugar Board (OCSB). This decrease in production is attributed to severe drought conditions and is expected to have an impact on the worldwide sugar supply. Thailand is the second-largest exporter of sugar globally, following Brazil. Therefore, any decrease…
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Thai Restaurant Association rolls dice with dream casino complex
An integrated entertainment complex, housing a casino, hotel, shopping mall, amusement park, and a variety of restaurants is sought by the Thai Restaurant Association. The association urged the Government of Thailand to consider constructing this innovative hub in a second-tier area, with the idea of promoting and selling local cuisine within the complex. Thai Restaurant Association President Thaniwan Kulmongkol stated…
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Phuket car rentals must verify tourist driving licenses
Phuket’s vehicle rental businesses received a first-hand reminder about the importance of verifying tourists’ driving licenses. The National Tourist Police Commander, Lieutenant General Saksira Phueakam, paid them a visit on Saturday, April 20. This personal visit was part of an initiative to regulate the growing vehicle rental industry in the popular tourist destination of Phuket. Lt. Gen. Saksira embarked on…
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Thai man dies in motorcycle crash near Chalong school
A Thai man died in a tragic motorcycle crash in Chalong shortly after midnight today. The accident, which involved a single vehicle, occurred in front of Ban Chalong School on Chao Fa West Road, a notoriously dangerous intersection. The Chalong Police Station and the Ruamjai Phuket Foundation were alerted of the incident around 12.45am. Upon reaching the scene, they found a…
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Thai transwoman fined for assaulting foreigner in Pattaya (video)
Police fined a Thai transwoman for physically assaulting a foreign man at a bar in Pattaya over a service fee dispute. A 33 year old Thai woman, Chomphu, who works in a Soi Bua Khao bar in Pattaya, filed a complaint against the transwoman at Mueang Pattaya Police Station. Chomphu reported that the Thai transwoman, later identified as 26 year…
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Motorbike taxi driver stabs colleague in Phuket over passenger
A motorbike taxi driver in Phuket Town is currently on the run after allegedly stabbing a colleague during a heated argument. The violent dispute occurred yesterday, April 22, at the fresh market on Ranong Road. The victim, a 65 year old known as “Thiwa Lo Phuket,” was discovered by officers from the Phuket City Police Station, still seated on his…
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Thai tourist spooked by ghostly encounter in Hong Kong hotel
A spine-chilling encounter at a Hong Kong hotel left a Thai tourist spooked and urgently seeking help on social media. The recounted tale unveils a ghostly apparition, sending shivers down the spine, especially when coupled with the discovery of a recent fire tragedy within the building, leaving several lives lost and the fire safety system unreplaced. A recent post on…
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Pattaya’s post-Songkran clean-up disposes 20 tonnes of trash
Pattaya witnessed a massive clean-up operation after the Wan Lai Day festivities, a grand culmination of the Songkran celebrations, left behind a staggering 20 tonnes of garbage. Pattaya Deputy Mayor Manoch Nongyai took to the city’s streets on the morning of April 20 to personally inspect the aftermath and to extend support to the Pattaya City Environment Office workers tasked…
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Psychiatric patient’s actions lead to fatal crash during transfer
A police officer lost his life while transferring a psychiatric patient to a hospital in the Isaan province of Loei after the patient grabbed the steering wheel of the vehicle causing it to crash. Three other police officers sustained injuries. A motorist witnessed a police car overturned on the side of Ban Nongtana Road in the Pha Khao district of…
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Scorching heat sparks storm warning across 26 Thai provinces
The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) issued a warning of thunderstorms across 26 provinces, accompanied by strong gusts in some areas. Amidst scorching heat, temperatures are expected to soar as high as 41 degrees Celsius today, April 22. A low-pressure system caused by intense heat covering the upper part of Thailand is contributing to the generally hot to very hot…
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Militay Defence reforms raise concerns among military brass
Proposed reforms to the administrative laws governing the Defence Ministry and amendments to the Military Court charter have raised concerns among senior military officials, as they apprehend potential political meddling in military matters, disclosed a trustworthy military insider. The proposed amendments, acknowledged at a Defence Ministry meeting last week, include new criteria for promoting generals and the power for the…
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Polish man falls to his death from 62-metre cell tower in Surat Thani
A Polish man jumped to his death from a 62-metre cell tower in the southern province of Surat Thani on Friday. Chaiya Police Station officers were notified that a foreign man climbed to the top of a mobile phone tower in the Chaiya district of Surat Thani on Friday, April 19. When they arrived, they found a crowd of people…
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Over 5 million senior Thais still working without formal education
The National Statistical Office (NSO) reveals that over 5 million senior Thais, with the majority lacking formal education, continue to work to sustain their livelihoods. This demographic represents approximately 19.5% of the nation’s 66 million population, or 13.64 million individuals aged 60 and above, according to the NSO’s annual survey conducted in July and August of the previous year. Suwannee…
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Vietnamese woman’s kidney failure linked to daily milk tea habit
A 28 year old woman from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, is undergoing regular dialysis treatment following a diagnosis of end-stage chronic kidney failure, attributed to her decade-long daily consumption of a popular beverage. The woman, referred to as W for privacy, began treatment last year after presenting with symptoms like body swelling, breathing difficulties, and reduced kidney function, culminating…
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Villagers nab motorcycle thief in Nakhon Si Thammarat
A 37 year old thief was apprehended by villagers in Nakhon Si Thammarat after a failed attempt to flee, resulting in a physical altercation before he was handed over to the police for prosecution. The incident, which unfolded today, April 21, saw the suspect, known as Somboon or Sor Lae, caught red-handed with a stolen motorcycle. Somboon’s capture was the…
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Woman assaulted in Bangkok gym after rejecting man’s advances (video)
In a shocking incident in Bangkok, a muscular man, angered by a failed flirtation attempt, violently threw a woman to the ground, raising concerns about the fairness of the justice system. The altercation, captured on CCTV and shared on the Facebook page อยากดังเดี๋ยวจัดให้ Retrain part 6, occurred at a gym in the Sukhumvit area. The man’s aggressive behaviour has sparked…
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Chinese woman reunites with Thai rescuers after surviving cliff fall
A heartfelt reunion occurred at Pha Taem National Park‘s office in Kong Chiam district, Ubon Ratchathani. Wang Nan, a 37 year old Chinese woman, met the four national park officials who rescued her after she was pushed off a cliff by her husband in 2019. Wang’s tears were shed in gratitude as she embraced each of the four rescuers, Pairote…
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Teenager detained following stabbing at Patong’s OTOP Market
A 17 year old man is in police custody following a stabbing incident at OTOP Market in Patong that left a 20 year old injured. The event took place just past 1am on April 19. The 20 year old victim, Ariyath Kaewnao, suffered an abdominal injury during an altercation between two local youth groups. Immediately after the incident, Ariyath was…
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Village mourns as man dies amid daughter’s education cost fears
Tragedy struck in a Chanthaburi village as a temporary irrigation project worker was found dead in his bedroom, presumed to be overwhelmed with the fear of not being able to finance his daughter’s university education despite her recent scholarship win. The incident, which occurred last night, was reported to the police the following day. The 42 year old man, known…
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Child in China diagnosed with stomach cancer from raw eggs
A four year old child in China has been diagnosed with stomach cancer, which doctors attribute to the daily consumption of raw eggs—a traditional health remedy gone awry. Grandmother Wang, adhering to age-old beliefs and folk remedies, had heard that raw eggs could enhance children’s immunity, prompting rapid growth and improved appetite. Taking this advice to heart, she fed her…
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Thai government’s Ofos project to create 20 million jobs from June
The Thai government has plans to set in motion the One Family One Soft Power (OFOS) project in June, hoping to generate 20 million employment opportunities with a minimum yearly wage of 200,000 baht according to Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Head of the National Committee on Soft Power Development and leader of the Pheu Thai Party. Paetongtarn shed light on the forthcoming…
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Thailand grapples with severe heatwave and storm warnings
Thailand is currently experiencing a widespread heatwave, with temperatures soaring to scorching highs and a warning issued for potential thunderstorms across 25 provinces. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD), in its latest forecast, indicated that a low-pressure area caused by intense heat covers most of the country, leading to generally hot to very hot weather conditions, with thunderstorms expected in some…
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Thai-Lao project conducts heart surgeries on 30 children
A collaborative medical project between Thailand and Laos has successfully conducted heart surgeries on 30 children, illustrating a significant step towards combating heart-related diseases in young individuals. This initiative, aptly named Saving Young’s Heart Crossing Mekong River, is a combined effort involving the Thai Red Cross, Chulalongkorn Hospital, Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine, the Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Foundation, the Thai…
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Thai Labour Minister aims to boost Social Security Fund
Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, the Labour Minister, announced plans to improve the profitability of the Social Security Fund by investing in international private firms, including some in Japan. The effort is aimed at increasing the fund’s revenue to 2.7 trillion baht and achieving a growth rate of 5% in the coming year. During a trip from April 5 to April 13, ministry…
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PM Srettha visits Phuket Airport
PM Srettha paid a visit to Phuket International Airport, spearheading a mission to revolutionise the region’s infrastructure. The Thai premier inspected the second phase of the airport’s expansion and a novel solution to traffic woes. Srettha pledged prosperity without the pain for locals. A meticulous strategy, executed with precision by all agencies, has already yielded impressive results in just six…
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Thai woman found dead at Phuket’s Kalim seaside
A tragic event unfolded in Phuket yesterday afternoon as a 23 year old Thai woman from the Isaan region lost her life by drowning. The unfortunate incident took place on the seaside rocks in Kalim, a northernmost part of Patong. The Kusoldharm Rescue Foundation of Patong branch received a call at around 5.40pm. The foundation’s rescue workers promptly responded, rushing…
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Dip in Pattaya hotel occupancy despite Songkran festivities
Pattaya’s hotels and those in neighbouring provinces have seen a dip in occupancy rates during the Wan Lai Songkran festival. This downturn has prompted hoteliers to critique the promotional strategy for the extended 21-day Songkran celebration. Morrakot Kuldilok, head of the eastern chapter of the Thai Hotels Association (THA), projected that the occupancy rate in Pattaya would touch 70% over…
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