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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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Trash horror: Waste collector stumbles upon newborn’s tragic fate in black Bangkok rubbish bin
A shocking discovery was made by a waste collector in the Nong Chok district of Bangkok when he found the discarded dead body of a newborn in a black rubbish bin. The incident happened at 4am this morning. Authorities from Suwinthawong Police Station, forensic doctors from the Police Hospital, and officials from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation were swiftly alerted to investigate the…
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Crop déjà vu: Critics dub gov’s agri-reform a rerun of past plans
The government’s current measures to reform the nation’s agricultural sector, particularly rice farming, are largely seen as reiterations of former strategies, declared industry commentators. They suggest that any budget-based support should come with certain stipulations. Aat Pisanwanich, an international economics lecturer, after evaluating these measures, observes that the central policy appears to be a three-year debt suspension for farmers, with…
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Scottish mother spots intruder under bed through baby monitor
A 22 year old mother in Scotland had a chilling encounter when she spotted an intruder crawling out from under her bed via her Baby Monitor app on her mobile phone while she and her one year old son were away visiting a friend. Swiftly, she contacted the police. The monitoring system, installed to keep an eye on her toddler, had…
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Educational inequality sparks call for Thai government investment in human capital
The Equitable Education Fund (EEF) urged the Thai government to bolster investments in human capital to enhance the lives of students belonging to low-income families and curtail educational inequality. The call was made at the annual Equity Forum, held at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, to deliberate on the significance of such investments in addressing educational disparities. Kraiyos Patrawart,…
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Photo betrayal: Teenage Thai boy suffers from depression after being blackmailed by 10 classmates
A 15 year old boy is suffering from depression after 10 of his classmates used his naked photo to blackmail him. The victim’s father said the incident happened at the end of July. Three classmates created Instagram accounts pretending to be three female students. The boys used the accounts to chat and flirt with the victim before tricking the victim…
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Samut Prakan: Lottery vendor strikes gold with first-prize ticket in unsold stock
A lottery vendor experienced an unexpected stroke of luck when she discovered a first-prize winning ticket in her husband’s unsold stock. She credits her fortunate find to the spirit of the 7-Eleven store in Bang Hua Suea where they operate their lottery stand. At 8pm last night, reporters spoke with 56 year old Paiboon Panphakdee and his 52 year old…
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Production manager wins over 100,000 million baht in Taiwan Power Lottery
A 50 year old man from Kaohsiung district hit the jackpot of the 27th round of the Taiwan Power Lottery, taking home a whopping 911 million Taiwanese dollars (100,510 million baht). The lottery win prize was won through an online purchase with a meagre 700 Taiwanese dollars (774 baht). Liaw, a lottery shop owner for ten years, recounted an incident…
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Powering up the tracks: Red Line operator urged to spark commuter surge with enhanced feeder network
Red Line operator SRT Electrified Train Co was asked by the Transport Ministry to enhance its feeder network to drive an increase in the number of rail passengers within Bangkok. Surapong Piyachote, the Deputy Transport Minister, explained that the SRT Electrified Train Co, in conjunction with the Department of Rail Transport, has charted out plans for an integrated feeder network…
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Beefed-up border battles: Thailand tightens grip on smuggling surge
Government spokesman Chai Wacharonke yesterday revealed an alarming rise in beef smuggling into Thailand, with yearly figures reaching over 100,000 tonnes. This has led to the government committing to tougher actions against the culprits. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin ordered all relevant departments including the Customs Department and Department of Livestock Development, to intensify their efforts in curbing this illegal beef…
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Thai Metropolitan Police Bureau tackle student conflicts with preventive measures
Police General Kittirat Phanphet, the Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police, and the Thai Metropolitan Police Bureau unveiled a meeting convened to address ongoing student conflicts between competing colleges. The meeting, on Wednesday, November 15, which saw the participation of Min Buri police and other relevant officials, aimed to formulate actionable guidelines to transform erroneous values into correct ones.…
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Thai man arrested for setting fire to 2 cars to relieve stress
Police arrested a Thai man who set fire to two cars in Pluak Daeng district in the eastern province of Rayong. The suspect said he burned the cars to relieve stress. Firefighters rushed to control the blaze, which broke out at 3.30am on November 6, engulfing two cars parked outside a condominium on Road 3245 in Pluak Daeng district of…
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TikTok Thai training twist: App eyes Thailand for next big move
TikTok, the popular video-sharing social media app, is considering establishing a training centre in Thailand. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin revealed this after meeting with the app’s executives during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco. The intent is to utilise the platform’s popularity to promote Thai food and local products, often referred to as soft power. The 61…
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Thailand’s Den Chai-Chiang Rai-Chiang Khong railway project on track for 2028
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is progressing well with the Den Chai-Chiang Rai-Chiang Khong double-track railway project, a 323.1-kilometre initiative set to be operational by 2028. Construction of the railway started on February 15 last year and is ahead of its schedule with 3% completion while 80% of the required land has been expropriated, as per Nirut Maneephan, the…
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Blind date rejection sparks debate as Chinese man turns down woman due to her haircut
A blind date in China ended abruptly as the man turned down the woman, despite her beauty, due to disliking her haircut. First impressions, especially in romantic pursuits, often hinge on physical appearance, leading some to make snap judgements based on looks alone. The blind date incident sparked online debate in the Chinese social media sphere when a beautiful woman…
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Multi-vehicle collision disrupts traffic on Chiang Mai-Chiang Rai road
A catastrophic traffic accident involving three cars and a motorcycle resulted in one fatality and six injuries on the Chiang Mai-Chiang Rai Road at the intersection leading to the Mae Kwang Dam in Doi Saket, Chiang Mai. The multi-vehicle collision occurred at 7.20pm yesterday, leading to an immediate investigation by the police to ascertain the cause. The scene of the…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Thailand tourism council to allocate visitor fees
The Tourism Council of Thailand plans to allocate a tourism fund, garnered from fees collected from foreign visitors, predominantly for the improvement of the tourism sector by state agencies. The fund, according to Surawat Akaraworamat, the Vice-President of the Tourism Council, is being prepared for implementation as soon as the government greenlights the project. Three subcommittees have been working relentlessly…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Rayong resident scoops 6 million baht jackpot in Thai government lottery
A resident from Khao Chamao district in Rayong province hit the jackpot, winning the first prize in the Thai government lottery. The 50 year old Rayong resident, Chai Chet, claimed his fortune of 6 million baht after dreaming of his late grandfather. The Thai government lottery’s results were announced yesterday, with the winning number for the first prize being 557990.…
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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…
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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…
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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.…
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Worming trouble: Japanese man finds tapeworm after eating Thai-style raw meat
A Thai doctor issued a warning to both locals and foreigners after a Japanese man contracted a tapeworm from eating Thai-style raw meat dishes. The doctor, Sukhumphan Kaocharoen, shared the story of his Japanese patient on the Facebook page Health Online by Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease Doctor, yesterday, November 15. The doctor said the Japanese patient informed him that he…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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