Month: September 2022

  • Thailand NewsThailand provides over 600,000 free cancer treatments in 9 months

    Thailand provides over 600,000 free cancer treatments in 9 months

    Under the universal healthcare ‘Gold Card’ scheme, the government of Thailand provided 603,060 free cancer treatments in nine months. The free cancer treatments were provided by the National Health Security Office between October 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022, according to Deputy Spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek. The number exceeded the government’s expectations by almost double. The government initially predicted that the…

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  • Politics NewsSuper Poll: Most Thais welcome acting PM Prawit as the next PM

    Super Poll: Most Thais welcome acting PM Prawit as the next PM

    A Super Poll research centre survey has revealed that the majority of Thai people trust the judicial administration of Thailand and are willing to give a chance to caretaker Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan to serve as the kingdom’s next PM. Super Poll research centre director Noppadon Kannika yesterday announced the result of the survey titled Trust the Court, the Peaceful…

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  • Road deathsAllegedly drunk Brit kills Thai man in car crash in central Thailand

    Allegedly drunk Brit kills Thai man in car crash in central Thailand

    An alleged drunken Englishman killed one Thai man and injured another in a car crash in Rayong province in the central part of Thailand. Locals who know the foreign driver told police he is regularly drunk and often drives in the wrong direction. The Englishman, 70 year old Stephen Peter Hobbs, was arrested yesterday after he reversed his pickup into…

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  • Crime NewsPolice arrest scammer for selling fake tours from Thailand to Japan

    Police arrest scammer for selling fake tours from Thailand to Japan

    Police yesterday arrested a woman in Bangkok who made over 1 million baht by selling fake tours from Thailand to Japan in 2014. Thailand’s Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for 49 year old Chanphen eight years ago in October 2014 for “running a tourism business without seeking permission, false advertising, and fraud.” In January 2014, Chanphen defrauded 27 victims…

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  • Thailand NewsCorrections Dept. to sue Thai talk show for creating fake news

    Corrections Dept. to sue Thai talk show for creating fake news

    A female talk show host faces up to a year in prison after insulting the Department of Corrections and spreading fake news about Thai prisons. On August 31, the Thai talk show, Unfold a Secret or Chae (แฉ), invited a female influencer, Leena Jangjanja, to host a discussion about the Forex-3D scam involving a leading Thai actress, Savika “Pinky” Chaiyadej.…

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  • Things To DoBest day trips and tours in Phuket for a short gateway (2022)

    Best day trips and tours in Phuket for a short gateway (2022)

    Phuket, by far one of the most popular tourist destinations in Thailand, has a lot to discover both on and around the island. It has something for everyone, from wonderful cultural events and delectable traditional foods to stunning beaches and exotic islands. Since the island is so diverse, a great way to experience its many facets and spice up your…

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  • Tourism NewsBridge over troubled waters for Thailand-bound Russian snowbird tourists

    Bridge over troubled waters for Thailand-bound Russian snowbird tourists

    Russian travellers have ritually sought out islands in the tropical sun since the demolition of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Hellbent on escaping bitterly cold winters, these snowbirds in the lead-up years to the pandemic became the second largest international source market for Phuket’s mass market tourism surge. Now, coming out of the pandemic in the age of a return…

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  • Crime NewsNurse embezzles 15.7 million baht from dead man’s bank

    Nurse embezzles 15.7 million baht from dead man’s bank

    A 46 year old nurse faces time in prison for allegedly stealing almost 16 million baht from a dead man’s bank account. Satang Thongramphan from Phitsanulok province in northern Thailand transferred 15.7 million baht from the man’s account to hers using his stolen smartphone via a mobile banking app. Police arrested the woman at her house in Phitsanulok, Muang district…

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  • Thailand NewsCat goes missing in Hat Yai, turns up 1000km away in Bangkok, Thailand

    Cat goes missing in Hat Yai, turns up 1000km away in Bangkok, Thailand

    ‘Moota’ the stripy cat turned up in Bangkok after going missing more than one month ago, almost 1000 kilometres away near the border of Malaysia in Hat Yai, Songkhla province, southern Thailand. On Wednesday, the Facebook page ‘Traffic on the Si Rat – Outer Ring Road Expressway of Bangkok‘ posted pictures of a beautiful striped cat with a red collar…

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  • Thailand video newsBeware of these fake news and financial schemes in Thailand | GMT

    Beware of these fake news and financial schemes in Thailand | GMT

      Photos of Buddhist monks working out spark anger among netizens. The machines were invented to replace monkeys climbing coconut trees. All this and more on today’s Good Morning Thailand.

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  • Tourism NewsPhuket hotels team up with HSMAI for digital tourism and travel marketing workshop

    Phuket hotels team up with HSMAI for digital tourism and travel marketing workshop

    Phuket’s tourism industry continues to wait and wonder when Mainland Chinese will be allowed to travel overseas, in the wake of China’s zero-Covid policy. As Thailand’s leading resort island moves towards the high season, hoteliers are looking to bridge the China gap and look to new markets to replace the expected lower volume of travel-challenged Russian tourists. Addressing these challenges is…

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  • Phuket NewsCroc randomly shows up in Phuket temple pond

    Croc randomly shows up in Phuket temple pond

    A crocodile randomly showed up in the pond of a Phuket temple on Friday. Monks at the temple on the Toh Sae Hill in Phuket’s main city district say they have no idea who released the croc there. The monks were afraid that the croc would hurt people who feed turtles in the pond. Luckily, the Phuket Fisheries Office removed…

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  • Technology NewsMachine invented to replace monkeys climbing coconut trees

    Machine invented to replace monkeys climbing coconut trees

    Monkeys climbing coconut trees have been an icon in Thailand for years, but have also drawn the ire of animal rights groups like People for The Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Now the Agriculture Department has invented a machine that can help farmers climb coconut trees themselves, eliminating the need to train and use monkeys to harvest coconuts. PETA released…

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  • Northern Thailand NewsUPDATE: Police superintendent transferred to “inactive” post after pub raid

    UPDATE: Police superintendent transferred to “inactive” post after pub raid

    UPDATE The saga continues around the pub that was raided in Thailand’s northern Chiang Rai province early yesterday morning. The police superintendent of Chiang Rai’s city district police, Colonel Kittipong Sukwattanapun, has now been transferred to an “inactive” post in the operations centre of the provincial police headquarters. The transfer is punishment for his alleged failure to control the operations…

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  • World NewsNirvana naked baby album cover subject loses lawsuit

    Nirvana naked baby album cover subject loses lawsuit

    Perhaps the most famous naked baby of the 90s, the iconic photo that graced the cover of the seminal Nirvana album “Nevermind” has been the subject of a lawsuit that was just dismissed. Spencer Elden is not a household name, but most people who were teens or in their early 20s in the early 1990s remember the photo of him…

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  • Thailand video newsLife-Saving Tips While Travelling in Thailand

    Life-Saving Tips While Travelling in Thailand

    Thailand is one of the most popular destinations in the world for travelers. Visitors from different cultures and countries head here to sample all that the ‘Land of Smiles’ has to offer. But planning a trip properly isn’t as simple as buying a plane ticket and booking a hotel. Visitors to Thailand should also be aware of some things that…

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  • Thailand NewsThai officials warn of fake news and financial schemes on social media

    Thai officials warn of fake news and financial schemes on social media

    Thai officials are warning the public that several fake news reports, including about financial schemes, are still going viral on social media. The Digital Economy and Society Ministry said today that from August 26 to September 1, it examined 266 social media posts. Of those posts, 141 contained fake news. Even though fake news on Covid-19 has dropped off the…

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  • Thailand NewsIce Woman: Interview with the world’s first Thai Wim Hof Method instructor

    Ice Woman: Interview with the world’s first Thai Wim Hof Method instructor

    Kam Waritsara, aka ‘Thai Ice Woman,’ is the first Thai-certified Wim Hof Method (WHM) instructor in the world. Once Kam tried and tested the WHM, it became such an important part of her life that she vowed to make the technique accessible to Thai people. The WHM – discovered by Dutch extreme athlete Wim Hof – comprises three pillars: breathwork,…

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  • Northern Thailand NewsTeenage girl’s body found in northeast Thailand forest

    Teenage girl’s body found in northeast Thailand forest

    The body of a teenage girl has been found on Friday in a forest behind her school in Thailand’s northeast province of Buri Ram. The girl, 17 year old Nichada Salangam, had reportedly skipped her last class of the day with two friends before her body was found. Nichada’s friend Chularat said the three friends had skipped class to eat…

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  • Phuket NewsUPDATE: Governor rushing to feed over 800 Phuket flood victims

    UPDATE: Governor rushing to feed over 800 Phuket flood victims

    UPDATE Phuket Governor Narong is rushing to get food to over 800 victims of the island province’s recent floods. A total of 871 people, making up 372 households, have been affected by heavy floods that hit Phuket on Friday. Narong yesterday led officials in handing out 1,800 meals to people at Wat Nai Yang temple in the Thalang district. This…

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  • Thailand Election NewsHopefuls assess and prepare to run for prime minister

    Hopefuls assess and prepare to run for prime minister

    While the Constitutional Court is mulling over when Prayut Chan-o-cha’s term as prime minister officially ends, with the suspended PM submitting his defence on Thursday, several hopefuls eyeing the premiership have assessed their chances and taken steps in preparation. The Sang Anakhot Thai Party (translating to “Building Thailand’s Future”) intends to nominate former Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak and has…

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  • Politics NewsMaid abuse case shines light on layers of corruption

    Maid abuse case shines light on layers of corruption

    On the surface, the policewoman who beat her maid is appalling enough, but as details unfold, they uncover multi-layered rotten corruption laying bare countless cases of abuse of power all the way to the top and connected to the acting prime minister. Not only did the maid endure the abuse in exchange for a pass into the Royal Thai Army,…

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  • Thailand Weather UpdatesA work week of heavy rain coming up in Thailand

    A work week of heavy rain coming up in Thailand

    This coming week is probably a good time in Thailand to pack your umbrella before going to work every day if you don’t already. A work week of heavy rain is coming up in Thailand as the monsoon season pushes on. From Monday to Friday, September 5-9, the Thai Meteorological Department predicts more rains across most regions of the country.…

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  • Thailand video newsTrying the Wim Hof Method Workshop in Bangkok

    Trying the Wim Hof Method Workshop in Bangkok

    Thailand is one of the most popular countries for medical tourism in the world. In fact, Thailand ranks 5th among 195 countries in the global health security index released in 2021. Before the lockdown, about 5 million international travelers entered the kingdom to get medical procedures done. That’s over 600 million USD entering the country from medical tourism alone. And…

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  • South Thailand NewsAustralian man kills 2 teens in Songkhla crash, another seriously injured

    Australian man kills 2 teens in Songkhla crash, another seriously injured

    An Australian man hit and killed two teenage girls on a motorcycle with his car in the southern province of Songkhla, Thai media reported on Friday. Another teenage girl who was also on the motorcycle was seriously injured in the accident. The tragic accident happened on a road in front of a Royal Navy Shooting Range, and officers found the…

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  • Transport NewsDriver who blocked van at Phuket pier: “We are NOT taxi mafia”

    Driver who blocked van at Phuket pier: “We are NOT taxi mafia”

    A scuffle between taxi drivers at the Rassada Pier in Phuket on Friday, with three female and one male tourist trapped in the middle, has taxi drivers at the pier arguing that they are not mafia. The travellers had just returned from Koh Phi Phi just after 10am and chose not to use their transportation from the stand at the…

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  • World NewsSri Lanka’s ex-president leaves Thailand, returns home

    Sri Lanka’s ex-president leaves Thailand, returns home

    The ex-president of Sri Lanka finally left Thailand and returned to his home country. The former president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, had initially planned to return to Sri Lanka on August 24, but his return date ended up being yesterday, September 2. Gotabaya has been on quite a journey ever since 100,000 angry protesters forced him to flee Sri Lanka on July…

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  • Pattaya NewsPattaya hotel employee seriously injured after falling down elevator shaft

    Pattaya hotel employee seriously injured after falling down elevator shaft

    A South Pattaya hotel employee has been seriously injured after she fell down an elevator shaft last night. The hotel maid, 57 year old Daengtoi Makkhun, had been cleaning on the fourth floor of the Aya Boutique Hotel with another maid. She then tried to get to the first floor via a staff elevator that had manual doors, not automatic…

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  • Thailand Election NewsPrayut submits 30-page defence to court to remain PM

    Prayut submits 30-page defence to court to remain PM

    In the ongoing battle for Prayut Chan-o-cha to stay on as prime minister of Thailand, the suspended PM and current Minister of Defence had his legal team submitted a 30-page document that lays out his defence against all the arguments regarding his term limits to the Constitutional Court. While the Constitutional Court is still considering whether Prayut can remain as…

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  • Phuket NewsUPDATE: Prayut calls in army to help with Phuket floods

    UPDATE: Prayut calls in army to help with Phuket floods

    UPDATE After floods wreaked havoc in Phuket yesterday, General Prayut Chan-o-cha has today called in the Royal Thai Army for some backup to help the island province’s victims, and pump out flood water. Prayut has ordered army officers to pump out water in the area around the Phuket International Airport. He has also ordered to officers to help victims in…

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  • Transport NewsTraffic fines see a hefty price spike on Monday

    Traffic fines see a hefty price spike on Monday

    Bad and disobedient drivers better get it out of their systems quickly over the weekend! On Monday, increased fines for traffic offences – some rather steep – will go into effect in Thailand after the Land Traffic Act is updated. Yesterday, the Director of the Traffic Management Center and Deputy National Police Chief laid out a list of hefty new…

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  • Northern Thailand NewsOfficials bust hundreds of Chiang Rai teens drinking underage

    Officials bust hundreds of Chiang Rai teens drinking underage

    A team of officials has busted hundreds of teenagers in the northern Chiang Rai province drinking under Thailand’s legal age of 20. The officials raided a pub in the main city district early this morning and found 325 people drinking underage, with some as young as 16 years old. Many of the youngsters dashed away on motorcycles when they saw…

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  • Northern Thailand NewsShould monks be fit? Pics of monks in gym stir online anger

    Should monks be fit? Pics of monks in gym stir online anger

    Some buff Buddhist monks doing reps in robes have gone viral as images of them working out in a gym caused an uproar on the Internet. The photos were posted yesterday on the Buddhist News Facebook page by a man who refers to himself as an abbott and claimed he invited residents of his temple to get some exercise. “I…

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  • ExpatsLTR visa: will the benefits lure expats to drive the economy?

    LTR visa: will the benefits lure expats to drive the economy?

    The new 10-year long-term resident visa was launched on Thursday to convert visitors into expats by offering benefits and tax breaks to attract foreigners from around the world. Though, they’ve made clear that they’re looking only for the top-tier wealthy travellers to move to Thailand and take advantage of the LTR visa. The new visa is only offered exclusively to…

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  • Central Thailand NewsEDM music festival coming up in central Thailand

    EDM music festival coming up in central Thailand

    An electronic dance music festival with a Halloween theme is coming up in Thailand’s central province of Nonthaburi. The festival, called “Oh My Ghost: The Freakiest Music Festival,” will feature both Thai and international EDM DJs, including DJ Marshmello. According to the festival’s website, the festival will be held on Sunday, September 25, from 4pm-11pm at Thunder Dome Stadium in…

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  • Pattaya News23rd victim dies as a result of the Mountain B Pub fire

    23rd victim dies as a result of the Mountain B Pub fire

    The tragedy continues from the horrific fire that consumed the Mountain B Pub in Sattahip, Chon Buri on August 5. The blaze claimed its 23rd victim nearly a month after the fire. This victim is the 10th person to die in the hospital following the catastrophe which initially claimed 13 lives inside the flaming pub. The latest victim is a…

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  • Pattaya NewsElderly monk killed in Chon Buri temple fire

    Elderly monk killed in Chon Buri temple fire

    An elderly monk has been tragically killed in a fire that destroyed a temple yesterday in the Sri Racha district of Chon Buri province. The monk, 92 year old Phra Siang Achito Thongthammachart had been immobile due to his age, and couldn’t escape the unexpected fire. Firefighters arrived on the scene to find the two-story temple engulfed in flames. The…

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