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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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Sponsored How much does it cost to see a doctor in Thailand?
Thailand is known for its high-quality yet affordable healthcare system, but how much does it really cost to see a doctor? As an expat, this question might be crucial for budgeting your health needs. The answer depends on whether you...
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Thailand’s War Elephants aiming for an upset over China – Asian Cup
PHOTO: Chanathip Songkrasin (First from the left) getting ready for tonight’s game with his fellow teammates Make sure dinner is wrapped up and the kids are in bed by 9pm because it’s Asian Cup round-of-sixteen time with China lining up against Thailand. J-League star Chanathip Songkrasin says he’s determined to spearhead Thailand to an upset over the powerful China team…
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UPDATE: 4000 villagers attend funeral rites for slain monks in Narathiwat
Over 4,000 villagers, including more than 300 monks from several temples in southern provinces and border provinces of Malaysia, have attended a bathing ritual for the two monks slain by gunmen who stormed Wat Rattananuparb in Narathiwat on Friday night. Read more about the raid HERE. The bathing rites for Phra Khru Prachote Rattananurak, the abbot of Wat Rattananuparb, and…
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Police hunting for driver in hit and run – Patong
WARNING: Extreme graphic content Patong Friday, January 18, 2.06am – Police are trying to locate the driver of this hit and run silver sedan in Patong. If you have any information please contact the Tourist Police or Patong Police – 1155 or 191 (Thai) VIDEO: Newshawk Phuket https://www.facebook.com/thethaigernews/videos/288527705179718/
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UPDATE: Narathiwat temple murders – Security increased while PM condemns shooting
PHOTO: Slain Abbot Phra Khru Prachote Rattanarak The national police chief is ordering police regional units in Narathiwat to ramp up security in the province to hunt down the culprits behind last night’s deadly attack at a temple. Police spokesman Pol Lt General Piya Uthayoh says the motive behind the attack on monks at Rattananuparb Temple in Sungai Padi district…
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Human Rights Watch condemn Narathiwat temple murders as a war crime
PHOTOS: The Nation The cold-blooded attack on a Narathiwat temple, where two monks were gunned down last night, was “inhumane and barbaric”. Spokesman for the Defence Ministry, Lt General Kongcheep Tantrawanich, says that those behind the attack at Wat Rattananuparb in Sungai Padi district “showed no mercy”. “They prefer to use violence to make people fear for their own benefits…
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Police searching for the killer after shooting near Saphan Hin
A Thai man has been shot dead near Saphan Hin in eastern Phuket earlier today. The arrest warrant has already been issued for the suspect. The Wichit Police were notified of the incident on Rattanakosin 200 pi Road near Saphan Hin at 3.40am this morning. Police and rescue workers arrived to find the body of 30 year old Teerasak Saeong…
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Danish tourist dies in Phuket road accident
A male Danish tourist, driving a motorbike, has died after colliding with a truck in front of a market in Kathu. The Kathu Police were notified of the incident on Phra Phuket Keaw Road in front of the new outdoor Vintage Market in Kathu at 3am yesterday morning. Police and Kusoldharm rescue workers arrived at the U-turn to find the…
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Malaysia mulls curfew for Under 18 year olds
PHOTO: Malaysian Deputy PM Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail – Proplegacy The Malaysian Government, in another backwards step as it caves in to conservative religious factions, is considering a new curfew on Under 18 year olds. Authorities are mulling the possibility of setting a curfew for young Malaysians to be out of the house without adult supervision. They claim it…
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Thailand pledges to soften harsh refugee policies
PHOTO: Toronto Star Thailand’s immigration chief is pledging an upgrade of the country’s draconian treatment of refugees following the intense international media coverage of the young Saudi woman’s attempt to seek asylum. Rahaf Mohammed became the biggest international story across the world for a week after being intercepted during a transit stopover in Bangkok, on her way to Australia, and…
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Two monks killed in temple shooting at Narathiwat
PHOTO: The Nation “We believe that at least six assailants were involved in the shooting and are at large,” – police spokesman in the Su-ngai Padi district. Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has condemned the latest violence in southern province Narathiwat where two monks were gunned down and others injured last night (Friday). Narathiwat is Thailand’s southern-most province. Government spokesman Puttipong Bunnakun…
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Australian woman deported for overstaying visa by over 100 days
PHOTOS: Facebook/Claire Johnson An Australian woman, who was caught overstaying her visa by 111 days, will be released from detention and deported by Thai authorities tonight. She came to the media’s attention on Monday after sending urgent messages to a friend saying that she was being taken to a detention centre and that “they are taking my phone”. 46 year…
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British man pioneers cannabis tom yum, police are not happy
PHOTO: Khaosodenglish A 58 year old real estate developer, living in Koh Samui for 22 years, is facing some trouble with the police for his ‘medicinal’ innovations in the kitchen. Police have arrested and charged Gary Coughlan with drug offenses after they noticed he was acting a little ‘unusual and erratic’ this morning (Wednesday). He later tested positive for drug…
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Deported Belarusian model, and seven others, detained in Moscow
PHOTO: Instagram/nastya_rybka.ru A woman who had claimed to have ‘dirt’ on Russian attempts to meddle with the US Presidential elections in 2016, is now in detention in Moscow. Anastasia Vashukevich, aka. Nastya Rybka on social media, was deported from Thailand on Thursday after pleading guilty to charges including soliciting prostitution in a court case last Tuesday in Bangkok. She, and…
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Eight year wait for Chiang Mai’s proposed Light Rail
Whilst Phuket has got a tentative go ahead for its Light Rail system (for a start of contraction in 2020), people in Chiang Mai will have to wait eight years for their local version of a modern public transport system. The Chiang Mai News reports that a ministerial level government meeting in Lampang this week reported on the latest developments.…
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Swiss man accused of overstaying visa and theft charges
by Kamthon Kongsombat PHOTO: Security footage from the Phuket jewelry store in December 2018 – Facebook The Immigration Bureau says they’re going to blacklist and deport a Swiss man who overstayed his visa and is also accused of series of thefts in Nongkhai and Phuket. The Nongkhai deputy immigration police chief Colonel Prasit Somjaiprasong says that Julien Andre Junior Cotting,…
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Experience the creative vibe during Bangkok Design Week with Airbnb
Thailand is a hub of creativity; a country filled with artisanal culinary gems and art galleries that boasts creativity and innovation allowing cultural tradition to sit comfortably alongside the embrace of new ideas. Thailand never tires, and Bangkok remains popular, with Airbnb seeing an influx of guests during festivals and events such as Bangkok Design Week, which returns for its…
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Soi Dog Foundation responds to Rabies outbreak zone in Chalong
Following the announcement form the Phuket Livestock Development Office that a rabies outbreak zone was set in Chalong area yesterday (January 17), Soi Dog Foundation Co-Founder, John Dalley, explained about the incident as the dog, which was indeed infected with rabies, was sent to Soi Dog Foundation for treatment after it was found very sick. It is the first dog…
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Australian man found hanged outside home in Thalang
An Australian man has been found hanged outside his house in Thalang. The family of the victim told police that the man had been suffering from extreme stress brought on by financial concerns. He was worried that he might not be able to afford their school tuition and was further affected by his children’s lack of attention and time spent…
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VIDEO: Thai netizens outraged as school makes student cut hair
A student at a school in Kanchanaburi, western Thailand, has uploaded a video to social media sparking a meltdown on Thai social media. In the video, the student films a school teacher measuring her friend’s hair, while another teacher cuts it to follow the rules which state students cannot grown hair more than 9 inches from the top of the ears.…
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International Hip Hop sensation at Sugar Club Phuket
Sugar Club Phuket is hyped to host the Thailand premier of US Hip Hop sensation Rae Sremmurd, live on Tuesday, January 22. Ever since Rae Sremmurd exploded onto the scene with SremmLife bangers “No Flex Zone”, “Unlock the Swag” & “No Type”, Hip Hop parties just haven’t been the same. Brothers Swae Lee and Slim Jxmmi may be relative new-kids…
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Pick a date, any date – Thai election
February 24, then March 10, then ‘sometime before May 7’, now March 24. The only thing we can be reasonably sure about is that it will be on a Sunday (Thai elections are always held on Sundays). Yesterday, Deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam hinted that the election could now be held on March 24. He painted March 24 as the “most…
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Bangkok’s weather is not helping the smog problem
PHOTO: Thai PBS The Thai capital’s air pollution is expected to remain bad, and maybe even get worse, over the seven days. The TMD (Thai Meteorological Department) has forecast the onset of low pressure from China which will keep the city’s PM2.5 dust particles hovering in the area and not dispersing, or being blown or washed away. But the Deputy…
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New Thai E-Driving licences are 95% complete
Thailand law makers are looking to amend the 1979 Land Transport act to bring together databases from the Road Transport and policing departments as registrations and enforcement combine to make a digital traffic violation ticketing system. The National Legislative Assembly held a reading of the new bill yesterday (Thursday), which requires the Royal Thai Police and the Land Transport Department…
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Air quality for Thailand – January 18
Northern Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. Central Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Southern Thailand Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution…
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Phuket declares rabies outbreak zone in Chalong
A district livestock development office in Phuket province has announced a Rabies outbreak zone in the Chalong area yesterday. Sutat Niyomthai, Chief of livestock development officer of Mueang Phuket District, has announced that the Baan Na Yai, Moo 4 village in Tambon Chalong is a designated outbreak zone after a dog tested positive for Rabies. A rabies temporary control zone will…
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Chumphon woman, working in Phuket, wins first prize in lottery
A woman from Chumphon, who helps out her sister in Phuket, returned to her hometown last week where she bought a lottery ticket. The ticket won her the first prize in the lottery. 38 year old Thai woman Chonrada Laimer from Chumphon went to Chalong Police Station yesterday with the first prize lottery ticket number 197079. The weekly lottery numbers…
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Bangkok smog: Predicted to worsen over weekend
Bangkok’s air pollution is expected to worsen today following slight improvements in weather conditions and some rain last Tuesday and Wednesday. Fewer locations reported fine particle dust beyond safe levels yesterday, while the Meteorological Department is issuing warnings about a high-pressure area hovering over Laos and the Northeast that will bring temperatures down by 1 to 3 degrees Celsius in…
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More dead whales along the southern Gulf coast
Two young Omura whales have been separately found on Songkhla’s beaches. They were probably from the same herd. The bodies had already started decomposing when they were found. Pak Tae Ra villagers in Ranote district alerted a regional maritime research centre that a big whale was found on the beach. The centre’s chief Suthep Juela-ong found the remains of an Omura…
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19 year old caught transporting drugs to Korat in a hired taxi
PHOTOS: The Nation A young man has been arrested after being allegedly found with methamphetamine pills, marijuana and a gun in a taxi at a checkpoint in Nakhon Ratchasima. Police say he had hired a Bangkok taxi to take him, along with the drugs, to a client in Buri Ram. Pol Lt Col Ronnarong Surathot, deputy commander of Chokchai police…
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Exemption of visa on arrival fees to boost Chinese New Year
The exemption of fees for visa on arrival is expected is expected to boost Chinese arrivals during the Chinese New Year festival. The National News Bureau of Thailand is reporting that visitors from 21 countries are getting their visa on arrival fee waived until April 30, 2019. Those 21 countries are Andora, Bulgaria, Bhutan, China, Taiwan, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Fiji, India, Kazakhstan,…
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