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    Long-term life in Thailand? 5 reasons private health insurance pays off in the long run

    Thailand is a great place for expats and retirees, offering a warm climate, affordable living, and rich culture. However, healthcare can be tricky for foreigners since they aren’t eligible for public health coverage, and private care can be expensive. Private...

  • Pattaya locals question drink-driving checks during Songkran

    Pattaya locals question drink-driving checks during Songkran

    As Pattaya soldiers on with its Songkran celebrations, locals are raising doubts about the effectiveness of alcohol checkpoints in curbing drunk driving and road accidents. Local police have ramped up road safety measures during the annual 7 Dangerous Days campaign, including more checkpoints and alcohol breath tests. But residents are sceptical. Popular sentiment is the same, locals claim regulating drink…

  • Pickup truck crash in Ayutthaya claims one life, injures four

    Pickup truck crash in Ayutthaya claims one life, injures four

    A pickup truck returning from Songkran celebrations lost control and veered off the road, plunging into an irrigation canal. The accident resulted in one fatality and four injuries. A survivor expressed uncertainty about the cause of the accident. Today, April 16, Police Lieutenant Colonel Damrongsak Saeng-ngen of Bang Ban Police Station reported that at 11pm yesterday, April 15, a pickup…

  • Soaked: Flash floods fury leaves Phuket in deep water

    Soaked: Flash floods fury leaves Phuket in deep water

    Phuket woke up underwater yesterday as torrential overnight downpours triggered flash floods, swamped roads and sparked fresh fears of landslides, turning paradise into panic. Parts of of the popular holiday resort resembled rivers rather than roads yesterday morning, April 15, after relentless rain pummelled the island overnight, flooding key areas and prompting landslide warnings across southern Thailand. Among the hardest-hit…

  • Thailand dangles 30% rebates to lure big-budget film crews

    Thailand dangles 30% rebates to lure big-budget film crews

    The Thai government is rolling out the red carpet for foreign film producers, dangling increased rebates and support as global interest in the country as a shooting destination surges. A recent surge in major international productions, led by HBO’s The White Lotus Season 3, which was filmed in Thailand, has sparked renewed interest in the kingdom’s tropical locations and generous…

  • Foreign man criticized for bad behaviour at Songkran party (video)

    Foreign man criticized for bad behaviour at Songkran party (video)

    A TikTok user shared a video of an incident involving a foreign man displaying inappropriate behaviour during the Songkran festival in Thailand. The man is accused of deliberately splashing water on women’s faces and chests during the Thai New Year celebration, then smiling with satisfaction. He allegedly also spat at people and threw ice yesterday, April 15. In the video,…

  • Thailand sees 10.7 million tourists, 510 billion baht in revenue

    Thailand sees 10.7 million tourists, 510 billion baht in revenue

    Thailand has seen approximately 10.7 million international tourists arriving this year, with over 666,000 visiting during the Songkran festival alone, as reported by the government yesterday, April 15. Tourism-related revenue from these visitors has exceeded 510 billion baht. Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong shared yesterday that the figures demonstrate the success of the government’s Maha Songkran World Water Festival…

  • 70 year old woman told to leave concert due to leg pain (video)

    70 year old woman told to leave concert due to leg pain (video)

    A 70 year old woman attended a Lamyai Haithongkham concert at Sanam Luang but was unexpectedly asked to leave by security after requesting a brief sit down due to leg pain. A young woman intervened to assist her. The incident, yesterday, April 15, captured by TikTok user @mamprapa, led to numerous discussions online. In the shared video, the elderly woman,…

  • Furious foreigner floored by water gun in Pattaya Songkran bust-up

    Furious foreigner floored by water gun in Pattaya Songkran bust-up

    A Pattaya Songkran party took a dark turn when a furious foreigner with a fresh tattoo got soaked against his will, only to be blasted in the face with a water gun during a heated bust-up, landing him in hospital and police on the hunt for the culprits. The Songkran celebration on Pattaya’s infamous Soi 6 descended into chaos last…

  • Teenagers criticised for disrespecting Luang Phor To statue during Songkran

    Teenagers criticised for disrespecting Luang Phor To statue during Songkran

    Two teenagers sparked controversy after a video of them dancing and touching the head and face of a revered Luang Phor To statue circulated online. The incident, which occurred during the Songkran festival yesterday, April 15, has drawn significant criticism on social media, with many questioning the appropriateness of their actions. The video, capturing the teenagers’ disrespectful behaviour beside a…

  • Bikinis, booty and backlash: Saucy Songkran stirs splash of outrage

    Bikinis, booty and backlash: Saucy Songkran stirs splash of outrage

    Bum-shaking, boob-taping and beachside booty Songkran shows in Bangsaen and Nakhon Ratchasima has exploded into an online firestorm, with Thai police now investigating viral clips of scantily-clad influencers and topless dancers accused of going way too far. Songkran’s wet and wild reputation may have just crossed the line and now police are considering indecency charges after viral videos showed an…

  • Transgender woman’s topless dance at Songkran festival sparks backlash

    Transgender woman’s topless dance at Songkran festival sparks backlash

    A video showing a transgender woman dancing topless during the Songkran festival in Nakhon Ratchasima sparked criticism for damaging Thai cultural values. The incident occurred yesterday, April 15, during the festivities’ final day, with crowds of locals and tourists participating in water fights on main roads. In Nakhon Ratchasima, people celebrated Songkran by riding in pickup trucks loaded with water…

  • Cell shock: Thai cops gear up with Israeli tech to bust scam rings

    Cell shock: Thai cops gear up with Israeli tech to bust scam rings

    Scammers beware, the Royal Thai Police (RTP) are now armed with cutting-edge Israeli tech to crack phones, catch fraudsters and bring cyber crooks to justice faster than you can say “call centre con.” The RTP beefed up their cybercrime-fighting arsenal with state-of-the-art digital forensic tools from Israeli firm Cellebrite, giving officers the power to extract crucial data from phones and…

  • Crime doesn’t pay-as-you-go: 130,000 Thai mule accounts axed

    Crime doesn’t pay-as-you-go: 130,000 Thai mule accounts axed

    The Government of Thailand slammed the brakes on a massive online scam operation, axing over 130,000 dodgy mule accounts and collaring hundreds of fraudsters in just three months. Sasikarn Wattanachan, deputy government spokesperson, said the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society’s Anti-Online Crime Operation Centre (AOC) had ramped up its war on online fraudsters. Between January and March, a staggering…

  • Thunderstorm warning for 42 provinces: Thai it down

    Thunderstorm warning for 42 provinces: Thai it down

    Hold onto your brollies, folks, the Thai Meteorological Department has sounded the alarm today, predicting a deluge of thunderstorms across a whopping 42 provinces, including bustling Bangkok. Down south, it’s even more dramatic, with heavy rain set to drench 70% of the area, whipped up by fierce gusts. Residents are being urged to stay vigilant and brace for a soggy…

  • Booze clues: Underage drinking promos soak Songkran spirit

    Booze clues: Underage drinking promos soak Songkran spirit

    Songkran’s splashy celebrations may have cooled the crowds but things are heating up for Thailand’s booze industry after a leading watchdog exposed widespread law-breaking underage alcohol drinking over the holiday. Teera Watcharapranee, director of the StopDrink Network, claims major alcohol brands brazenly flouted the law with flashy promotions and events in more than 137 locations nationwide. “Among these, 42 were…

  • Fake monk caught soliciting donations during Nakhon Pathom Songkran

    Fake monk caught soliciting donations during Nakhon Pathom Songkran

    Residents in Nakhon Pathom raised concerns about a man impersonating a monk to solicit donations during the Songkran festival. Today, April 15, the incident was reported to Phra Khru Phalat Sitthiwat, also known as Luang Pi Namfon, who chairs the committee addressing complaints within the monastic community of Region 14. The man, suspected of being a fake monk, was seen…

  • Cattle dispute leads to fatal shooting in Chon Buri

    Cattle dispute leads to fatal shooting in Chon Buri

    A group linked to a cattle dispute has been apprehended after a deadly shooting incident. The confrontation left 53 year old cattle farm owner Sompong (surname withheld) dead at his farm in Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri. The incident arose from a misunderstanding over stolen cattle, leading to an altercation followed by the shooting. Police captured 40…

  • Teen arrested for brandishing modified BB gun at Korat festival (video)

    Teen arrested for brandishing modified BB gun at Korat festival (video)

    A 19 year old man was apprehended after brandishing a modified BB gun during a Songkran water festival in Korat. The incident, captured on video and widely shared on social media, showed the young man threatening a group of rivals on a public street. The video depicts the youth, dressed in a white shirt and patterned shorts, pointing a weapon…

  • Myanmar worker fatally stabbed during Songkran festival

    Myanmar worker fatally stabbed during Songkran festival

    A violent altercation among Myanmar workers during the Songkran festival in Mueang Samut Sakhon district resulted in the fatal stabbing of a 25 year old, Zay Ya Kyaw. The suspect managed to flee amidst the chaos of the water festival celebrations. Police Colonel Pichetphong Jangkaikom, along with other officers from the Mueang Samut Sakhon Police Station, investigated the incident at…

  • Man attacks woman, damages cars during Songkran in Nakhon Ratchasima

    Man attacks woman, damages cars during Songkran in Nakhon Ratchasima

    A man wielding a baseball bat attacked a woman and damaged two cars, stealing car keys in the process, during the Songkran festival in Nakhon Ratchasima. The incident, which occurred today, April 15, left several people injured and has prompted a public call for the man’s capture. Facebook user จรรยาพร เสาโร shared photos and videos of the assault, describing how…

  • Pickup truck ploughs into Songkran crowd, injuring 12 in Thailand

    Pickup truck ploughs into Songkran crowd, injuring 12 in Thailand

    A pickup truck drove into a group of Songkran festival celebrants, injuring 12, with six in serious condition, prompting a chaotic scene as bystanders pulled the driver from the vehicle. Police have since charged the driver, who was found to be over the legal alcohol limit, with related offences. Yesterday, April 14, at 7.05pm, a pickup truck crashed into people…

  • Bangkok Songkran draws 360,000, 10 killed in traffic accidents

    Bangkok Songkran draws 360,000, 10 killed in traffic accidents

    Songkran festivities in Bangkok attracted a global audience, with over 360,000 people attending events on Silom and Khao San roads during the opening two days of the holiday, according to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA). From April 12 to April 13, Silom Road hosted 165,239 visitors at celebrations held from noon until 10pm, while Khao San Road saw 197,314 people…

  • PM Paetongtarn invites tourists to Chiang Mai’s vibrant cultural fest

    PM Paetongtarn invites tourists to Chiang Mai’s vibrant cultural fest

    Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has encouraged both Thais and tourists to partake in the Pee Mai Mueang San Kamphaeng event, highlighting the enchanting Lhong Him Khao community in Chiang Mai. Lhong Him Khao, located in the San Kamphaeng district, is a vibrant community celebrated for its traditional Lanna arts, crafts, and cultural expressions. Residents have transformed their homes into cafes,…

  • Heavy rain forecasted for Bangkok and 33 provinces post-Songkran

    Heavy rain forecasted for Bangkok and 33 provinces post-Songkran

    The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasted heavy rain across 33 provinces, including Bangkok, as the Songkran festival comes to an end. The weather is expected to include thunderstorms, strong winds, and possible lightning today, April 15. The upper regions of Thailand will experience rising temperatures, with hot weather prevailing in central areas, Bangkok, and surrounding vicinities, as well as the…

  • Car overturns in Phayao, killing driver during Songkran festival

    Car overturns in Phayao, killing driver during Songkran festival

    A car accident on the Phaholyothin Road in Phayao province resulted in the death of a 33 year old man today, April 14. The car overturned on the rain-slicked road, marking the third fatality in the region during the Songkran festival period. Officers from Mueang Phayao Police Station received a report of a vehicle accident involving an overturned car on…

  • Gas station cashier killed in Chon Buri robbery

    Gas station cashier killed in Chon Buri robbery

    A male gas station employee allegedly stabbed a female cashier to death before fleeing with her wallet at a gas station in Mueang district, Chon Buri province. The incident occurred at 11.20pm yesterday, April 13. Police Lieutenant Ratchaphon Ratchawakan, a deputy investigation officer at Don Hua Lo Police Station in Chon Buri, received a report of a serious stabbing at…

  • Phuket woman dies after brutal assault by partner

    Phuket woman dies after brutal assault by partner

    A tragic incident unfolded at a rental room in the Mueang district of Phuket, where a woman succumbed to injuries following a violent altercation with her partner. Police apprehended the suspect, who later confessed to the assault. At approximately 10.45pm yesterday, April 13, Police Lieutenant Wutthichai Chanpai, Deputy Inspector of Wichit Police Station, was alerted to a domestic dispute resulting…

  • Fatal stabbing cancels Charming Maha Songkran event in Trang

    Fatal stabbing cancels Charming Maha Songkran event in Trang

    A fatal stabbing incident occurred during the Charming Maha Songkran event, leading organisers to immediately cancel the event and pursue legal action against the perpetrators. A 21 year old woman was also injured by a stray bullet. The incident unfolded around 1.15am yesterday, April 13, when Police Lieutenant Pandhiwat Phetloh of the Huai Yot Police Station in Trang province was…

  • Mysterious skeleton found in Chaiyaphum pond with yellow shirt

    Mysterious skeleton found in Chaiyaphum pond with yellow shirt

    A mysterious skeleton, accompanied by a yellow sports shirt, was discovered among water hyacinths in a public pond in Chaiyaphum province, believed to be over a month old. Police are working to identify the remains found on April 13. Upon receiving the report, rescue workers from Luang Siri Rescue Unit, police from Nong Bua Daeng Police Station, and an on-duty…

  • Man arrested for fatal knife attack on ex-wife in Phetchabun

    Man arrested for fatal knife attack on ex-wife in Phetchabun

    A 39 year old man has been detained after allegedly fatally attacking his former wife with a knife in Phetchabun province. The incident occurred on April 12, when 43 year old Somkit was found with severe neck injuries in her home in Pak Chong subdistrict, Lom Sak district. The suspect, her ex-husband, Sombat, allegedly confessed to having taken five methamphetamine pills…