Thailand News

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    Why retirees in Thailand are choosing long-term health insurance over quick fixes

    Retirees in Thailand are increasingly seeing the importance of health insurance in protecting their well-being during retirement. With insurance requirements for retirement visas and rising healthcare costs, many are moving away from short-term plans and choosing long-term coverage. Long-term health...

  • 2 dead, 1 injured in suspected murder-suicide in Samut Prakan

    2 dead, 1 injured in suspected murder-suicide in Samut Prakan

    A man allegedly shot and killed a woman before shooting himself to death after finding her in bed with another man. Police say the other man was shot and injured as he was fleeing the Samut Prakan apartment. Police were called to the second floor apartment above a boat noodle shop and found the owner of the shop, identified as…

  • Hotels reluctant to apply for ASQ status due to government’s cap on tourist arrivals

    Hotels reluctant to apply for ASQ status due to government’s cap on tourist arrivals

    With the number of foreign arrivals who can enter Thailand on the special tourist visa limited to just 1,200 a month, hotel owners say they’re reluctant to apply for alternative state quarantine status. Hoteliers say a lack of tourists in sufficient numbers, coupled with the number of quarantine facilities already in existence, means the investment required to gain ASQ approval…

  • Sarasas teacher sentenced to 7 months in jail for child abuse

    Sarasas teacher sentenced to 7 months in jail for child abuse

    The Sarasas teacher who was caught on camera abusing kindergarten students has been sentenced to 7 months in jail. An investigation was launched and charges were pressed after classroom surveillance footage showing the child abuse was obtained by parents and shared on social media. More child abuse accusations at the Sarasas Witaed Ratchaphruek School followed and an investigation was launched…

  • Thai Airways to launch one-off flight over sacred Buddhist sites

    Thai Airways to launch one-off flight over sacred Buddhist sites

    Thai Airways has announced a special flight on November 30 that will give passengers the opportunity to chant Buddhist mantras while flying over 99 sacred sites in the Kingdom. Wiwat Piyawiroj, executive vice-president at the struggling national carrier, says passengers will fly over Bangkok and 31 provinces, taking in 99 holy sites, over which they will be able to chant…

  • 100 locals surround police after drug suspect was fatally shot

    100 locals surround police after drug suspect was fatally shot

    Around 100 locals in the southern province Nakhon Si Thammarat surrounded a team of police after an officer allegedly shot and killed a drug trafficking suspect. Many witnesses say police “overrated.” 31 year old Charoensak Rachpumad, known as “Bang Mad,” was approached by a team of 10 Crime Suppression Division officers at a rubber plantation in the province’s Ron Phibun…

  • Thailand News Today | HM comments, PM visits Phuket & Samui, Thai floods | November 2

    Thailand News Today | HM comments, PM visits Phuket & Samui, Thai floods | November 2

    Back for another week of daily news updates, the most widely watched Thai news program, in English. What’s on the program today? “We love them all the same” – His Majesty comments about the Thai protesters In a rare moment, and certainly the first time commenting about the current political unrest, His Majesty King Vajiralongkorn has described Thailand as “the…

  • Some claim “invisible Western hands” back Thailand’s pro-democracy movement

    Some claim “invisible Western hands” back Thailand’s pro-democracy movement

    As the pro-democracy movement spreads, some are speaking out and accusing Western countries – specifically the United States – of “interfering” with Thai politics and backing the student-led protests. A commentator for the Chinese Community Party tabloid Global Times even said the Thai youth are being used as “cannon fodder by the US and its proxies.” Pro-democracy activists say this isn’t…

  • “Get the flu shot,” Thai FDA eases worries after post-injection deaths in South Korea

    “Get the flu shot,” Thai FDA eases worries after post-injection deaths in South Korea

    Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration is trying to ease the public’s fears over influenza vaccines after 59 people in South Korea reportedly died sometime after getting the flu shot (although there’s no evidence so far that links the vaccine to the deaths.) FDA deputy secretary general Surachoke Tangwiwat says that vaccine has never been imported to Thailand, adding that people…

  • Fuel tanker driver killed in crash, truck engulfed in flames

    Fuel tanker driver killed in crash, truck engulfed in flames

    A fuel tanker truck driver died yesterday in the northern province Lamphun after crashing into a car. The truck carrying fuel overturned and caught fire. 59 year old Nikom Kamchan’s body was found near the wreck after firefighters extinguished the fire. It’s the second fuel tanker fire in the past week. 29 year old Patcharin Somsawan says he was driving…

  • It’s beetle fighting season in Northern Thailand

    It’s beetle fighting season in Northern Thailand

    It’s fight season … for Rhinoceros Beetles. The bugs battle on a wooden stage. Their horns lock as they push against each other until one backs down. People watch and place bets. Some wagers are as high as 100,000 baht. From the start of wet season until winter, locals in northern provinces Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai and Lampang gather for…

  • POLL: Do you believe anything was achieved after last week’s emergency session?

    POLL: Do you believe anything was achieved after last week’s emergency session?

    Asked about the effectiveness of last week’s emergency joint session to discuss the political impasse, most Thais believe the talkfest in the Thai Parliament was just a “stalling tactic”, buying time for the incumbent coalition government. The debate was held last Monday and Tuesday. There were no substantive motions coming from the 2 days of debate, merely the setting up…

  • Travellers to Thailand to wear “Smartband” tracking watch

    Travellers to Thailand to wear “Smartband” tracking watch

    Special Tourist Vias, 14 day quarantine, “plans”, “models” and endless red-tape. Now we’ve got the “smartband” to track foreigners when they visit Thailand. The so-called Smartband will have to be worn by any foreign travellers entering Thailand. The new wearable restriction for travellers to Thailand coincides with the Cabinet announcement this week to allow more foreign tourists and crew of…