Thailand News
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How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?
Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....
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Shocking ink-ident: Famous tattoo artist’s alleged misconduct rattles Thailand
The tale of a famous tattoo artist allegedly crossing the line with female customers has shocked the city of Nakhon Sawan in central Thailand. The account of a tattoo artist overstepping professional boundaries emerged from an online post shared on July 2, by a TikTok user identified as @3310qqq. The claims prompted wide debate and raised awareness about personal safety…
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Caught in the drama: Foreign Thai soap opera fan’s secret kissing clip leads to blackmail attempt
An unnamed foreign Thai soap opera fan tried to blackmail two actors after secretly filming them kissing in one of their apartments, believed to be in Bangkok, Thailand. The two Thai soap opera stars caught in the embrace were Sarocha “Freen” Chankimha and Wichai “Seng” Saefarn. Both actors star in the television series GAP The Series, which is popular among…
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Sisaket Hospital probes alleged sabotage of patient data to sell backup software for 3 million baht
The Director of the Sisaket Hospital has ordered the formation of a committee to investigate claims that patient data was deleted, causing the entire Hospital Information System (HIS) to crash in northeastern Thailand. Allegedly, this sabotage was part of a reckless attempt to sell backup software for 3 million baht (US$87,387). If proven true, it signifies alarming corruption within the…
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Gunman on the loose: Police scramble to find foreign suspect intimidating sightseers in Pattaya (video)
Police officers are frantically searching for an unidentified foreign gunman caught on tape intimidating a group of international sightseers with a pistol at a popular scenic viewpoint in Pattaya. The threatening incident has created a stir, leading Pattaya’s chief of police, Police Colonel Thanapong Phothi, and investigators to accelerate efforts to apprehend the at-large suspect. The concerning footage, which took around…
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Tragic twist: High-ranking officer’s fatal collision with tree leaves Sisaket mourning
A tragic accident took the life of a high-ranking Nam Kliang Police Station officer when his vehicle collided with a tree resulting in fatal injuries in Sisaket province in northeastern Thailand. The driver of the car survived but suffered severe injuries and was rushed for medical treatment. In the early hours of 3.30am today, local police received an alert about…
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Move forward, lese divide: Thai election winner MFP sparks coalition clash over lese majeste law revision
Thai General Election winner the Move Forward Party (MFP) is refusing to abandon its ideology, insisting it will revise the lese majeste law, leading to a division among the Pheu Thai Party and the eight coalition parties. As a consequence, the Pheu Thai Party insisted that they cannot work with the MFP and announced they will form a government with…
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Warning waves: Portuguese Man o’ War sighted at Lanta Island raises alarm in Krabi
An alarm has been raised over a hazardous marine creature, a Portuguese Man o’ War, spotted at Lanta Island in Krabi. Holiday-goers to the sea are advised against using bare hands to touch the creature where they stumble upon it. A tourist from Bangkok came across the creature during her recent vacation to Lanta Island’s hotel located in Moo 2,…
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Tragic tide: Phuket’s drowning incidents claim four tourists in five days
The popular tourist destination of Phuket in Thailand has recently seen a tragic spike in drowning incidents, resulting in the death of four tourists over a five-day span. In the most recent incident, two young Indian men lost their lives while swimming at Karon Beach. At around 8.14pm yesterday, police officer Chomphunutch Anahtayakul from the Patong Police Station in Phuket…
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Tisco ESU advises focus shift to debt instruments amid market instability
Amid global stock market turbulence, financial analysts at Tisco’s Economic Strategy Unit (Tisco ESU) are advocating that investors pivot their focus towards debt instruments for potential high-yield returns. The ongoing pressures from elevated bond yields, coupled with the weakening economies in the US and Europe, are some of the contributing factors exerting pressure on the financial markets. The ongoing macroeconomic…
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Blue pee surprise: Thai Highway Police bust narcotics ring in Bangkok
The Thai Highway Police today busted a narcotics ring and its leader who produced blue pee after taking a urine drug test in Bangkok. The gang employed an unconventional smuggling tactic to transport a massive haul of 400,000 methamphetamine pills. Their plan involved transporting the illicit drugs from Bangkok to Surat Thani. The police successfully carried out the operation, culminating in…
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Maya Bay closed until September 30 for nature restoration and tourist safety
Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Koh Phi Phi Nationa Park authorities, located in the southern province of Krabi, announced they will close Maya Bay and Loh Sama Bay from August 1 to September 30. The move aims to preserve nature and prioritise tourist safety during the monsoon season. Ratchanok Parenoi, the national park director, pointed out that Thailand experiences the monsoon season…
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Songkhla man nabbed smuggling 14 undocumented Burmese for 30,000 baht
A 31 year old man from Hat Yai, Songkhla, has been arrested by highway police in Surat Thani for allegedly smuggling 14 Burmese immigrants into Thailand. The arrest took place on Phetkasem Road within Thachang, where he, after an initial attempt to flee, was apprehended with his Toyota Revo pickup truck, registration number ผผ7620 Songkhla. The man, Rusdee, was found…
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Water shortages: Thai govt mulls halting Central Plains rice farming amid anticipated drought
In a bid to counteract the effects of a potential drought, the central government of Thailand is contemplating the suspension of rice cultivation in the Central Plains region. This proposal comes alongside the potential establishment of a command centre to combat reduced rainfall and water shortages. The Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) initiated this conversation, citing apprehensions about…
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Drunk shoots neighbour in ongoing feud in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand
A severe case of neighbourhood conflict escalated drastically yesterday when a drunk man shot his neighbour with a shotgun in northern Thailand. Local police dashed to the scene to investigate the incident with an emergency rescue unit in Chiang Mai. The perpetrator was arrested and charged. The 66 year old offender, Manu, was found in a severe state of inebriation…
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Bangkok cleanup: State railway clear rubbish on future elevated train line site
An assertive Bangkok cleanup approach has been taken by both the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) in conjunction with the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), to clear mounting rubbish clustered along the rail tracks in proximity to Phaya Thai. This follows a poignant post by a Japanese Twitter user which displayed the deplorable conditions encircling a Kiha-183 train, generously donated to…
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Gunpoint drama: Thai witness captures shocking video of foreign mafia in Pattaya
A shocking incident took place at the Voice of Navy 5 Viewpoint in Pattaya, as a Thai witness captured a distressing video of a foreign mafia member threatening a group of Asian men at gunpoint. The video, lasting 1.39 minutes, shows a foreign mafia man dressed in all-black attire brandishing a gun and intimidating approximately ten foreigners, believed to be…
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Flash flood scare at Bueng Kan’s Phuwua Sanctuary prompts quick evacuation of tourists
The renowned tourist attraction of Phuwua Wildlife Sanctuary was the recent setting of a narrow escape for visitors in Bueng Kan, northeast Thailand. Sudden heavy rainfall resulted in water flooding down from the Phuwua mountains, leading tourists, who were enjoying a day at the Tham Phra Waterfall, to flee for higher ground. As reported at 4pm yesterday, amidst a vibrant atmosphere,…
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Cautionary Krabi Sea waves: Dramatic speedboat manoeuvres issue stern warning to operators and tourists (video)
Dramatic documentation of three speedboats manoeuvring massive 5-metre waves in the Krabi Sea issued a stern warning to the boat operators and tourists to remain cautious. The posted video, which instantly caused a commotion on social media yesterday, showcased the life-threatening conditions faced by the vessels amidst the towering waves. An individual on Facebook initially shared the gripping video of the…
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Thai NHSO launches homegrown rubber prosthetic fistula, expects 540 million baht savings
Moving towards medical self-sustainability while concurrently conserving expenses, Thailand’s National Health Security Office (NHSO) has come up with an innovative solution. The NHSO has launched a new, locally made prosthetic fistula prepared from natural rubber for those participating in the Universal Healthcare (UHC) programme, also commonly referred to as the “gold card” scheme. This new initiative aims at reducing the…
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Major landslide warning for 45 provinces as Thailand braces for heavy rainfall due to tropical storm
Continual rainfall appears to be holding Thailand under its reign. The Thai Meteorology Department (TMD) warned of potential landslides in 45 provinces, including Bangkok. The precipitation accumulation could lead to sudden flooding and running forest water in the northern, eastern, and western southern provinces. Residents in these locations are advised to be cautious, especially around mountainous areas, or near river…
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ASEAN bolsters talks with UK, Russia for potential economic cooperation plans
In an attempt to further drive economic cooperation, Southeast Asia, through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), is accelerating its dialogue with the United Kingdom and Russia. This information was released by Auramon Supthaweethum, the head of the Trade Negotiations Department. A senior official from the department, Duangarthit Nidhi-u-tai, was sent to represent the region at the 4th ASEAN-UK,…
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Tourism revival in Thailand risks airport slot overcrowding, suggests alternative options
In anticipation of the upcoming high season, Thailand’s Tourism Authority (TAT) expressed concerns over the slot capacity at international airports. As more flights are set to resume, it is predicted that the country will receive around 8 million tourists this year, primarily derived from long-haul markets anticipating a significant tourism revival. The deputy governor for Europe, Africa, the Middle East,…
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Education rights for Burmese students advocated by former Thai minister
A case involving former Thai education minister Chaturon Chaisang has recently shone a light on the plight of 126 Burmese students caught in a legal conundrum. The students, undocumented and without Thai nationality, were accepted into the school by Kanlaya Thasom, also known as Teacher Poo, the former head of Thairath Wittaya 6 School in Ang Thong province. This issue…
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Fatal accident on Rama 2 Road claims the life of a young woman
A 22 year old woman died after being hit by a car driven by a Chinese entrepreneur while attempting to cross Rama 2 Road. Her distraught boyfriend, who reported that she usually never crossed the road because her home and workplace were on the same side, was left in tears at the scene. At the incident’s location, authorities encountered a…
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High drama in Pattaya: Foreigner’s cappuccino turns fatal at ganja café
A foreign man met a tragic end at a marijuana shop in Pattaya, allegedly after consuming what the shop owner claimed was a cappuccino. The unfortunate incident occurred on Sunday, July 30, at a well-known ganja café situated on the bustling Walking Street. The identity of the deceased, Hamad Alblaiher, a 52 year old man of unknown nationality, was found…
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Bangkok: The digital nomad’s No.1 destination, says survey
Bangkok earned the prestigious title of top city for digital nomads worldwide, according to a recent survey conducted by CommercialSearch, a renowned platform specializing in working and co-working spaces. The bustling metropolis outshone all its competitors in this year’s rankings of the Best Cities for Digital Nomads. CommercialSearch’s evaluation process involved assessing cities globally with populations exceeding 400,000 residents and…
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Police and extortion: A case of ‘break-in’ hearts in Thailand
In a striking turn of events, an alleged victim reported that a police officer attempted to extort 100,000 baht in exchange for not pursuing a break-in case. The officer also offered to help dissolve her case if she entered into an intimate relationship with him. The victim revealed that the unsettling incident occurred in October last year, in the province…
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Ice delivery man keeps cool after sweeping 6 million baht in Thai lottery win
A sudden stroke of luck has befallen a 36 year old ice-delivery man as he struck the first prize lottery, bringing home a staggering 6 million baht. The single man plans to continue with his ice delivery job and invest his newfound fortune in building a house for his family. An officer at the Sangkhla Buri Police Station in Kanchanaburi…
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Monsoon warnings issued across Thailand: Heavy rainfall and flash floods expected, says TMD
The northern and northeastern regions of Thailand are set to experience heavy rainfall, warns the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD). Across the country, 45 provinces, including Bangkok, have been alerted to be prepared for sudden flooding and flash floods, particularly in low-lying areas and near waterway passages. According to the forecast, it seems that an approaching southwestern monsoon which is becoming…
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Thai tourism seeks visa fee waiver to attract Chinese and Indian visitors
A plea for the revival of a visa fee waiver programme has been issued by Thailand‘s tourism industry, seeking an influx of visitors from populous nations like China and India. The request follows a lukewarm recovery in numerous essential markets and is viewed as vital for enhancing arrivals this year. President of the Thai Hotels Association, Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, emphasized…
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