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5 hidden healthcare costs in Thailand and how to avoid them
Thailand's healthcare system is affordable and supported by the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) scheme, offering essential services to most citizens. However, hidden healthcare costs can surprise patients and lead to unexpected expenses. These include specialist fees, insurance gaps, emergency services,...
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Car driver killed after colliding with pickup on Bypass Road
PHOTOS: The Phuket City Police A car driver has been killed after colliding with a pickup truck on the Bypass road today. The Phuket City Police were notified of the incident at 11am today on the Bypass Road, northbound, at a U-turn near the Premium Outlet Store. Police report that the driver of a red car, driven by 60 year…
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Round ’em up, ship ’em out – another 500 foreigners arrested in crackdown
Authorities have rounded up another 503 foreigners for overstaying their visas, entering Thailand illegally and assorted other crimes during simultaneous searches at 217 locations around the country early today. Immigration Police Bureau deputy chief Pol Maj-General Itthipol Itthisarnronnachai says the raids are part of the government’s crackdown on transnational scammers, card skimmers and drug traffickers, as well as foreigners breaking…
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Rawai locals protest against high Dengue rates in southern Phuket
VIDEO: Nicholas Spaethe Rawai and Nai Harn locals in southern Phuket, along with the Rawai Or Bor Tor Mayor Aaron Solos, protested this morning about the rise in Dengue Fever cases in the area. They say they are concerned about the high rates of contracting the virus in the south of the island and are calling on the provincial government…
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Palang Pracharat to nominate Prayut as candidate for PM after election
The pro-junta leaning Palang Pracharat Party is poised to name Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha as its candidate for PM if it can win a majority at the March 24 general election. This revelation from a Palang Pracharat party source as reported by The Nation. The current junta government’s Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana and Deputy PM Somkid Jatusripitak are also likely to…
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Weather for January 25
Bangkok A mix of clouds and sun. High 33C. Winds E at 10 to 15 km/h. Phuket Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 32C. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 km/h. Chiang Mai Mainly sunny. High 33C. Winds N at 10 to 15 km/h. Pattaya Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 32C. Winds SW at 10 to 15 km/h. Hua Hin Mainly…
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Swiss man dies after being pulled from the water at Krabi beach
A 53 year old Swiss man has died after being pulled out of water at a beach in Krabi. The man has been identified as 53 year old Pipoz Pierre Alain from Switzerland. He was recovered from the water at a beach in Pakbia Beach in Koh Hong, Krabi. He was rushed to Krabi Hosiptal where he was later pronounced dead.…
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Air quality for Thailand – January 25
Northern Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. Central Thailand Everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects Southern Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected.
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Dugong found dead at Phang Nga Beach
PHOTO: DMCR A 300 kilogram dugong has been found dead on a beach in Takua Thung, Phang Nga, yesterday. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) is reporting that they have been notified from the national park officials in Phang Nga that a dugong was found dead near a cave at Koh Panak in Takua Thung in Phang Nga.…
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March 24 election campaign starts with a whimper – Thai election 2019
If you were expecting Wednesday’s announcement of the forthcoming election to spark an outbreak of election posters, billboards and a stream of online campaigning, you’ll be disappointed. Stringent rules governing campaigning for the March 24 general election appear to be restricting freedom of expression as well as voters’ rights to information, according to academics on the matter. Wednesday’s Royal Decree…
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Krabi pair arrested over smuggled beef products
Krabi’s livestock development officials have arrested a man and a woman after they found 1,780 kilograms of beef that they claim had been smuggled from overseas without proper documentation. Pornpiwal Munsa-ard was arrested after officials checked her cold storage room in Krabi’s Nua Klong district and found 1,720 kilograms of buffalo beef. Prasert Duranae was arrested after the officials checked…
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Coral damage from a sunken fishing boat at Koh Racha Noi – Phuket
PHOTOS: Thon Thamrongnawasawat More than 50 square metres of coral has been damaged after a fishing boat sank at Koh Racha Noi off Phuket. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources is reporting that they were notified about a fishing boat the sank at Koh Racha Noi yesterday. The fishing boat had sunk on January 18 after it was battered by…
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Thailand’s marine industry unites around single yacht show
The fourth Thailand Yacht Show & RendezVous has now wrapped up with many of the exhibitors praising the new format and noting the sales and contacts made during the four day marine exhibition. The exhibit was held between January 10-13 at the Royal Phuket Marina. Leading international yacht dealers, brokerage houses, charter agencies and marine suppliers were there to showcase…
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Seven Nigerians and seven Thais arrested in transnational romance scam sting
A Nigerian romance scam gang has been busted resulting in the arrest of seven Nigerian nationals and seven Thais. Thai police joined forces with Malaysian counterparts to bust the transnational gang operating online romance scams. Police claim that it is the same gang that fled Thailand a year ago to set up in Kuala Lumpur. Thai immigration chief Maj-Gen Surachate…
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Chiang Mai woman charged after describing police as ‘hungry ghosts’
A 55 year old Thai woman in Chiang Mai has been charged with ‘defamation’ after she accused the police of being ‘hungry ghosts’. cm108.c0m website reports that Pol Capt Manit Khampan made an official complaint about the woman and says she had “brought him and the staff under his charge into disrepute”. The woman, named only as “A”, had filmed…
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Krabi pair knock over 20 ‘top-up’ payment kiosks
Krabi police have arrested two men for allegedly stealing over 20 mobile phone “top-up payment” kiosks. Police said 23 year old Patthapong Songnasuek and 26 year old Sompong Phetsawat were arrested at their house in Moo 3 village in Tambon Nua Klong in Nua Klong district. Police conducted an investigation that led to the arrest after many mobile phone airtime…
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Don’t drink and ‘sleep’ – Thai driver caught napping at the wheel
PHOTO: Daily News Online A video posted online today shows a car being driven by a man who had reclined the driver’s seat and was claimed to be sleeping while the car was still moving. The car appears driverless as the driver was slumped out of sight. The post was on the Facebook page of “Narawut Nakama Thongsong”. He spoke…
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Six Thai weightlifters test positive for doping
PHOTO: International Weightlifting Federation, Chinese Olympic Association Six Thai weightlifters have tested positive for doping following additional tests being carried out by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) on “target athletes” last November at the World Championship in Turkmenistan. Regulations state that any nation with three or more positive results in a calendar year can face a ban of up to…
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Bus crash on Patong Hill takes out 12 other vehicles, passengers in bus shaken
PHOTOS: Phuket Traffic Report VIDEO: Provided by Newshawk Phuket The tour bus accident on Patong yesterday afternoon, the third such incident in the same spot within 24 hours, has caused three injuries and with vehicles damaged as the bus careered down the hill, out of control. There were 10 tourists on the bus who were shaken by the incident but…
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Chalong Police tracking down a foreigner caught on camera carrying a sea star
Chalong Police are trying to track down a foreign man caught on camera carrying a sea star along Chalong Pier. Chalong Police are checking CCTV footage at the Chalong Pier to find the foreign man who was caught on camera carrying sea stars in a plastic bag along the pier on Tuesday. Read more about the story HERE. Khanchit Klingklip, who…
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Thailand Tourism Forum 2019 – Reflections #1
PHOTO: Thailand Tourism Forum 2019 One of the key points made at the recently concluded Thailand Tourism Forum 2019 in Bangkok, was the country’s over reliance on mass tourism. Jesper Palmqvist of STR presented full year hotel data for Phuket which showed signs of recovery, yet highlighting the full impact of the drop in Chinese business after the July boat…
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Money can’t buy happiness in Bangkok – new study
by Chularat Saengpassa Findings, from the “Integrative Thai Family Study Based on Family Life Cycle”, have been released and underline the importance of a work-life balance for Thais. Families living in Bangkok are the least happy despite having the highest average income compared to people living in other parts of the country, a recent study found. Long, exhausting commuting hours,…
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Air quality for Thailand – January 24
Northern 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. Central Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. Southern Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants…
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“March 24, most appropriate date for election” – Election Commission
PHOTO: Election Commissioner Ittiporn Boonpracong The Election Commission finally announced a date for the long-awaited election. The poll will be held on March 24, but the EC did not indicate if the official results will be declared before May 9. The situation raises potential legal concerns with the timeframe set by the Constitution. Hours after the Royal Decree on the…
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Drug plant, abuse and extortion. Oh, sorry, it’s all a misunderstanding – Dutch tourist
PHOTOS: ONB News A Dutch tourist has apologised to the Pattaya police after he claimed he had drugs planted on him, was abused and was extorted out of 40,000 baht. He also claimed a French volunteer tourist police officer was involved in the extortion. But he later told Pattaya Police that he had found his money in his wardrobe. He thought he…
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Four dead and at least five injured in Bangkok crane failure
Four workers were killed and five others injured when the top part of a crane broke off and fell on them at a condominium construction site on Bangkok’s Rama 3 Road this afternoon. The fallen section of the crane hit the fifth floor of a building in the Lumpini Park Riverside project. Four male workers were killed on that floor…
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Election date announced as Sunday, March 24
Thais get their opportunity to express their democratic vote and will go to the polls on Sunday, March 24. The Election Commission (EC) has announced the date after chairing an urgent meeting of EC members this afternoon. The royal decree was signed by HM The King and co-signed by Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha this morning. The decree orders a general…
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Crane topples in Bangkok killing four, many others injured
PHOTOS: มาด เซอร์., Klong Prem ShinSuwan / FM91Trafficpro A crane has toppled at a construction site in Bangkok today. The incident has already been responsible for the death of four people while many others have been injured. FM91 Traffic pro is reporting that at 1.09pm a crane, inside a construction site in Yan Nawa, Bangkok has toppled and fallen down.…
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Here we go – Royal decree issued for Thai general election
The final hurdle to holding an election this year was cleared this morning by royal decree that sets in motion the countdown to the long-awaited poll. The royal decree, ordering a general election of members of Parliament was issued this morning. The constitutional process calls for the Election Commission to announce a date for the long-awaited election within five days…
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Chinese Embassy delegation requests better safety for their compatriots visiting Pattaya
A delegation of Chinese Embassy officials and diplomats from Bangkok visited Pattaya yesterday to seek more information and request upgrades in safety for Chinese citizens when visiting the resort city. The visit follows a concerning rise in the number of deaths from Chinese people drowning whilst visiting Pattaya. Manager Online reports that senior Chinese embassy diplomat Zhou Guangxu spoke to…
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Cardiff striker Emiliano Sala said he was ‘concerned about plane’
PHOTO: Facebook/Emiliano Sala “I’m on a plane that looks like it’s going to fall apart, and I’m leaving for Cardiff,” Emiliano Sala said in a WhatsApp message. Cardiff City’s new signing Sala said he was concerned about his plane shortly before the light aircraft disappeared over the English Channel. The message was sent to friends and relatives. The Argentine striker,…
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