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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 Is private health insurance in Thailand worth it? Real costs vs risks explained
Thailand has a strong healthcare system with both public and private options. Public hospitals offer affordable care, but many people, including expats, choose private health insurance for faster service, modern facilities, and more treatment choices. To decide if private health...
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Two oarsmen drown in race practise on the Mekong River
Two oarsmen tragically drowned on Friday while practising for the Thailand-Laos-Vietnam Long Boat Race last weekend. Their bodies were found yesterday washed ashore on a Mekong River bank in the Isaan province of Bueng Kan. More than ten boat racers were practising on the Mekong River on Friday morning in preparation for the race from Friday, September 9 to Sunday,…
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Japan may eliminate Covid visa requirements for tourists
As countries around Asia and worldwide have dropped Covid-19 restrictions, Japan is finally set to follow suit. The country has maintained strict border controls, with special Covid visas required for visitors to enter, even from countries that had previously never required any sort of visa. It is reported that Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is considering easing those restrictions as soon…
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More tourists are venturing into rural Thailand, says Airbnb
Airbnb says more tourists in Thailand are opting for ‘off-the-beaten-track’ destinations, benefiting the environment and local economies. Thailand’s usual top tourist destinations are places with international airports – Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui and Phuket. According to Airbnb, more tourists are venturing out of these hubs and into “lesser-known” destinations such as Koh Lanta, Trat, Pai and Cha-Am. Koh Lanta…
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Cannabis bill goes to House today for urgent consideration
A new bill is set to be proposed to the House of Representatives today for urgent consideration to bring some regulation to the decriminalising of cannabis in Thailand. The bill took its lead from the best parts of several related laws and will propose restrictions on the growth and usage of the plant in the kingdom. Under the rules proposed…
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Thai health service stops Covid vaccine reaction pay outs
Only gold card scheme members and universal healthcare members can claim reimbursement for any reaction to coronavirus jabs, says the National Health Security Office (NHSO). Deputy Secretary General Atthaporn Limpanyalert announced the NHSO has reviewed the situation regarding Covid-19 and concluded that because the problem is easing it will no longer compensate those suffering from side effects of the vaccine…
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The Funny Man Behind Improv Comedy in Thailand | Thaiger Podcast Ep. 6
Drew McCreadie, Canadian based actor, playwright and award winning improvisor. Drew is the creative director and co-founder of Thailand’s only dedicated English language comedy venue, the Comedy Club Bangkok. He has won numerous comedy awards, such as Best Male Improvisor in Canada and his play The Cat Who Ate Her Husband won five Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards including for best…
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POLL: Northeastern Thais favour Sudarat for Prime Minister
A recent poll in the northeast of Thailand showed Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan leading the polls so far after announcing her candidacy for Prime Minister this week. She lead with 23.4% of the votes by those polled, followed by the daughter of a former prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra. The survey was conducted by E-Saan Centre for Business and Economic Research of…
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2 female Thai party leaders emerge as strong PM candidates
While King Charles III effortlessly ascended to the throne upon the death of England’s Queen Elizabeth II this week, the path to the prime ministership in Thailand will be a bit more protracted and messy. Two women have emerged as top candidates for Prime Minister, with Thai Sang Thai Party’s Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan so far polling above Pheu Thai Party…
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Patong: 100m profits with 4am curfew for venues, Chiang Mai residents oppose it
The pressure has been mounting for the government to raise the curfew to help entertainment venues boost earnings as tourism returns to Thailand. But some residents disturbed by noise living near bars in Chiang Mai are calling for the opposite. The Patong Entertainment Business Association estimates that extending closing hours from 2am to 4am for nightlife entertainment venues could raise…
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Major floods hit hundreds of houses in Chon Buri’s Sri Racha district
Hundreds of houses and buildings were flooded last night in the Sri Racha district of the eastern Chon Buri province. Water levels reportedly reached almost 30 centimetres in some areas, causing traffic problems, particularly for small vehicles. In one village, the water level reached 50-60 centimetres, since the area was located near a canal. On top of the heavy rain,…
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New draft act to make one joint ticket for all Bangkok transport
Travelling around Bangkok may get a little bit easier if the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning has its way. The OTP is planning to propose a joint ticket that would be created to be valid on all public transport in Bangkok to make commuting around the city using public transportation much more streamlined. Bringing all the different transport…
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With Maya Bay closed to tourists, a group of dolphins shows up
Krabi’s iconic Maya Bay has been closed for the past few months to help its wildlife recover, and it appears to be working. On Friday, a group of about 10 bottlenose dolphins were spotted in the south of the Maya Bay by Hat Noppharat Thara – Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park staff. Maya Bay has been closed since August…
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New ferry cruise between Pattaya and Samui completes test run
Last night, Samui Cruise hosted a launch party in Koh Samui after its test run for a new cruise ferry route between Koh Samui and Pattaya. The service is expected to launch later in the month though exact departure dates have not been set. The boat journey takes about 12 hours in each direction and is planned to depart at…
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Thai irrigation official transferred following Rangsit floods
An irrigation official in Thailand’s central province of Pathum Thani has been transferred from his regular work after floods wreaked havoc on the Rangsit district this week. The official, Bowdaeng Takaew, is the director of the Southern Rangsit Operation and Maintenance Project. The reason for Bowdaeng’s transfer hasn’t yet been specified, but it is believed that the transfer is due…
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POLL: People unsatisfied with Prawit, want a special election
A new poll revealed that people are not impressed with caretaker Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan as acting PM, but do not want him to take major action either, aside from calling a new election to find his replacement. The majority of people do not want a Cabinet reshuffle, but most people want a special election called to elect a new…
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NE Thai man kills fiancé & himself after discussing engagement ceremony
A man in northeast Thailand yesterday shot and killed his fiance and himself after the couple had reportedly met to talk about their engagement ceremony. The bodies of the man, 62 year old Thongsai, and his girlfriend, 39 year old Kritsana, were found on a cassava plantation. Kritsana’s sister told police that Kritsana had gotten home from work when Thongsai…
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Favipiravir found ineffective against Covid-19 & causes gout
The bad news for Favipiravir is that a new study found it to be ineffective in the treatment of Covid-19 infections. And more bad news, it can also cause gout. The study was released in the Clinical Infectious Diseases Journal on August 6, and Thai respiratory specialist Dr Manoon Leechawengongs of Vichaiyut Hospital posted on Facebook Friday that Thailand needs…
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Coffin floats through the flooded streets of Bangkok
Flood waters can be deadly, but locals in Saphan Mai, located in the northern part of Bangkok, were shocked by the sight of a coffin floating by in the floodwaters that swept through the streets. The floating coffin was captured on videos and posted on social media where it quickly went viral. People may have feared and questioned: Is it…
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Koh Samui hotel thieves may have been led by the ex-lessee
In the curious case of a hotel owner claiming her hotel was dismantled by thieves who took literally everything, three more suspects were arrested in Koh Samui. Police executed a search warrant on Thursday for a warehouse on Samui that they say contained items they believe to be stolen from the remains of the Chaweng Blue Lagoon Teak Wing. Though…
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Mentally ill man in Chon Buri sets himself on fire
Mental illness is devastating for many people, and it certainly was for one Chon Buri man in a harrowing incident yesterday morning. The man, 32 year old ‘Eak,’ set himself on fire in front of his home in the main city district after soaking himself in oil. Eak’s older brother said that Eak suffered from mental illness because he used…
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Earthquake rocks Indonesia in Papua, on New Guinea
An earthquake measuring a magnitude of 6.2 on the Richter scale shook the island of New Guinea in the Papua province of Indonesia. It was the fourth in a row today as the Western New Guinea region has been tremoring throughout the morning. Previous quakes measured magnitudes of 5.1 first just after midnight this morning, then 5.9 at 6.44am, followed…
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UPDATE: Phuket Police order investigation into allegedly abusive school director
UPDATE Phuket Provincial Police have ordered an investigation into reports that a school director physically assaulted an eight year old boy. A relative of the boy had said that the school director on Thursday, September 8 pushed the boy’s head into a wall. He also allegedly used his hands to forcefully open her nephew’s mouth. The boy’s mother, 30 year…
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Golf tour operator donates to Pattaya Orphanage
The golf tour operator Golfasian pitched in to help Pattaya children in need. Golfers in Thailand this week for Gulfasian’s Pattaya Men’s Open and other competitions have now donated 18,200 baht to the Pattaya Orphanage. The orphanage wrote on a news update on their website on September 7… “Representatives of Golfasian Co., Ltd., Bangkok, for supporting children at the Pattaya…
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Dead baby girl in a plastic bag found in Phuket temple
A dead newborn baby girl was left in a black plastic bag at a temple in Kathu in Phuket and police are searching for answers. The bag with the baby’s remains was found yesterday at Wat Anuphat Kritsadaram in Thung Thong in Kathu, with police receiving a call at around 5pm to report it. Three monks walking through the area…
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Four Points By Sheraton Phuket Patong Beach Resort unveils 2nd anniversary celebration offers
Press Release Four Points by Sheraton Phuket Patong Beach Resort is celebrating its 2nd anniversary with a variety of great value F&B and room promotions. The only Marriott resort in Patong located steps away from the beach, Four Points by Sheraton Phuket Patong Beach Resort is an oasis of tranquillity and the perfect relaxing resort for couples, groups of friends…
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Koh Samui seeks special approval to sell alcohol after hours
The President of Koh Samui Tourism Promotion urged the government to introduce a special rule to allow the island to sell alcohol after hours. In Thailand, alcoholic beverages, both in restaurants and shops, are only allowed to be sold from 11am to 2pm and from 5pm to 12am. The President of Koh Samui Tourism Promotion, Ratchaporn Poonsawat, believes this is…
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Suspected gun producer in Phang Nga on the loose
A suspected gun producer in Thailand’s southern Phang Nga province is on the loose. Phang Nga Police raided a house in Tai Mueang district this week, where they found several handmade handguns, bullets, and gun parts. But the suspect, 27 year old Kittiphon Patnark, was nowhere to be found. Police Commander Major General Thammanoon Prayuenyong told associated Thai media that…
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Upset Japanese man climbs up abandoned house in Pattaya
A distressed Japanese man in Pattaya climbed onto the roof of an abandoned house on Thappraya Road after drinking heavily on Wednesday night. The man refused to talk to police at first, saying he only wanted to talk to the Japanese embassy. Pattaya Police spent an hour convincing the man to come down, as he sat there despite heavy rain.…
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Bare knuckle boxer flashes boobs after Bangkok victory
Aussie bare knuckle boxer Tai Emery is set to make a fortune after she bared her boobs following a triumphant victory over her opponent in Bangkok last weekend. Emery celebrated after beating Rung-Arun Khunchai in a Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship contest by flashing her breasts on Saturday. The former electrician delivered a right upper-cut and a left hook that left…
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Herd of 40 wild elephants devour 60 rai of crops in northeast Thailand
Drone images reveal a herd of more than 40 elephants roaming in a forest just four kilometres away from a farming community in Nakhon Ratchasima province, northeast Thailand. Farmers say the hungry herd have devoured 60 rai of crops in one week, feasting on rice, sugarcane, and corn. The elephants came out of the forest at Thap Lan National Park,…
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