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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 Do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?
Thailand’s healthcare system is well-regarded across Southeast Asia, with options ranging from public hospitals to world-class private facilities. But when it comes to foreign residents or tourists, healthcare access isn’t as straightforward. So, do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?...
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Kanchanaburi man arrested in 25 million baht crayfish scam
Beautiful crayfish. Imported fresh. Pay now, delivered soon. Sounds good, but it was all a scam. A 25 million baht scam. A Kanchanaburi man has been arrested for disguising himself as a Singaporean to deceive people into handing over some 25 million baht in exchange for beautiful crayfish that never arrived. Pol Colonel Thongchai Yuket, commander of the Crime Suppression…
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ASEAN addresses ‘fake news’
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has acknowledged that “fake news” is one of the new challenges its member-countries must grapple with now that digital media are citizens’ primary sources of information. False and misleading news was among the chief topics at the 14th meeting of the Asean Ministers Responsible for Information today (Thursday). The ministers issued a Declaration…
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The Blue Horizon World Corporate Golf Challenge, Thailand
The WCGC Thailand roared back into action in 2018 with a new Title Sponsor ‘Blue Horizon’ at the helm of the event, and a new scoring system. With a title sponsor on board it enabled the entry fees to be lowered significantly from last year helping the event double participation on last year event with over 150 teams taking part…
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Volunteer training to get ready for school-term traffic snarls
“There are many schools and educational institutions in Phuket. This will definitely affect the island’s traffic, especially in Phuket Town, when they’re arriving and departing.” Yesterday (May 9) at the Phuket City Police Station, the Phuket City Police Chief Col Sompong Tiparpakun and the Phuket City Traffic Police Deputy Chief Lt Col Pongpop Prasoppichai lunched the training for volunteers to…
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Investors continue buying up Phuket development projects, land prices increasing
President of Phuket Real Estate Association (P-REA), Boon Yongsakul says, “Real estate investment in Phuket is continuing to grow. We are sure that this year’s investment is growing more than last year.” “Phuket has a very beautiful natural environment and Phuket local people are very nice. More foreign tourists continue to visit Phuket. Investors, both Thai and foreigners, are continuing…
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South East Asia hotel investor’s summit kicks off in BKK Monday
PHOTOS: seahis.com The largest investor summit for hotel owners and investors in south east asia kicks off in Bangkok May 14 & 15. The event is being held at the Westin Grande Sukhumvit. At this stage the event has 220 registered delegates from 15 countries, representing 60 leading hotels. Organisers say the event will adopt a roundtable format to allow delegates guests…
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Officials raze illegal plantations in Krabi
Yesterday (May 9) the Chief of the Hat Nopparat – Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, Worapoj Lomlim raided a plantation in Krabi to demolish rubber, durian and stink bean trees which are aged around seven to ten years. Nearly 100 officials attended the raid to assist in the razing of the illegal crops. The Chief claims that more than 2,000 trees were encroaching on…
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Rain expected in many provinces in Thailand up to the weekend
PHOTO: Colin Gallagher All regions in Thailand are expecting increased rainfall from now until the weekend while officials in many provinces are mopping up the damage left behind by recent storms. TMD has issued weather warnings for thunderstorms and heavy rain up to May 13 as a high-pressure trough from China extends across the upper part of Thailand while southeasterly…
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Motorbike taxi driver arrested after robbing Australian tourist
A reenactment was held at Rawai Palm Beach Resort, opposite the Rawai Municipality yesterday (May 9) led by Chalong Police Chief Col Pakayot Tanongsak together with Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos. The suspect in the re-enacment was 48 year old Tanapon Sukjam, a motorbike taxi driver from Surat Thani who’s stationed at Rawai Beach. On May 8, around 3:30am, Tanapon robbed…
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CamGO adding more ‘autorickshaws’ to its Cambodian fleet
CamGO, the company behind the local ride-hailing app, have announced a partnership agreement with Indian motorcycle company TVS Motor that would provide TVS’s King model autorickshaws for use in the Kingdom. In the agreement, TVS will supply the three-wheeled vehicles to CamGO using local firm Three Wheel Motor Service Provider as a front for their services. Ouk Chipsourn, CEO of…
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Paklok community release new marine life to counter over-fishing in the region
The Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong attended activities yesterday (May 8) at the Baan Para Pier in Paklok at 4pm. Joining him were the Chief of the Phuket office of the Department of Fisheries, Kowit Kaoean and others. Mr Kowit says, “Our marine resources are being degenerated and decreased as illegal fisheries equipment continue to be used and there are many fisheries…
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JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa appoints new GM Matthias Y. Sutter
JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa is delighted to announce the appointment of Matthias Y. Sutter as the General Manager who brings with him a wealth of knowledge and 18 years of luxury hospitality expertise. In this role, he will be primarily responsible for managing the hotel operations and maintaining the exceptional services of the 265-room keys luxury Phuket resort…
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Chalong Hospital ‘phase one’ expected to be ready this November
The first section of the Chalong Hospital is expected to be fully operational in time for this year’s high-season. Chalong Mayor Samran Jindaphol says, “There are many tourists visiting Chalong along with the expats living there. It is very important to have a fully operational hospital in this area. Nearly one hour is needed for the transportation from the Chalong…
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Over 14 million Malays vote today in general election
EC staff making final preparations at a polling station at Stadium Titiwangsa in Kuala Lumpur. Around 14.4 million Malaysians will cast their votes today from 8am to 5pm at 28,115 polling stations nationwide. 14,940,624 are registered voters who are eligible to cast their ballots in today’s general election. Of that number, 278,590 are advance voters who cast their ballots last…
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Choking driver smashes into roadside shop in Chumpon
A driver who claims he was choking on a pill, lost control of his pickup truck which smashed a phad thai shop on a popular food street in Chumphon, severely injuring the food vendor. Police report that the accident happened at 6pm last night, a busy time on the so-called “food street” in the heart of the Lang Suan downtown…
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Maybe this idea might get off the ground – Uber takes to the skies
Uber has held its second annual “flying taxi” conference in LA showcasing its prototype future taxi service and promising to revolutionise the way we get around busy urban areas.. Embraer and Pipistrel Aircraft, two aircraft manufacturers that are working with Uber, released new concept images of aircraft they plan to build for the ride-hailing company’s ambitious project. Karem, also based…
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Swedish man dies after allegedly jumping from 8th floor of a Phuket hotel
A Swedish man has died after allegedly jumping from the balcony of a Patong hotel. Patong Police were notified of the incident at 3:35pm yesterday (May 8). Together with rescue workers and Patong medical staff, they arrived at the hotel on Rat Uthit 200 Pi Road in Patong. At a parking area near the building they found the body of a…
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5 things to check about your social media in 2018
Social media is going though some upheavals, affecting your numbers, especially the big ‘F’. Alex Runhaar, The Thaiger’s social media svengali, explains the things we need to focus on in 2018 as the social media washing machine swirls around us. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6T3-XXBGl4&feature=youtu.be
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Changes to visa applications at the Thai Consulate-General in Penang
The Royal Thai Consulate-General in Penang has announced changes to its acceptance and delivery of visas. Penang, Malaysia, has been a popular destination for expats and tourists to head to, particularly from Phuket. There is an entire visa-run industry heading out of the island each day heading for Penang with hotels, restaurants and taxis all ready for the daily hordes…
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Soi Dog Saturday Opening Tours – come and meet your future best friend
Last Saturday, May 5, Soi Dog Foundation welcomed Phuket’s media to visit the Gill Dalley’s Sanctuary located in Mai Khao. The day was held to promote the extended visitor times to allow weekday-work people to experience one of Phuket’s most popular attractions – meet and mingle with small dogs, cats and kittens. The tour starts at 9.30-10.30am and led by…
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One death in Krabi from Dengue Fever
“From Jan 1 to May 5 there are 266 of Dengue Fever patients which are 57.08 per 100,000 of populations. The numbers of patients are always similar at around this time of the year.” This from the Deputy Director of Krabi Public Heath Office Doctor Chalermpol Osotpromma. “One patient has died from Dengue Fever in Krabi this year. Most patients who are…
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Kata Sea Breeze Resort has been awarded Thailand MICE Venue certification
PHOTO: Kata Sea Breeze Resort represented by Ms.Rutchaneegorn Chalayondeja, Group Director of Business development of AKSARA Collection received the award from Mr.Weerasak Kowsurat Kata Sea Breeze Resort is now a certified Thailand MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Exhibitions) Venue as certified by Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau for its Sea Sky Conference Room having met the required standards. This opens up…
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Tour operators called to discuss accident prevention
A meeting has been held at the Phuket Tourism and Sports Office this week led by Tourist Police commander Col Tongchai Wilaiprom together with the Director of the Phuket Provincial Office of Tourism and Sports, Sirawee Waloh. Joining them were local Phuket tour operators. Col Tongchai says “In recent years many tourists have died and been injured in marine and road accidents. These incidents…
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Spa fire in Koh Sirey under investigation
The Phuket City Police are still investigating a fire at a spa in Rassada on Saturday (May 5). When Police arrived at the spa a sauna room on the first floor had already been badly damaged. Investigators found burn marks on electric wired and a circuit breaker. A small section ceiling of the ceiling had been partly destroyed. No injuries…
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OPINION: Travelling north – The PM woos his past political foes
Despite his protestations to the contrary, the Thai PM is leveraging himself exactly where he needs to be 9 months out from the scheduled national election. A day in the north-east, courting his former red shirt foes, shows that there’s little integrity in politics, no matter who or where you are. Still, completely straight faced, the PM was marching around…
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A mid June summit in Singapore – The Trump/Kim meeting
Mid June. Singapore. That’s the latest betting for the proposed meeting between North Korea’s Dear Leader Kim Jong Un and the US Dear Leader President Donald Trump. Many Asian nations have put up their hands to host the historic summit with Thailand being a favourite a few weeks ago, citing it’s long term relationship with the US, neutrality over the ongoing North…
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Fire destroys wooden house in Rassada
Officers from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) stationed at Rassada Municipality were notified of a fire in Soi Tha Jeen in Rassada, Phuket at 5:40pm yesterday (May 6). Fire fighters with three fire trucks along with the Phuket City Police arrived at the scene to find the wooden house well ablaze. It took about an hour to…
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Rain in most parts of the country forecast this week
All the water pistols and buckets of water over Songkran have done the job. It’s been raining around most of Thailand since the Thai New Year 2018, and there’s more to come. The TMD (Thai Meteorological Department) expects that the capital and several rural provinces will experience more rainfall from today up to the weekend. Bangkok and its vicinity have…
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70 kilogram marbled whipray found in Krabi
A marbled whipray was found in Klongtom by a local fisherman 67 year old Mardya Tamsuan. Mr Mardya caught the whipray while he was fishing this early morning (May 7). The red big whipray is 1.5 metres diameter and two metre from head to tail. The whipray weighs about 70 kilograms. Mr Mardya says, “I took off from the shore…
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Phnom Penh Post sold to Malaysian media investor
The Phnom Penh Post has been sold to Sivakumar Ganapathy, a Malaysian investor and executive at a public relations firm that has previously done work for Prime Minister Hun Sen’s government. Sivakumar, who is the executive director of Malaysia-based Asia PR, said in a press release distributed to staff on Saturday that he intends to maintain the newspaper’s editorial independence.…
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