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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 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...
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“Look out for, and eliminate, domestic violence” – Pattaya seminar
PHOTO: Pattaya Mail Pattaya students and social workers are learning how to look out for, and eliminate, domestic violence against women and children. The seminar was held at the Pattaya City Hall last week. The Pattaya Mail reported that Wisit Pondok and his team from the Department of Women’s Affairs and Family Development spoke to the 100 students and 100…
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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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Motorbike rider dies in head-on between Patong and Kamala – VIDEO
PHOTOS: Phuket Traffic Report A motorbike driver has died as a result of injuries sustained when his motorbike collided, head on, with a mini van. The man was a UK citizen. Kamala rescue workers were notified of the incident on the Patong-Kamala road at 20.57 pm last night. The head-on collision happened just near the entrance to Nakalay Palm condo.…
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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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All day dining at The Patong Bay Hill Resort – Phuket
A tropical, luxurious resort nestled into the landscape of Hasibpee Hill, the Patong Bay Hill Resort overlooks the ocean and the Patong Beach neighborhood below. The resort offers sweeping sea and city views to accompany its suite-style accommodation, and features a wide variety of on-site amenities and a fantastic all day dining restaurant. The all day dining restaurant at Patong…
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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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Meth-dealing Koh Samui bar owner attacked in Thai prison
PHOTO: The Mirror A British man says he had three teeth knocked out and that going to a Thai prison for dealing drugs was ‘torture’. Jimmy Kelly was sentenced to 30 years but ended up spending just three behind bars for selling crystal methamphetamine at the bar on Samui he owned. His sentence was dramatically cut because his brother Gary…
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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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Weather for January 24
Bangkok Abundant sunshine. High 33C. Winds E at 10 to 15 km/h. Phuket A mix of clouds and sun. High 31C. Winds E at 15 to 25 km/h. Chiang Mai Abundant sunshine. High 32C. Winds light and variable. Pattaya Sunny. High 32C. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 km/h. Hua Hin Plenty of sunshine. High near 30C. Winds ENE at…
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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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Seaweed on Patong Beach – just a seasonal phenomenon
The seasonal mass of seaweed that was washed up onto Patong Beach over the last week is a natural phenomenon. A spokesperson for the Phuket Marine Biological Centre says that the seaweed isn’t harmful although it can smell bad as it starts to rot in the daytime sun. The seaweed first started coming ashore back on January 10. Read The Thaiger…
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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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German 78 year old drowns at Jomtien Beach in Pattaya
PHOTO: YouTube Emergency responders have been called to Jomtien beach in Pattaya’s south yesterday after a German tourist was reported in difficulty whilst swimming. There were many tourists on the beach at the time. Members of the local rescue foundation, Sawang Boriboon attempted CPR on 78 year old Klaus Heinz Trappiel but were unable to revive him. The man died at…
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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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Foreign tourist caught carrying protected sea star at Chalong Pier – VIDEO
PHOTOS/VIDEO: Khanchit Klingklip A foreign man has been caught on camera carrying sea star along Chalong pier yesterday. A Facebook user ‘Khanchit Klingklip’, a member of a nature resources volunteer network, yesterday posted photos and a video with a message reading, “6pm at Chalong Pier, a foreign man was carrying sea star inside a plastic bag. Why can’t he just watch…
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Truck crash on Patong Hill causes three hour traffic delays – VIDEO
PHOTOS: Kusoldharm Foundation The driver of a truck, blaming failed brakes, has collided with another truck along with cars, pickups and motorbikes on Patong Hill late yesterday afternoon. The incident caused about three hours of traffic mayhem, particularly for traffic heading out of Patong. The delay also caused bank ups right through Kalim as Kamala traffic was trying to get…
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Weather for January 23
Bangkok Abundant sunshine. High 33C. Winds NE at 15 to 25 km/h. Phuket Sunshine and clouds mixed. High near 30C. Winds E at 15 to 25 km/h. Chiang Mai Plenty of sunshine. High 31C. Winds light and variable. Pattaya Sunshine and a few clouds. High 32C. ENE winds shifting to WNW at 15 to 25 km/h. Hua Hin Sunny. High…
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