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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 New in July: Save 10% for life on family health plans in Thailand
Cigna has a special offer this July for families in Thailand. When you sign up three or more people on a family health plan, you will save 10% on your premiums for life. This deal helps you get affordable, high-quality...
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Go-Air seeks more flight slots into Thailand amid increasing demand
PHOTO: Indian weddings are on the rise along with a big leap in new Indian tourism traffic to Phuket Indian-based budget carrier GoAir is looking for additional flying slots into Thailand airports amid growing air passenger traffic. The GoAir Vice-President Arjun Dasgupta says the airline wants to launch flights from seven more Indian cities, including Chandigarh and Lucknow, to Phuket.…
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Air quality for Thailand – January 17
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 Everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects Southern Thailand Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution…
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Two Chinese arrested after fellow Chinese assaulted in Pattaya
Two Chinese men have been arrested early this morning for allegedly assaulting a compatriot in Pattaya. Police said 28 year old Zhang Hongxing and 33 year old Cao Lei were arrested at 1.30am while fleeing in two vehicles. Cao and Zhang, in separate cars, were stopped at the North Pattaya Road before they turned onto Sukhumvit Road. Police blocked the…
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Weather for January 17
Bangkok Generally clear. High 33ºC. Winds ENE at 15 to 25 km/h. Phuket Thunderstorms developing in the afternoon. High 31ºC. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 km/h. Chance of rain 100%. Chiang Mai Generally clear. High 30ºC. Winds SE and variable. Pattaya City Partly cloudy. High 32ºC. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 km/h. Ko Samui Thunderstorms. High 24ºC. Winds…
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The Minister for Putting-Foot-in-Mouth
The Deputy PM, Prawit Wongsuwan, luxury watch lover and Defence Minister, is now becoming notorious as the Minister for Putting Foot in Mouth. Thailand’s deputy PM, talking to the media about the attack on the Thai hotel in Nairobi where 14 people were killed, said it was “good enough” that no Thais were killed in the terrorist attack. Addressing reporters…
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Australian police arrest flight crew over drug smuggling
PHOTO: Part of the drug haul seized by the AFP – Australia’s ABC News Malaysia’s Malindo Air have been caught up un an international drug smuggling case as some of their air crew are now accused of helping to smuggle heroin and methamphetamine worth millions of dollars from Asia to Australian cities. Australian Federal Police (AFP) have now arrested two flight…
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Election 2019: Put it in your calendar – March 10
PHOTO: Protesters in Bangkok demanding the Thai Government announce election dates Bets are on for a March 10 election date as the Prime Minister has, for the first time, admitted that the election can no longer be held on February 24. But nothing official has yet been announced. Under the constitution, the general election must be completed within 150 days…
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New tsunami warning buoy installed off Phuket
A tsunami-warning buoy, valued at 12 million baht, is to be installed off the coast of Phuket, to replace the one that had been broken two years ago. It replaces one that hasn’t been working for 18 months. Two buoys were originally placed several hundred kilometres offshore in the original tsunami warning system following the 2004 Boxing Day tragedy. The…
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PM Prayut kicks the election can down the road
PHOTO: The Nation February 24? No. March? April? Maybe May? PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has reaffirmed today that election will definitely be held by May 9 but gave no indication when exactly it will take place. It’s the first time he’s ever uttered an actual date. He says that under the new Thai Constitution, May 9 is the final date election…
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Bangkok smog: Police on the lookout for dirty exhaust from vehicles
by Khanathit Srihirundaj It’s either a knee-jerk reaction, media stunt or something we hope to see a lot more of. Checking vehicles with plumes of dirty smoke coming out of their exhaust. To help curb fine-particle dust pollution in Bangkok, traffic police have increased the number of checkpoints where they will check vehicles spewing black exhaust smoke. The number of…
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Six metre king cobra caught by rescue workers in Trang – VIDEO
VIDEO/PHOTOS: หน่วยกู้ภัยบรรเทาวังวิเศษ A 20 kilogram, 6 metres king cobra has been caught in Trang by rescue workers. 77 Kaoded news reports that Sikao Police in Trang were notified of the incident at a house at 4.45pm yesterday. Police decided it wasn’t quite in their work contract and contacted rescue workers who headed to the house. Sawai Kaewjuea, a rescue worker, led his…
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The internet booms and print languishes in 2019 advertising spend
Thailand’s Digital advertising market spend is poised to reach 124 billion baht in 2019. That’s a growth of nearly 5%. But newspapers, magazines, Cable TV and radio are on the nose as marketers stick with terrestrial TV and ramp up their digital portfolios. “Digital media is expected to grow 20% and is will nearly equal the value of TV advertising…
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Phuket house keeper keeps 2,600 meth pills and 3kg of marijuana at house in Rawai
A Rawai house keeper has been arrested with 2,600 methamphetamine pills and three kilograms of marijuana. A team of Border Patrol Police has arrested 47 year old Wanlee ‘Mai’ Eiadkerd. Police seized 2,600 methamphetamine pills and three kilograms of marijuana inside a house in Rawai. The arrest follows police first arresting a Thai woman with methamphetamine pills in Chalong. She told…
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Crisis meetings in Bangkok today over smog solutions
PHOTOS: The Nation Urgent meetings are being held in Bangkok today to address the acute smog problems in the capital. The Pollution Control Department and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration are gathering today in their latest efforts to battle with the persistent smog while dust particles continue to blanket the capital with smog levels alarming locals and causing tourists to cancel their…
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Baby elephant dies from horrific wounds after being caught in hunter’s trap
A baby elephant has died after a hunter abandoned her, tied up to a fence in a forest in Rayong. The little elephant died after suffering from horrific wounds. The elephant, only one month old, was found by villagers in Rayong tied up to a fence with a rope cutting deep into her ankle. Read the story of her discovery…
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Bangkok smog: Oil refineries being asked to upgrade quality of diesel
It won’t be a short-term solution but it is a worthwhile long-term part of the important changes that will have to be made. But nothing concrete yet. In yet another attempt to ease the health hazards posed by PM2.5 dust particles in Bangkok’s air, the Energy Business Department plans to hold a meeting with oil refineries this week about the…
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Air quality for Thailand – January 16
Northern Thailand Central Thailand Southern Thailand
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77 year old Swedish tourist rescued at Patong Beach – VIDEO
PHOTOS/VIDEO: Patong Lifeguard Lifeguards at Patong Beach rescued a 77 year old Swedish male tourist from drowning after he lost consciousness whilst in the water. Lifeguards pulled the Swedish tourist, Berlin Goran, out of the water after he passed out whilst swimming at the beach. Head of Patong lifeguard Somprasong Sangchart says, “We saw other swimmers wave their hands and…
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Bangkok smog to hit Thailand in the tourism pocket
Bangkok’s air pollution problems will take a hefty toll on the Thai economy unless authorities can effectively clear the city’s air and find some long-term solutions to smog. A Kasikorn Research Centre analysis says the smog could cost Thailand 6.6 billion baht in losses for the healthcare and tourism sectors due to the impact of air pollution. The analysis says…
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Weather for January 16
Bangkok Morning clouds followed by afternoon sun. High 33ºC. Winds NE at 10 to 15 km/h. Chiang Mai Generally clear. High 30ºC. Winds ESE and variable. Phuket Afternoon showers. High 31ºC. Winds NNE and variable. Chance of rain 40%. Ko Samui Thundershowers. High 25ºC. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 km/h. Chance of rain 40%. Pattaya Partly cloudy. High 32ºC.…
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Smog settles in as a chronic Bangkok problem
Air pollution? What air pollution!? Bangkok residents will have to put up with smog until early March, as high levels of PM2.5 particles settle over the capital for many more weeks, or months. Though pollution has become a cause of grave concern to citizens, relevant authorities are yet to introduce significant measures – let alone declare the capital a pollution-control…
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Thai-owned Dusit D2 Hotel under fire in Nairobi
PHOTO: Google Maps Two explosions and gunfire have been heard amid an apparent attack at an upscale hotel and office complex in Kenyan capital Nairobi. News just in from independent.co.uk “We are under attack,” another person in an office inside a complex in the DusitD2 hotel told Reuters, then hung up. Local television showed smoke rising from the area. “I…
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The big ‘fake’ Indian wedding
A police crackdown had led to the arrest of 28 people involved in a marriage scam for Indian nationals who seek to stay in Thailand long term. The suspects include a 53 year old Thai-Indian man who acted as a marriage broker and prepared the documents needed, while the other 27 are Thai women who were allegedly paid 8,000-10,000 baht…
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Kamala lifeguard dies in motorbike accident in Cherng Talay
PHOTO: Kusoldharm Foundation A man, a Kamala lifeguard, has died in a motorbike accident in Cherng Talay this afternoon. The Cherng Talay Police were notified of the incident in front of a beauty salon near Baan Bang Tao School in Thalang at 1.35pm. Police and rescue workers arrived at the scene to find a damaged Honda PCX. Nearby they found…
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Man arrested after killing five family members in Uttaradit
PHOTO: Khaosod A man who shot his pregnant wife, parents-in-law and two other relatives to death, is now in custody. Khaosod is reporting that 37 year old Teeraphol Pin-amon, who allegedly shot five people to death in their home in Uttaradit province last Sunday, has now been apprehended while he was hiding in a forest in Ranong today. Uttaradit is…
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Sex training guru Anastasia and Russian compatriots on trial today in Bangkok
The Belarusian model, who was originally charged with running ‘sex training’ courses in Pattaya, but later made sensational claims she had ‘dirt’ on Donald Trump, has appeared in a Bangkok court today. The story started with an arrest in Pattaya over sex training courses for Russians nearly a year ago, and ended up with allegations over Russian oligarchs and Russian…
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Thai woman arrested for killing German husband in 10 million baht insurance scam
A Thai woman has been arrested by the Crime Suppression Division for allegedly having planned and murdered her husband with the aid of her Thai lover, to get their hands on a 10 million baht insurance compensation claim back in 2006, 13 years ago. CSD Commander Pol Maj-General Jirapol Phuridej said Angkhana Moshammer (not official spelling) was arrested in front…
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What’s the use of number plates if you can’t read them?
by DW (anonymously sent to The Thaiger) Hiding in plain sight, and rarely noted—at least by anyone I’ve spoken with—are thousands of cars, vans, buses, trucks, and even motorcycles. Most are commercial vehicles … you know, the ones with green and yellow plates. Now when I say they’re “hiding in plain sight”, I mean to say that yes, you can plainly…
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Air quality for Thailand – January 15
Northern Thailand Mostly 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 considered satisfactory, and air…
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Foreign teacher charged with rape in Pathum Thani
PHOTOS: Immigration Bureau / Lamlukka Police Station A male Pakistani teacher has been charged with rape in Pathum Thani, just north of Bangkok. The Immigration Bureau Office reports that Immigration chief Lt Gen Surachate Hakparn headed to Lamlukka Police Station in Pathum Thani where a Pakistani man, a teacher and psychologist, had been arrested yesterday. “The suspect is a private teacher who…
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