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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 Long-term life in Thailand? 5 reasons private health insurance pays off in the long run
Thailand is a great place for expats and retirees, offering a warm climate, affordable living, and rich culture. However, healthcare can be tricky for foreigners since they aren’t eligible for public health coverage, and private care can be expensive. Private...
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“X-Ray Outlaw Foreigner” arrest numbers hit 8,400
by Kittipong Maneerit More foreigners detained and likely to be deported. Seems to be a never-ending supply of illegal foreigners hiding in Thailand. X-Ray Outlaw Foreigner has been an almost weekly campaign to round up and deport overstaying and illegal foreigners over the past two years. Another 490 foreigners were caught this week in the latest Immigration Police dragnet involving…
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Motorbike driver smashes through glass window after accelerator malfunctions
A female motorbike driver has sustained injuries after her motorbike’s hand grip malfunctioned and she collided with a glass wall. Chalong Police were notified of the incident at an air conditioning shop at 6pm yesterday on Chao Fa West Road in Chalong. Police and emergency responders arrived and found the shattered glass wall and a damaged motorbike. The injured 40…
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Deputy PM promises ‘no coup’ after the election
Thailand’s Deputy PM General Prawit Wongsuwan is hosing down speculation that there could be another coup after the March 24 general election if the votes don’t support the pro-military parties. Responding to questions about his role in maintaining peace and order around this Sunday’s election, General Prawit says there is “nothing to worry about”, including the situation in the three southernmost provinces of Yala,…
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American drug suspect impersonated ‘Mr Thomas’ for 25 years, arrested in Chiang Mai
PHOTOS: Surachate Hakparn, Immigration Bureau A 67 year old American man, wanted as a drug suspect, has been arrested in Chiang Mai this week. He had been living under the identity of another person with whom he shared a similar face, for more than 25 years. The Thai Immigration Bureau reports that they have arrested a 67 year old American…
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King awards rescuers of Mu Pa football team
His Majesty the King has awarded 187 people, including 115 foreigners, with The Most Admirable Order of the Direkgunabhorn for the rescue of the Mu Pa football team last July. The announcement in the Royal Gazette reads the government recognises that those people who helped those in peril performed good deeds and deserved to be honored. They will be granted the…
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Mu Pa football team helps recover equipment from Tham Luang Caves
PHOTOS: The Chiang Rai PR Office The 27 year old Coach Aek (left), and other members from the Mu Pa (Wild Boar) football squad, were on hand to help recover equipment from the Tham Luang Caves this week. Chiang Rai’s Tham Luang caves, the scene of the international cave rescue last July, remains closed to all visitors since February 19 to…
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Phuket’s hotel and property players look north
by Bill Barnett of c9hotelworks.com One of Greater Phuket’s real estate and hotel market’s that has a decided buzz of late is the area north of Phuket over the Sarasin bridge in Phang Nga. In Natai Beach, the entry of the Baba Beach Club and nearby Akyra has created renewed visibility for the broad West Coast stretch of white sand beach,…
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Alcohol ban again this weekend around Thailand
The election is two days away. That means Thais go to the polls for the first time since 2011. It also means there will be another 24 hour alcohol ban on this weekend. Alcohol sales and distribution will be forbidden again from 6pm on Saturday, March 23 until 6pm on Sunday, March 24. Officials say weddings, parties and other celebrations…
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Earth Hour next week, everyone invited to join Bangkok by switching off lights
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is inviting Bangkokians to join in “60+ Earth Hour 2019”, by turning off electrical appliances and lights for one hour from 8.30-9.30pm on Saturday, March 30. The rest of Thailand is also invited to join in the annual environmental initiative. The BMA has participated in Earth Hour since 2008 by encouraging Thais to switch off lights to…
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Motorbike rider dies after colliding with ten wheeler truck in Thalang
A male motorbike rider has died after colliding into the back of a ten wheeler truck in Thalang early this morning. Thalang Police were notified of the accident along Thepkrasattri Road in the southbound lane through Thalang at 2am this morning. The conditions were dry and road was clear of traffic. Emergency responders arrived to find the ten wheelers truck…
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Boating no-go zone set for HRH Princess Sirivannavari visiting Phuket
Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana is visiting Phuket today to inaugurate a new marine research vessel. A boats no-go zone has been set. The Phuket Marine Office has announced “Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana is visiting Phuket today to inaugurate the new marine vessel at the Phuket Marine Biological Centre (PMBC)” “The official ceremonies is from midday to…
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Summer storm cell hits Bangkok
PHOTO: @fm91trafficpro A sudden and brief summer storm swiftly passed through Bangkok’s Lak Si and Don Mueang areas yesterday afternoon. The storm left some damage in its trail, including toppled small trees on Soi Vibhavadi 60, clogged drains and an under-construction Vibhavadi-Rangsit pedestrian bridge’s metal scaffold falling onto a car at Lak Si Intersection. The stormy weather took place around…
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Some election results out by 8pm Sunday night
More than 92,000 polling stations will be operating this Sunday for the national poll to elect a new Government. Seven million new voters, eligible since the last poll in 2011, will make a new impact on the election results making predictions more complex than in the past. Election results will start dribbling out of smaller polling booths just an hour…
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Pattaya officials help a Finnish tourist sort out a lost passport and luggage
PHOTOS: Tourist Police Bureau Pattaya Tourist Police have coordinated with local agencies to help a 53 year old Finnish tourist Jussi Harri Tuokkola. He’d lost his passport, luggage, cash and other valuable items on Tuesday. The manager of the Grand Palazzo Hotel alerted Pattaya Tourist Police that Mr Tuokkola had sought help from the hotel as his luggage and passport…
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800 million baht of drugs seized in three recent busts
by Jessada Chantharak Police have seized a total of eight million methamphetamine pills, 2,070 grams of crystal methamphetamine and 1,546 grams of cocaine with an estimated street value of 800 million baht from three recent drug busts. Four suspects were arrested and a fifth was killed during arrest. The report from the national police deputy commissioner Pol General Chalermkiat Srivorakan.…
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Foreign Affairs denies attempts to extradite Thaksin from Hong Kong
PHOTO: The happy couple and ‘dad’, in HK for tomorrow’s wedding The director of the foreign affairs department of the public prosecutor’s office in Thailand says media reports that the Thai officials are trying to extradite former PM and fugitive Thaksin Shinawatra in Hong Kong, are wrong. Daily News reports that Chatchachom Akkhapin says there was no truth in stories…
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Two Suvarnabhumi crimes solved by Surachate
PHOTOS: Thai Rath Lt-Gen Surachate Hakparn, the high-profile immigration chief, has announced the solving of two cases at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. One involved a Thai woman using a passport illegally by adding extra pages. The other was the arrest of members of a Mongolian pickpocketing gang who had been preying on tourists at the airport and on the city’s…
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68 Ridley’s sea turtles hatched on Phang Nga beach – VIDEO
PHOTOS/VIDEO: The Wild Animal Rescue Foundation of Thailand 68 Ridley’s baby sea turtles have hatched on Tha Sai Beach in Thai Muang, Phang Nga and made their way to the sea last night. Ridley’s sea turtles, a protected species in Thailand, have returned recently to Phang Nga beaches to breed over the past few months following a 23 year absence.…
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Motorbike driver dies, another person injured after car driver slams into them
A female motorbike driver has died while a male car driver has sustained injuries after a second car driver fell asleep at the wheel in Thalang crashing into them. The incident happened on Srisoonthorn Road in Thalang at 2pm yesterday (Wednesday). Police and emergency responders arrived to find a damaged motorbike and two damaged cars. Police report that the car…
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Grab rider attacked by local motorcycle taxi driver – police admit the law is not clear
MONTAGE: Facebook/Patiharn Sarikapun Police near Khao San Road admit the law regarding the use of Grab Bike and similar ‘disrupting’ public transport services, is still unclear. They are calling on motorcycle taxis drivers, Grab riders, taxi drivers and Uber to keep calm and contact police if there are any disputes rather than taking matters into their own hands. Daily News…
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Woman crushed under a truck, two others injured, truck speeds away, Kata Hill
A motorbike driver has died after slipping on oil spilled on the road. The woman fell off the motorbike and was crushed by a water truck in Kata last night. Two others motorists also sustained injuries. Police are searching for the truck driver. The incident happened on Patak Road on Kata Hill at 6.50pm last night (Wednesday). Police and emergency…
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Thungyai wildlife chief could appeal for a heavier penalty for Premchai
Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary chief Wichien Chinnawong, hailed as a hero for standing up to Premchai and taking his case to court, says, while he respects the verdict of the Thong Pha Phume provincial court on Italian-Thai Development boss Premchai Karnasuta, he believes the billionaire deserved a heavier penalty. A panel discussion organised by the Seub Nakhasathien Foundation and environment reporters’ club yesterday heard from the Wildlife Sanctuary chief in…
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100 houses damaged after storm hits Nakhon Ratchasima districts
by Prasit Tangprasert A tropical storm has left more than 100 houses damaged after it hit Nakhon Ratchasima province, north-east of Bangkok, yesterday. Nakhon Ratchasima’s Governor Wichian Chantanothai says… “We are in the process of surveying damages.” He made the comment as he was handing out relief items to storm victims in Sikhiu district. He said authorities planned to ask soldiers…
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Future Forward’s Thanathorn demands an apology from conservative Nation TV
The Future Forward Party leader is demanding an apology from Nation TV for broadcasting an edited voice clip that makes it appear like a conversation between him and former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra. “I am demanding Nation apologise to me and the people who heard this content,” he said when given a chance to respond on Nation TV yesterday. Nation…
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Thaksin is in Hong Kong. Thailand wants to extradite him.
The exiled former Thai PM, Thaksin Shinawatra, is in Hong Kong to be part of the wedding party in the marriage of his youngest daughter Paetongtarn ‘Ing’ Shinawatra to a commercial pilot, Pidok Sooksawas. Thai authorities are seeking the extradition of the exiled former PM from Hong Kong, according to local HK media. Many of the powerful Shinawatra clan are…
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Dead dugong washed up on Trang Beach
PHOTOS: DNP A dead dugong which was washed up on a beach in Trang today has been sent to Phuket Marine Biological Centre for further examination. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation reports that Chaiyapruek Weerapong, the head of Mu Koh Libong Non-Hunting Area in Trang was notified that the dugong was washed up on the beach…
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Man stabbed at a Chon Buri karaoke lounge
PHOTO: Thai Rath Police were called to a karaoke lounge in Sri Racha, Chon Buri last night after a man was stabbed following an argument. 39 year old Chuchart Kamngern was found outside the lounge with a serious stab wound to the left side of his chest and was rushed to hospital in Sri Racha. Thai Rath reports that staff…
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75 year old mauled to death by pitbulls in Nonthaburi
PHOTO: Sanook A family have returned home to find the 75 year old Grandmother had been attacked and mauled by the family’s six pit bull terriers. The woman, named Iat, was lying in a pool of blood outside the house in Bang Bua Thong, Nonthaburi, on the west side of the Chao Phraya, Bangkok. Sanook reports that she had been…
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Polish man charged after threatening people with a gun in Patong
PHOTOS: Patong Police A Polish man has been charged with carrying a gun in public in Patong, Phuket. Patong Police report that at 6.20pm last night (Tuesday) they were notified that a man was using a gun to threaten others at a hotel on Pisit Koranee Road in Patong. Police headed to the hotel to find the Polish man. He…
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Massive petrol smuggling network uncovered in South
by Krissana Thiwatsirikul PHOTO: Facebook/Thai News Agency Thirteen people have been arrested following the largest seizure of smuggled petrol in the South in years. Soldiers and paramilitary rangers intercepted 290,000 litres of petrol being smuggled at a pier in Nakhon Si Thammarat’s Tha Sala district after a stake-out this morning. Customs and excise officials inspected the petrol and vehicles before handing…
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