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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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Princess Ubolratana Mahidol runs as Prime Ministerial candidate in election
PHOTOS: Instagram In a stunning political move, Princess Ubolratana Mahidol, the eldest child of the late King Bhumibol, Rama 9, has been nominated by the Thai Raksa Chart party. Her nomination as a Prime Ministerial candidate immediately places the plans of current PM and the Junta-leaning Palang Pracharat party into disarray. To paint this as an ‘upset’ move in the last day of…
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Weather for February 8
Bangkok Generally clear. High 34ºC. Winds S at 10 to 15 km/h. Phuket Thunderstorms developing in the afternoon. High 31ºC. E winds shifting to S at 15 to 25 km/h. Chance of rain 60%. Chiang Mai Generally clear. High 35ºC. Winds ENE and variable. Pattaya Generally clear. High 31ºC. Winds SSW at 15 to 25 km/h. Hua Hin Generally clear.…
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Motorbike driver “flew five metres” in Krabi road incident
A male motorist has sustained serious injuries after a car collided with his motorbike in Krabi. The Krabi City Police were notified of an accident on Krabi – Ao Nang Road in Kabi City yesterday afternoon. Police and rescue workers arrived to find a damaged white Mazda sedan on the road. Nearby found a damaged motorbike. On the side of…
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Air quality for Thailand – February 8
Central 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. Northern 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…
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Americans are flocking to Asia. Why?
Asia is sexy. From K-Pop sensation BTS topping the Billboard charts to “Crazy Rich Asians” owning the summer box office in the US, Americans can’t get enough of Asian film, music, and of course, noodles. “It’s all a sign of the Asianisation of the world”, reports CNN. “Asia has the world’s lowest taxes. Despite having some of the world’s largest…
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23 Chinese tourists rescued off sinking boat at Koh Samet
In the latest of a spate of speedboat incidents, another speedboat has capsized off KohSamet in Rayong. 23 Chinese tourists were on the vessel but all were recovered safely and without incident. Initial reports say the boat hit rocks causing holes in the boat and water leaks that the crew were unable to control. It’s been reported that all the…
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Foundation worker, who admits to killing famous singer’s son, taken on reenactment
PHOTO: Sanook Thai police continue to investigate the murder of the son of a well known Koh Samui artist that took place last Monday. Sanook reports that the victim, 26 year old Nappaphorn, son of singer “Maew Bai Jaak Thai” was shot 5 times by a local foundation rescue worker, 20 year old Natdanai, following a long-standing dispute between the two. Natdani has now…
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Chiang Mai hotel staffer admits to faking gang attack story
PHOTO: Thairath A story about a gang of three armed men attacking an employee and stealing money from a Chang Mai Hotel appears to have been a false report. The employee has eventually confessed to making the story up. The original story alleges that the men had held up the Airport Resident Hotel on Mahidol Road at 5:45 am in the…
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Armed gang steals 30,000 baht in early morning Chiang Mai hotel attack
UPDATE of this story HERE….. An armed gang has robbed the Airport Resident Hotel in downtown Chiang Mai early this morning. Daily News reports that the deputy provincial police chief is asking police to locate the criminals in what he said was a “brazen attack that could damage tourist confidence”. A 30 year old staff member of the hotel, Yossakorn…
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British man dies after falling from Pattaya condo
A British man has died after falling from a condo in Pattaya. The Sawang Boriboon Foundation responded to a call from the condo security guard last night after he heard the sound of the body hitting the ground. Ruk Siam News reports that the rescue services arrived to find 60 year old Brian Dobing with multiple fractures by the entrance to building…
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Pro-active street vendor uses spray paint to create parking spot
Picture: Sakhon Online A picture posted to the online Samut Sakhon community has been making the rounds as it shows a local street vendor taking matters into his own hands. Frustrated by the lack of parking (which many Thailand food stall owners complain about), the unidentified man is pictured using a spray paint can to change the colour of the red…
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Six Chinese arrested for begging in Bangkok, Thailand
PHOTOS: Tourist Police | Immigration Bureau Six Chinese, in wheelchairs, have been arrested for begging in Bangkok. The Tourist Police Bureau reported yesterday that the arrests came after Tourist Police and the Immigration Officers found the Chinese disabled begging gang who were staying at a hotel on Soi Intharama. They headed out for begging at tourism spots around Bangkok in…
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Air pollution problems move to Khon Kaen
Pollution continues to choke the north-east province of Khon Kaen with the Air Quality Index reaching 187 yesterday, well beyond the “moderate” safety limit of 100. This morning it’s reading at 174. Associate Professor Dr Kittichai Triratanasirichai, a former president of Khon Kaen University, says the pollution in Khon Kaen had worsened mainly due to the burning of sugarcane and…
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Five taken to hospital following Bangkok condo fire
PHOTO: JS100Radio Five people have suffered smoke inhalation after a fire broke out at a condo in Bangkok’s Khan Na Yao district last night (Wednesday). The fire apparently started in the Lumpini Condo Ram Indra-Navamin around 9.30pm in a room on the second floor of the 24 storey Building D. All residents were evacuated before firefighters arrived. Police say the room was…
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PM, Bangkok Governor and environment board summoned to court over air pollution
The Thai PM, Bangkok’s governor Aswin Kwanmuang and the National Environment Board were summoned to the Central Administrative Court today over the PM2.5 air pollution crisis that has affected Greater Bangkok for nearly two months. The court will question Prayut, Aswin and members of the board in response to a complaint filed by the Stop Global Warming Association (SGWA) and…
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Russian tourist rescued from sea off Krabi
A 27 year old Russian tourist was pulled out of the water at Koh Lanta in Krabi early last night. Navy officers were notified by Koh Lanta Police that the 27 year old female Russian tourist Mariia Novikova had been rescued after being recovered from the waters off a beach in Koh Lanta. Five navy officers rushed into the water…
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Air quality for Thailand – February 7
Central 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. Northern 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…
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Water Authority cancels water restrictions in Phuket
PHOTO: Bang Wad dam in Kathu The Phuket Waterworks Authority (PWA) has announced a cancellation for water restrictions that were set to hit some some areas around Phuket from tomorrow. The PWA announced start dates for water restrictions to start in some areas of the island on Monday. The restrictions were set on an odd/even rotation and are usually a…
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Australian PM writes a second letter to Thai PM over al-Araibi case
The Australian Government is pouring on the pressure with Bangkok to immediately release Hakeem al-Araibi, with the Australian PM writing a second letter to his Thai counterpart saying he was disturbed to see Hakeem al-Araibi in shackles at the Criminal Court on Monday. “I’ve written to him again, because I was very disturbed at the appearance of Hakeem at the…
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Nakhon Ratchasima shoots himself after CNY celebrations
A Nakhon Ratchasima man has shot himself while his mother and sister were washing up in the next room following a Chinese New Year dinner in their shophouse. Police were alerted to the suicide at a house on Soi Pattana Prapa Community 2 in Nai Muang, Muang district at 6.45pm last night. They arrived to find Weerawat Phisitthapat’s body lying in…
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75 year old burned to death while fighting plantation fire in Sa Kaew
A 75 year old has been burned to death while fighting a fire in Sa Kaew’s Aranyaprathet district last night. Sa Kaew is east of Bangkok on the Cambodian border. The incident happened in a eucalyptus plantation. District police received an alert at 8.30pm that the man, Boonsee Thamungmee, was killed at the plantation in Moo 6 village in Tambon…
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51 year old Frenchman arrested over allegations of soliciting sex with teenagers
by Jessada Chantharak A 51 year old French citizen, reportedly working as a French teacher in Singapore, has been arrested in Bangkok, Thailand for allegedly buying sex with teenage boys. The suspect is Quenot Jean-Christophe Marie Georges. He was arrested on February 4 at a hotel room in Soi Inthamara 47, Bangkok. A computer notebook, a memory card, two hard…
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Chiang Mai top cops transferred after gambling den raid
Five leading police officers at the Muang Chiang Mai Police Station have been immediately side-lined to inactive posts. The transfers are pending a fact-finding probe of whether they had been negligent in their duties by allowing a gambling den to operate within the precinct. The police were transferred today and the probe result is expected within two weeks. Transferred are…
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Extradition of Hakeem al-Arabi to a third country being suggested by Thai FM
Diplomacy has wandered into the testy situation between Bahrain, Australia and Thailand in the case of jailed Bahraini footballer Hakeem al-Arabi. He remains in detention awaiting an extradition hearing in a Thai court. In a move to move the attention away from Thailand, Thai Foreign Minister Don Paramudvinai says Australia and Bahrain should hold talks to resolve the case by having him sent to…
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South Korean arrested in Bangkok over fake lottery website
PHOTO: Immigration Bureau A South Korean man has been arrested in Bangkok following an arrest alerted by Interpol for operating a fake lottery website. The Immigration Bureau say that the South Korean citizen, named SUNGHWA LEE, is the head of the gang that operated the fake lottery website. Many of the victims are South Korean. The cost of damages stolen from…
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More than ten thousand million baht generated during Chinese New Year in Phuket
The TAT Phuket has done its sums for this year’s Chinese New Year activities in Phuket from February 5 to February 12. They estimate 500,000 tourists will visit for the annual Chinese holiday which will generated 11,441 million baht for the island. Kanokkittikar Kritwutthikorn, director of the Phuket office of the TAT says, “The check-in rate is ”averaging at 88 percent which will result in…
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Plastic garbage found inside dead sea turtle in Chon Buri
PHOTO: DMCR Plastic garbage has been found inside a dead green turtle on Bang Sane Beach in Chon Buri. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) says the green turtle was found on Bang Sane Beach in Chon Buri yesterday. The female turtle was 76.5 centimetres long and 72 centimetres wide. Its age is estimated around 25 to 30…
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Whale shark carcass found on Satun Beach
PHOTO: DMCR The body of a whale shark was discovered on a beach in Satun yesterday. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) is reporting that officials at the Mu Koh Paetra National Park in Satun were notified about the huge whale shark carcass that had been washed on a beach between Phang Ga Ya Bay and Ko Bulon…
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Weather for February 6
Bangkok Partly cloudy. High 32ºC. Winds S at 15 to 25 km/h. Phuket Partly cloudy. High 31ºC. E winds shifting to SSW at 15 to 25 km/h. Chiang Mai Generally clear. High 35ºC. Winds SE and variable. Pattaya Scattered thunderstorms. High 30ºC. Winds SSW at 15 to 30 km/h. Chance of rain 80%. Hua Hin Morning thunderstorms. High 31ºC. Winds…
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Water restrictions announced as water levels in Phuket reservoirs drop
The Phuket Waterworks Authority (PWA) has announced a date for water restrictions to start in some Phuket areas. They say the reason is water levels at reservoirs in Phuket are getting low in the dry seasons and they predict it will continue for the next three months. Water will be restricted for residents on even dates starting February 8 for…
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