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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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More sea turtle eggs found on Phang Nga Beach
PHOTO: DMCR In another really positive sign for the future of the leatherback sea turtle population in the region, 112 sea turtle eggs were found at Kuek Kak Beach in Khao Lak, Phang Nga this morning. 64 of the eggs have now been carefully moved to a safe area at the same beach whilst 48 eggs had already broken. 64…
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VIDEO: Thai firefighters and rescuers cross border to help Cambodian firefighters
PHOTO: The Mirror A fire which broke out in an building in Poipet, Cambodia on Monday night, saw Thai fire trucks and rescue workers from the bordering town of Aranyaprathet, cross the border to help put out the fire. Poipet is a Cambodian town well known for its various casinos, which caters to Chinese and Thai gamblers. Poipet is located…
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Malaysian rulers to choose new monarch by the end of the month
PHOTO: The Straits Times Malaysia’s Conference of Rulers will meet in about two weeks’ time to elect the country’s new constitutional monarch, as well as a deputy after the ruling monarch, Sultan Muhammad V, stepped down on Sunday in an unprecedented move. The 16th King, or Supreme Ruler, and a deputy will be sworn in at the end of the…
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Backgrounds checks incoming for novice monks
PHOTO: The Japan Times The National Office of Buddhism (NOB) is going to get the Royal Thai Police (RTP) run background checks on applicants seeking to join the monkhood. The NOB has requested police to run the checks in a move to create a stronger screening system for all those joining the monkhood. The NOB has been advised to send…
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Saudi woman remains under UN care in Thailand
From VOA News reporters Thai authorities say a young Saudi woman, stopped in Thailand as she tried to flee to Australia to seek asylum, has now left the Suvarnabhumi Airport and is under the care of the local UN refugee agency. “She is under the care of the UNHCR now but we also sent Thai security to help take care…
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Superheroes and mega malls – The Thailand Tourism Forum 2019
Record attendance at Thailand’s largest annual hospitality event discovering how the tourism and transport sector is getting a massive makeover. The Thailand Tourism Forum (TTF) returns for its eighth edition on January 21, 2019, with an agenda focusing on the mega-projects that are currently transforming the tourism landscape in Bangkok and beyond. Running under the theme “Managing Tourism – Ensuring…
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UPDATE: Leopard Cat recovering after car accident with Soi Dog Foundation vets
PHOTO: ‘Happy Tiger’ – Recovering at Soi Dog Foundation, Mai Khao The condition of the Leopard Cat remains much the same – there has been no real improvement. The leopard cat is still under the care of Soi Dog Foundation vets. The vets have reported that his left eye doesn’t respond to light or anything and is probably blind. The…
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Opinion: Sovereignty, rights ignored in airport debacle – The Nation
Thailand could have blood on its hands if it fails to protect a Saudi traveller on her journey to freedom. The fate of a Saudi woman on her way to Australia, where she has a visa and seeks to obtain asylum, teetered in the balance in Bangkok at press time yesterday. Amid Thailand’s apparent willingness to deport her back to…
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Civil Partnership Bill open for comment before heading to NLA
Members of the public are now being invited to comment on the Civil Partnership Bill on the Council of State’s website until January 23. The comments will be reviewed for consideration before the Council submits the bill to the National Legislative Assembly. If passed by the legislators, the law will make Thailand the first country in Asia to recognise same-sex…
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Allegedly negligent bus driver fined 5,000 baht, six dead get 30K compensation
Daily news has reported on the aftermath of a tour bus that crashed in Pathum Thani over the weekend. Pathum Thani is the province neighboring Bangkok to the west. As relatives of the six dead came to collect the bodies of their loved ones at Thammasat Chalermprakiat Hospital news arrived that the Department of Land Transport was likely to fine…
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Pabuk: PM visits Nakhon Si Thammarat to survey damage
Between January 3-6, Pabuk was responsible for the death of four people and has affected the lives of more than 720,000 in 23 southern provinces. The death toll from the storm has now risen to four while three southern provinces are still reeling from its impact yesterday. The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department director-general Chayapol Thitisak said that his department…
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Saudi teenager allowed to stay in Thailand, for now
A Saudi teenager who flew to Thailand to escape her family in Kuwait will be allowed to stay in the country for now. Thai officials ended up in diplomatic hot water yesterday after government officials initially said they planned to deport a Saudi teenager who was stopped in Bangkok, en route to Australia to seek asylum, drawing objections from the…
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Southern rail services back to normal
Rail services suspended in the South following after recent flooding in Nakhon Si Thammarat are back in full service again. The good news from the State Railway of Thailand acting governor Worwaut Mala. The rail line to the South was partially flooded and damaged after storm Pabuk unleashed heavy rains in the area last Friday afternoon and evening. Workers had…
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Tourists back on Ao Nang Beach
PHOTOS: Krabi PR Office The popular tourist magnet, Ao Nang Beach in Krabi, is back to normal following the warnings and boat bans because of the storm. The director of Tourism Authority of Thailand Krabi Office says, “After the storm passed all boats are allowed to head back to the sea. Tourists are back on our beaches.” “We allowed the…
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UPDATE: Saudi teen barricades herself in Bangkok airport room to avoid deportation
PHOTO: Sophie McNeill A detained Saudi 18 year old Rahaf Mohhammed al-Qunun remains barricaded in her room at Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok. She has locked herself in her room to avoid being deported, as earlier today as she was supposed to leave on a 11.15 am flight back to Kuwait this morning. Now she refuses to leave her room until…
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Dog stuck in mud, rescued after storm in Phang Nga
A dog in Phang Nga has been pulled out from mud near a canal yesterday following rain on the weekend. It has been named ‘Pabuk’. Paweena Thongsap, a nurse, has reported to rescue workers that she found a weak dog in mud near a canal in Phang Nga city. Officers from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Phang Nga…
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Warnings issued after hydrogen-filled balloon explodes in car
A six year old boy has been engulfed in flames and seriously injured in a hydrogen balloon accident in Nakhon Pathom, west of Bangkok. Three people were injured on January 2 when a single hydrogen-filled party balloon exploded inside a car. The incident has prompted the Disease Control Department (DCD) to issue a warning and guidelines for reducing the risk.…
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Leather back turtle egg nest on Phang Nga beach safe after Pabuk
PHOTOS: DMCR The leather back sea turtle eggs found on a Phang Nga Beach in Tai Mueang a few weeks ago have been checked and they are safe after last Friday and Saturday’s bad weather. About 80-100 eggs were found after a leather back sea turtle laid eggs on the beach in Tai Mueang, Phang Nga last month. Read more about…
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Blacktip reef sharks found at Phuket seafood restaurant
PHOTO: Sunshine Sketcher There are now two reliable places you can see Blacktip Reef Sharks – off the shores of Maya Bay and hanging in front of a restaurant in Karon. Two blacktip reef sharks been discovered hanging in front of a seafood restaurant at Karon Beach. A facebook user name ‘Sunshine Sketcher’ today posted a photo with the message read…
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Saudi teen fleeing family abuse seeking asylum in Australia, detained in Bangkok airport.
PHOTO: Sophie McNeill (Twitter) A young Saudi woman is being held at Bangkok’s main international airport after she fled from her family and attempted to make it to Australia. The girl, 18 year old Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, was on a family holiday in Kuwait when she decided to run away. She was on her way to Australia but has been…
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Foreigners rolling up sleeves to clear rubbish from Samui beaches
by Somkiat Raksaman Foreign tourists are back on Samui’s beaches for the second day to help collect trash and debris swept to the shore by tropical storm Pabuk, which hit the Southern region last Friday. Popular Lamai beach was covered with garbage, plastic bags and other debris in the wake of the storm. A hotel operator, Kornpachara Meedet, says…
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Finless porpoise found dead in Nakhon Si Thammarat after Pabuk
PHOTO: DMCR A Finless porpoise found dead on a beach in Nakhon Si Thammarat over the weekend following last Friday’s storm. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) is reporting that they were informed by Vachirapong Sakunrat who found the dead dolphin at Nadan Beach in Khanom, Nakhon Si Thammarat. DMCR Officials found that it was a female Finless…
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Malaysia’s monarch abdicates the throne
Malaysia’s King has abdicated the throne in a first for the country ending weeks of speculation about his future. In recent months the Monarch has taken medical leave and married a Russian former beauty queen, although the marriage has never been confirmed by Malaysian palace officials. Read more about the marriage HERE. Sultan Muhammad V’s decision is the first time…
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Serbian coach sacked after Thai thrashing in Asian Cup
The Football Association of Thailand has unceremoniously dumped the national coach Milovan Rajevac, just seven hours after Thailand was thrashed by India 1-4 in the Asian Cup group A game in Abu Dhabi. Thailand were far from impressive against the more powerful Indian team who beat the Kingdom’s side for the first time in 32 years. Thai Football Association reacted…
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Tourists surge back to Chalong Pier and out to the islands
Chalong Pier has been back to normal today following the lifting of the ban on boats leaving port last night. The busy tourist pier this morning saw many travellers heading off to the islands again. Yesterday the Phuket Marine Office announced that after midnight (January 6) all boats were allowed to head back to sea after a ban on travel…
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NLA President urges critics not to blame Coronation for election delays
The country’s NLA President Pornpetch Wichitworachai is warning critics to refrain from blaming the forthcoming King’s coronation ceremony for causing potential delays in the national election. He says that authorities concerned with planning the election must choose appropriate timing for the election and ensure that it doesn’t affect the auspicious ceremony. “The ceremony would bring joy and happiness to the…
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Six people, including a baby, killed in Pathum Thani bus accident
Six people, including a five month old baby, have died after their double-decker bus went out of control on a slippery road in Pathum Thani, north of Bangkok. The bus overturned and ended up in a ditch early today. 50 other people have been injured in the incident. Polcie from the Khlong Luang precinct received a call at 3.30am. Officers and emergency…
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Halving Thailand’s road toll by 2020 – The impossible dream
“The WHO report points out that progress has been made in certain areas, such as legislation. But it has not been fast enough to meet the UN goal of halving road traffic deaths between 2016 and 2020.” Thailand draws world attention for its amazing scenery, vibrant foodie scene, raunchy nightlife and local festivals. It also draws attention for all the…
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Thailand has a special support team in the stands today – Asian Cup opener against India
by Debayan Sen in Abu Dhabi for ESPN Ahead of their Asian Cup opening game against India today, Thailand will have four champion footballers supporting them from the stands. Well, champions in their Chiang Rai district games anyway. The Mu Pa (Wild Boar) football team, whose rescue from the Tham Luang caves last year captured the imagination of the world, will…
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Tour boats can return to the islands
The Phuket Marine Office has lifted its ban on boats leaving port. The lift means than fishing boats, commercial vessels and tour boats will now again be able to head off from Phuket, Krabi and other ports to the offshore islands, and stranded tourists and passengers, stuck on the islands when the ban was imposed on Thursday afternoon, can continue…
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