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    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...

  • Social media aroused. Thailand pioneers penis whitening laser service.

    Social media aroused. Thailand pioneers penis whitening laser service.

    PHOTO: Lelux Hospital, usually advertising as a dental clinic, is now providing services a little lower on men’s bodies Thailand is probably the first country in the world where services are available to lighten the skin tone of male genitalia. Health authorities, however, have expressed worry and warned people about possible adverse impacts from such treatments. “The skin of the…

  • FRIDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes

    FRIDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes

    Final day of the week and a lead into your standard, normal, hopefully quiet, weekend. Weather seems to be staying cloudy but the threatened rain has mostly held off this week. It may not be bright blue sunny skies but it’s still a great place to live! What’s happening around Thailand and Phuket today? Seven Dangerous Days – final reports…

  • Tourists leave. Garbage problem stays.

    Tourists leave. Garbage problem stays.

    Tourists left behind more garbage at New Year holiday destinations this year, report tourism operators around Khao Lak and Hua Hin. Garbage was left behind in major tourist destinations as tourists returned home after New Year long holidays. Popular seaside retreats at Hua Hin in Prachuap Khiri Khan and Khao Lak in Phang Nga have reported that the amount of…

  • Himalayan vulture rescued by Phuket villagers

    Himalayan vulture rescued by Phuket villagers

    By Anotai Ngarndee Villagers in Phuket handed over a Himalayan griffon vulture on Thursday to a wildlife nursery station in Phang Nga, which they found in weak condition in the province. Theetat Dam-udom, chief of the nursery station, said the vulture was an adult weighing about eight kilograms with a wingspan of about three metres. The vulture was found in…

  • 3 big drug dealers arrested in Mai Khao

    3 big drug dealers arrested in Mai Khao

    Thachatchai Police, together with military officers, arrested three big drug dealers from a network called ‘Ann Power’. One of them also happened to be the head of the network. The force raided the targeted area, the Kok Pae Community, through five different spots around the community and arrested the three drug dealers, including 40 year old Paiboon Rattanapak aka ‘Ann…

  • Phuket’s ‘seven days of danger’ results announced

    Phuket’s ‘seven days of danger’ results announced

    This morning (December 4), Phuket Governor chaired a meeting at Provincial hall to announce the official statistics for Phuket from the ‘Seven Days of Danger reporting period. There were 7 accidents on the 7th day, January 3, with 7 injuries. For the whole period of 7 days, there was a total of 46 accidents with 46 injuries and 2 casualties.…

  • UPDATE: 4 motorcycle thugs surrendered

    UPDATE: 4 motorcycle thugs surrendered

    The four members of a motorcycle gang who attacked 40 year old Romy Navio, who tried to stop them from hurting three other young men, have surrendered. Yesterday (December 3) at 2pm, the four, including 18 year old Nattawut ‘Fad’ Plighin, 18 year old Sarun ‘Yak’ Muenkla, 18 year old Panuruj ‘Tiw’ Sudpangyang and 18 year old Kajorn ‘Ben’ Raya,…

  • THAIGER TODAY Thursday, January 4

    THAIGER TODAY Thursday, January 4

    ‘Somtam Index’ shows Krabi most expensive | Deluge of new year drink-driving prosecutions causing paperwork nightmare | Tourist pest from Jungceylon was at it again the afternoon before | Thai auto industry doing well | Official stats after six days of ‘seven day’ reporting period | BKK cracking down on noisy vehicles.

  • ‘Election all go for November’, according to the Thai Embassy in Finland

    ‘Election all go for November’, according to the Thai Embassy in Finland

    PHOTO: Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai surprised by the Thai Embassy in Finland mis-speaking about possible elections this year. Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai yesterday ordered an investigation into a Facebook post from the Thai Embassy in Finland giving advice about preparation for an election tentatively to be held in November. Don said he never ordered the embassy to do so. “I’m not…

  • Dead body found floating near Koh Phi Phi

    Dead body found floating near Koh Phi Phi

    At about noon today (January 3), Koh Phi Phi police received a report about a dead body floating in the sea near Phi Phi in Lo Dalum Bay. Police say the body appears to be a western woman of about 30-35 years wearing jeans shorts and a blue bra. No trace of harassment or violence was found on the body.…

  • Phuket ‘gangster’ arrest warrants to be issued

    Phuket ‘gangster’ arrest warrants to be issued

    A group of motorcycle ‘gangsters’ who attacked local innocent residents in Yoo Sabai Village during the New Year night will be issued with arrest warrants soon. After a post by Facebook user Techa Tubthong, releasing a 3 minute footage of a group of motorcyclists attacking their opponents and harming the villagers who tried to stop the fight, one of the…

  • Drunk female tourist refuses to pay bill at Jungceylon

    Drunk female tourist refuses to pay bill at Jungceylon

    A video has posted on a popular Phuket Facebook page that showed an altercation between a female tourist and several people outside a Fuji Japanese restaurant in Jungceylon. The video shows a woman, apparently from Europe (some say Norwegian), arguing with security as a crowd of shoppers gather. Amid claims that the tourist is drunk the poster of the footage…

  • Puppies rescued from roadside

    Puppies rescued from roadside

    Two women rescued five puppies found beside their mother’s bloated dead body on a roadside in Prachuap Khiri Khan’s Hua Hin district. One of the woman, Chutima Singruang, posted on her Facebook wall on Wednesday that she and her friend spotted the puppies on the Hua Hin-Nong Plub road near the roadside Nong Sor market on Tuesday morning. Chutima said…

  • Two suspects in custody over Trang murder case

    Two suspects in custody over Trang murder case

    Two suspects allegedly involved in the murder of Trang-based salon owner Phakin Sornnarai are in police custody. Phakin’s body was found on Monday in his car parked at a sports stadium in Muang Trang. He’d been missing since December 29. Police believe robbery was the motive because more than 160,000 baht worth of gold accessories, 80,000 baht in cash and…

  • WEDNESDAY NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes

    WEDNESDAY NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes

    Sort of back to normal today, whatever that means. The news never stops and there’s plenty of it around today. Let’s see what news stories are in our inbox this morning… PM urges big effort on final day of reporting period PM General Prayut Chan-o-cha is urging officers to strictly enforce traffic laws and provide security for people on the…

  • Governor visits Rassada Pier to inspect improvements

    Governor visits Rassada Pier to inspect improvements

    Phuket’s Governor, Norapat Plodthong, along with a team from the Provincial offices, visited Rassada Pier this morning (January 2), to encourage the staff and promising to upgrade the security and services at the pier. Rassada Pier is one of the most important piers in Phuket, apart from Chalong Pier and Ao Po Pier, and welcomes more than a thousand passengers…

  • Corruption, graft, misconduct. And watches.

    Corruption, graft, misconduct. And watches.

    By Wasamon Audjarint While the junta continued to claim that fighting corruption was on its agenda over the past year, the state-centric approach brought into question whether junta leaders were truly serious about dealing with graft – or were instead using the issue for their own benefit or to attack particular parties, an anti-graft watchdog has said. “This especially creates…

  • TUESDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your news in 3 minutes

    TUESDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your news in 3 minutes

    Another public holiday today. The Government announced last year that they’d add an extra day to the new year holidays this year in an effort to relieve the rush of traffic as people head home and back for the new year break. Police will be out in force today checking on drunk drivers at checkpoints around the island. Government offices…

  • New year’s eve diving tragedy in Koh Phi Phi

    New year’s eve diving tragedy in Koh Phi Phi

    FILE PHOTO A tragic accident off Koh Phi Phi yesterday (December 31) where a 25 year old Indian tourist, Alok Kumar Shukla, was attempting his first scuba dive. According to the scuba company running the tour, the incident happened during the pick up following the group’s first dive. “The customer returned to the boat already and got out of his…

  • Heading into 2018 with a BANG.

    Heading into 2018 with a BANG.

    Bullets fired into the air during New Year’s celebrations damaged many people’s property late Sunday night, although no injuries were reported as of on Monday, as the dangerous activity continued despite a campaign against the irresponsible discharging of guns during holidays. To celebrate the arrival of the New Year, many people set off fireworks while others fired guns into the…

  • Happy new year in Old Phuket Town

    Happy new year in Old Phuket Town

    The Amazing Thailand Countdown 2018 around Old Phuket Town was hosted by Governor Norapat Plodthong together with the Phuket Mayor Somjai Suwansuppana. There family-oriented festivities included a walking street with local food, clothing, accessories, street performances and a list of entertainment on stage before the crowd count down to the new year at the intersection of the old Standard Chartered Bank.…

  • MONDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes

    MONDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes

    PHOTO: The statue of Phra Buddha Navaratchabophit out of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration headquarters yesterday. Happy New Year! Patong’s new year celebrations drew unprecedented crowds to see in 2018. From midnight to 2am there was a gridlock with zero movement of traffic along the beach road (Thaweewong Rd) as revellers streamed off the beaches and back into the town. Police…

  • 6 missing men safely home

    6 missing men safely home

    The 6 men, reported missing earlier yesterday (December 30), have been rescued by Royal Thai Navy Area 3 today (December 31). All safe and back home. This morning at 8.50 am, the Air Force from Royal Thai Navy Area 3 made an aerial servey around the area where the crew last had made their last contact and after an hour…

  • Royal Crematorium exhibit exceeds 3.89 million visitors

    Royal Crematorium exhibit exceeds 3.89 million visitors

    More than 3.89 million people visited the Royal Crematorium exhibition between November 2 and December 30. People visited the exhibition in remembrance of the much-revered HM the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The late monarch passed away on October 13, 2016. A one-year mourning period followed, with the Royal Cremation Ceremony held over five days in October. Exhibits detailing the ceremony…

  • SUNDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes

    SUNDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes

    Last day for 2017. But it’s the middle of the ‘Seven Days of Danger’ and the road carnage continues despite an all out effort of Thailand’s police to stem the flow. Not surprisingly, drunk-driving is still the leading cause of deaths on our roads. PLEASE be safe tonight, make arrangements ahead of time for your safe return home after celebrations.…

  • DAY TWO REPORT – Seven days of danger

    DAY TWO REPORT – Seven days of danger

    A total of 92 people were killed and 1,107 were injured during the first two days of seven-day monitoring period for people travelling during the long New Year holidays. On Friday, which was the second day of the so-called “seven dangerous days” new year holidays, 576 road accidents happened, killing 49 people and injuring 609, said Karun Sakulpradit, permanent secretary…

  • Thailand Yacht Show. Returns to Ao Po Grand Marina February 22 – 25, 2018

    Thailand Yacht Show. Returns to Ao Po Grand Marina February 22 – 25, 2018

    It is that time of the year where we make resolutions; promises about the year to come and how we will approach it. Rather than ploughing through a northern hemisphere winter to get to the gym or sourcing for fresh fruits during a juice cleanse, why not enjoy the best of the southern tropical lifestyle and head to the Thailand…

  • Phuket Governor announces first casualty for new year period

    Phuket Governor announces first casualty for new year period

    At Provincial Hall this morning (December 30), Phuket’s Governor, Norapat Plodthong, chaired a meeting to follow up on the accidents for the first 2 days of the 7 days of danger over the New Year season. There were 10 accidents in total, with 9 injuries and 1 casualty in the past two 2 days (December 28 – 29). The ‘7…

  • SATURDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes

    SATURDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes

    A weekend, a new year’s weekend and a long weekend with Monday and Tuesday public holidays this year. Welcome to your Saturday. The threat of rain is still there but enjoy the sunny bits in between. Here’s the main news stories circulating today… Extra public holiday on Tuesday This year the Thai Government has declared one extra day – next…

  • DAY ONE – Seven days of danger. Road toll down.

    DAY ONE – Seven days of danger. Road toll down.

    As Thai holidaymakers journeyed to their hometowns for the annual New Year Festival with accompanying high traffic volumes on highways and crowded transport hubs, the Road Safety Operation Centre on Friday reported a slight decrease in accidents, deaths and injuries on the first of the seven-day road safety promotion period ending January 3. Thursday saw 41 deaths and 500 injuries…