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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 Is private health insurance in Thailand worth it? Real costs vs risks explained
Thailand has a strong healthcare system with both public and private options. Public hospitals offer affordable care, but many people, including expats, choose private health insurance for faster service, modern facilities, and more treatment choices. To decide if private health...
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Marcus Rolli & Imogen Simmonds win the Foremost IRONMAN 70.3 Thailand 2017
A bumper edition of the second Foremost IRONMAN 70.3 Thailand saw almost 1,500 triathletes turnout for the iconic half ironman distance race and the newly introduced Sunrise Sprint today (26th November) on Phuket island, a mecca for triathlon in Asia with a history of triathlon events dating back almost 30 years. With 31 Pros from around the world on the…
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NGO taking the government to court over food pesticides
More than 60 per cent of five popular vegetables sold in local markets contain excessive levels of harmful chemical residue, according to a testing by the Thailand Pesticide Alert Network (Thai-PAN), a non-governmental organisation working on food safety. About 64 per cent of khana (Chinese kale), tua fak yao (long beans), prik daeng (red chili), bai kaprao (basil leaves) and…
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Toon inspires a nation. Prawit has a lot of explaining to do.
Two Thai men, probably at the peak of their careers. One inspiring a nation. The other making disgraceful comments and ‘mis-speaking’ about the death of a young cadet and laughing off the serious issue of hazing in Thai military culture. It’s been a busy week for the country’s elderly Deputy PM and Defense Minister Prawit Wongsuwan and musician/marathon runner, Antiwara…
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Relatives claim bodies of Myanmar workers killed in van fire
Relatives of some of the 13 Myanmar workers who were killed in a fiery van accident in Sing Buri early on Friday were in Bangkok yesterday (November 25) to claim the bodies. The Police Hospital’s Forensic Medicine Institute opened a room on the first floor to provide assistance to the relatives. The 13 workers were killed along with a Thai…
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26 Chinese tourists escape bus fire without injury
26 Chinese tourists have had a lucky escape after their tour bus burst into flames as they were headed southbound along Thepkasatri Road around 6pm tonight, just opposite the Isuzu Showroom. The group was returning from a trip to the islands off Phuket and headed for their hotel. The tour group only arrived in Phuket last night. The driver…
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More than 100 take part in Foremost IRONKIDS Thailand 2017 @ Thanyapura
Over 100 young athletes were greeted with perfect race weather at Thanyapura Health & Sports Resort in Phuket on Saturday 25th November, 2017, as they competed in the second edition of the Foremost IRONKIDS Thailand. A total of 140 children took part in the event, which was broken into four age categories; 6-8 years old, 9-10 years old, 11-12 years…
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Van fatality in Saraburi – one dead and eight injured
PHOTO: Thai PBS A school teacher has been killed and eight others injured in yet another fatal passenger van crash. This time on Phahonyothin Road, Nong Khae in Saraburi late last night (November 24). Police say the fatal crash happened just before midnight. The van , believed to be from the Chaiyaphum province, was returning 10 Chaiyaphum teachers after a…
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Ten in, nine out, eight reassigned – Thai Cabinet reshuffle
His Majesty the King has endorsed the new Thai Cabinet after a reshuffle that saw 10 new faces, nine removed and eight members given new assignments. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha removed… General Tanasak Patimapragorn and Admiral Narong Pipatnasai as his deputies, as well Minister attached to Prime Minister’s Office Omsin Chivapruek, Deputy Defence Minister General Udomdej Sitabutr, Tourism and Sport…
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Another van tragedy – 14 die after crash in Sing Buri
Thirteen Burmese workers and a Thai driver were killed when a chartered van burst into flames after it crashed into the rear of a truck in Sing Buri early yesterday. The bus was taking the workers from Tak back to Mahachai, police said. The victims’ bodies were taken to Bangkok’s Police General Hospital for identification. So far, only Thai driver…
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SATURDAY MORNING BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes
Welcome to Saturday. The forecast promises a 100% chance of rain but we’re sure there will be plenty of sunny breaks. Here’s this morning’s briefing.. Deputy PM apologises Two senior military officers have been transferred out of the Thai Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School in the wake of a scandal surrounding the death of an 18 year old cadet on…
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Patong entertainment businesses say longer hours is the solution to corruption issue
The Patong Entertainment Business Association has weighed into the Patong Bribery scandal insisting that the the issue will never be solved unless the laws are changed – specifically the laws that will allow them to stay open longer. The President of Patong Entertainment Business Association, Weerawit Kruasombat, says that the law should be changed and the entertainment venues should be…
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THAIGER TODAY – Friday, November 24
Phetchaburi inundated | PM defends his Deputy’s comments about dead cadet | Seven youth arrested over drugs bust in Paklok | Airport getting ready for high-season influx | Navy FC Chairman threatens the players in the alleged match-fixing scandal.
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Domestic terminal opens another section for the high season
Phuket International Airport will open the domestic terminal on the north side of the old terminal to welcome travellers during Phuket’s tourism high season starting November 28. The south section, which is currently used as the domestic terminal, will be closed down for renovation. The opening will offer more convenience to the passengers, both departures and arrivals, with a wider…
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Thalang Police uncover 400+ kilos of drugs
Last night (November 23), Thalang police arrested 7 alleged drug dealers with 20,000 amphetamine pills alongside 220 kilograms of kratom leaves, 2 guns and bullets. The 7 suspects were arrested in the Paklok area. Police received a report about drugs being sold in the area and found juveniles, including Kacha Kuekkong and Anuchit Khamsee, who were outside their room but…
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Friday Morning Briefing – everything you need to know in 3 minutes
KL is the big winner in a survey for expat living. Story below… “We only want men who are willing” PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has come to the defence of his Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon over his provocative remarks concerning the suspicious death of a military pre-cadet. General Prawit responded to a media question over the matter, that it was…
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Police roles could be moved to other Government departments
The police force is looking to transfer many of its current key missions to other agencies if the reform plan approved by the National Reform Committee on Judicial Affairs goes ahead. The regulation of traffic flow and enforcement of traffic laws, for example, will be handed over to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), the Pattaya City Administration and some 30…
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Thursday Morning Briefing – everything you need to know in 3 minutes
The Thai woman implicated in the deadly Erawan Shrine bomb attack is now in Thai police custody. Phang Nga resident, Wanna Suansan was arrested when she walked off a plane at Suvarnabhumi Airport yesterday. She was taken to the National Police Office headquarters where she was interrogated. Wanna is among suspects wanted over the fatal explosion that rocked the Erawan…
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Thailand hosts ASEAN Environment Conference in Phuket
The Reducing Marine Debris in ASEAN Region 2017 hosted by Thailand is being held at JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa today (November 22). The meeting gathers the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR), Kasetsart University and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with about 200 participants from many sectors in order to find solutions to reduce marine…
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Driver wraps pick-up around Thalang pole, killing one
A pick-up truck has lost control and smashed into a lamp post after driving at high speed during early morning rain resulting in one death and another in Thalang Hospital in critical condition. Just after midnight today (November 22), at the intersection of Thepkasattri Road (in front Wat Phra Nang Sang), a white pick-up truck driven by 31 year old…
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Boat explosion at Chalong Pier
An explosion on a speed boat called ‘Choksomboon’ at Chalong Pier has injured two boat staff while the bottom of the boat has also been damaged. At about 4 pm yesterday (November 21), Chalong police got a report about an explosion and blaze near Chalong Pier. At the scene police found a 2 outboard engine speedboat docked at the port…
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Wednesday Morning Briefing – everything you need to know in 3 minutes
How many methamphetamine tablets!? PHOTO: The Nation The Kathu Police Station Superintendent is heading to Patong to be the acting Patong Police Station Superintendent. This follows the transfer of several officers over the ongoing bribe scandal including former Patong Superintendent, Pol. Col. Tassanai Oladirek. Pol. Col. M.L. Pattanachak Chakrabhan will move from Kathu Police Station to be acting Patong Police…
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Kathu Police Chief to move in as Acting-Chief of Patong Police
Today (November 21), Phuket Provincial Police Commander, Pol. Maj. Gen. Teerapol Thipcharoen, signed the approval for the Kathu Police Station Superintendent to be acting Patong Police Station Superintendent. This follows the transfer of several officers over the ongoing bribe scandal including former Patong Superintendent, Pol. Col. Tassanai Oladirek. Pol. Col. M.L. Pattanachak Chakrabhan will move from Kathu Police Station to…
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Blaze in Krabi’s famous nightclub
A famous nightclub in Krabi, the “Number One”, caught fire early this morning (November 21) at about 5.30 am. Luckily, the club was closed at the time and nobody was at the scene. The fire started in the DJ booth before expanding to the walls and the air-conditioned vents. It took firefighters about 20 minutes to extinguish the blaze. The…
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THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, November 21
Stabbings in Thalang and Phuket Town | US 7th Fleet Admiral and Thai PM attend Sail Past in Pattaya | 20 escape from Songkhla detention | ‘Spotlight Phuket’ dumps the dirt on Patong corruption | MRT Blue Line in BKK ditches passenger seats.
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Widespread graft exposed in Phuket police case
In the wake of the corruption investigation focusing on Phuket police, academics and stakeholders told a seminar held by the watchdog Police Watch that business operators on the island face police extortion worth millions of baht per month. The seminar was held at the Thai Journalists Association in Bangkok on Sunday. Thammarat Suwanphosri, founder and administrator of the “Spotlight Phuket”…
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Pattani man kills his girlfriend, stabs her brother, then jumps off Khao Rang viewpoint
29 year old Peeya Payae is under arrest at Vachira Hospital today, after allegedly killing his girlfriend by stabbing her in the head and then stabbing her brother before jumping off Khao Rang Viewpoint in an attempted suicide. Police found 30 year old Anusara Musoh with severe wounds on the back of her head inside the room where she lived…
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Two stabbings in Thalang
Police have arrested two suspects in Thalang; one is a Myanmar worker who allegedly stabbed his employer to death and another one is a husband who allegedly stabbed his wife. At a media conference today (November 20), police revealed information about the two murder cases. In the first case, police have arrested a Myanmar worker, May, who works at a…
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Mercedes Benz unveils its latest hot wheels for Thailand
Officially has introduced the two models that will be showcased at the Mercedes-Benz booth at the Motor Expo at the end of this month in Bangkok. Prices start at 17.4 million Boat for the 585-horsepower GT R, dubbed “Best of Green Hell” due to its outstanding performance at the Nurburgring, and 16.8 million Baht for the 558hp GT C, which…
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Marine and Coastal Resources check for protected shark meat in Karon
Officers from the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Area 9 Phuket Office visited a Karon restaurant after a picture of them selling shark meat had gone viral on social media. The team visited the avenue on November 19 but couldn’t find sharks being sold as in the pictures. The shop owner, Narongchai Thanataweesakul, told the investigating team that the…
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Familiar faces take honours in the Phuket Triathlon
PHOTO: Facebook/Laguna Phuket Triathlon Firm favourites Michael Raelert of Germany and Amelia Watkinson of New Zealand successfully retained their titles in contrasting fashions in the Laguna Phuket Triathlon yesterday. 37 year old Raelert came from behind in the swim to stay neck and neck with arch-rival Anthony Costes of France in the concluding run before speeding up at the end…
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