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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 Why 8 Atelier Residence is poised for growth: Phuket’s investment hotspot in the making
Phuket’s residential real estate market is no longer defined only by beachfront villas and short-stay resort condominiums. The island is now seeing sustained interest from international investors targeting long-term yields, capital stability, and access to full-scale lifestyle infrastructure. Looking at...
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Beachgoers banned from swimming at Phuket beaches until crocodile is caught
Swimmers have been banned on all beaches in Phuket while the crocodile hunting operation is still in operation. Phuket is preparing to announce urgent crocodile registration measures in order to keep track of all known crocodiles in the area in accordance with the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act. Governor Norraphat Plodthong says, “We are preparing to announce registration for all…
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Driver drops dead at petrol station in Nakhon Pathom
The driver of a 22-wheel trailer truck fell dead from his truck after he stopped to get petrol this morning (Tuesday) in Nakhon Pathom, west of Bangkok. Police were alerted at 7am of the incident at the NGV station on Malai Road. The Nation reports that 46 year old Picket Jailuen was transporting construction sand from Tambon Prong Madua in…
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Australia awards highest honours to Tham Luang cave rescuers
PHOTOS: Tim Shaw, 2CC Australian members of the Tham Luang cave rescue team, including Dr Richard Harris and Craig Challen, have been congratulated by the Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull after receiving the Order of Australia and the Star of Courage at a function at Government House in the Australian capital Canberra today. Cave diving medical specialists, Richard Harris and…
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Marine talkfest to ensure better marine safety in Phuket
A meeting was held this morning (July 23) at the Chalong Pier. The meeting was led by Navy chief of staff Admiral Pichet Tannaset who was determined to follow through with measures that would ensure marine safety – better controlling tour boats in Phuket in order to prevent marine accidents. Admiral Pichet says, “We don’t have direct power to enforce…
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The Mu Pa 13, minus one, attend blessing ceremony before becoming novice monks
PHOTOS: The Nation Eleven of the Mu Pa football team rescued from the Chiang Rai cave in Mai Sai, along with their assistant coach, participated in a Buddhist ritual this morning (Tuesday) in more carefully stage managed media appearances in the aftermath of the rescue. The ceremony honours the cave’s resident Phra That Doi Wao spirit. This afternoon they will have…
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Tiger Cave Temple monkeys getting sterilised in Krabi
Monkeys living around the famous Tiger Cave Temple are being sterilised in the first step in monkey birth control in Krabi where more than 1,000 monkeys are getting into trouble with tourists and locals as their populations swell. Chief of the Krabi Office of Natural and Environment Resources Chalermpan Yinjaroen says, “These monkeys were caught on July 21-22 for sterilisation.…
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Father and mother found in Trang murder-suicide
Two Trang parents dropped their children off with a relative and then drove away. Not long after police found the two dead in an apparent murder-suicide. TNA reports that two were allegedly arguing over extra-marital relationships and jealousies. They left the children with an older sister while they drove off to sort out their differences. Police from the Huay Yort station…
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Khao San road market make-over set for August 1
“Khao San Road and its surrounding area is an accident waiting to happen.” This scary outlook from the deputy governor of Bangkok. He says that the area is so cluttered with vendors, pathway stores, market stalls and alcohol shops that emergency vehicles would find it difficult to gain access if any emergency were to occur. A meeting was held on Monday…
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Tourism operators suggest visa-fee waiver to counter cancelled bookings
As the cancellations of accommodation and tour bookings from Chinese tourists continue to rack up, local tourism operators are urging the Government to be pro-active in trying to restore confidence. Vichit Prakobkosol, the President of the Association of Thai Travel Agents is calling for the Thai government to waive visa fees in a bid to lure back the Chinese tourists.…
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Three arrested with 12,000 methamphetamine pills at checkpoint
Tha Chatchai Police have been conducting their latest crackdown on drugs at the Phuket Checkpoint and scored another major haul, arresting two men and one woman with 12,000 methamphetamine pills yesterday (July 23). The police arrested 36 year old Pratueang ‘Bang Hed’ Kanuengkarn, a 39 year old woman Saitip ‘Mae’ Boonjan – both are from Phuket – and 27 year…
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Criminal Court spokesman explains why alleged knifeman was acquitted
Following yesterday’s sad epilogue to a court case, where the father of a murdered son jumped out of the window of the Criminal Court because the suspect was acquitted, a spokesperson has made a statement about the case. The court of justice tried has sought to clarify why the Criminal Court ordered the acquittal of the defendant in a murder…
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Crocodile hunters move to Paradise and Patong beaches
Phuket’s elusive west-coast crocodile was last seen last night (July 23) at Tri Trang Beach. Today, crocodile hunters are focussing their attention around the waters of Paradise and Patong Beach where the crocodile is believed to be heading. Yesterday morning (July 23) the crocodile appeared off Tritrang Beach in Patong Bay. Locals say that they spotted the crocodile of Tritrang Beach…
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Should Phuket’s beaches be closed until the crocodile is captured?
The crocodile’s location, search and capture attempts appear to be completely random and uncoordinated. Daren Jenner from the International Surf Life Saving Association says Phuket’s west coast beaches should be closed until it’s captured. Tim Newton reports… https://www.facebook.com/thethaigernews/videos/1801892163221937/
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A man was fished out of the Surin Beach surf today – whilst on-duty lifesavers watched
PHOTOS: Pavida Anantarasmi Witnesses at Surin Beach today watched in bemused confusion when a man, who was in difficulty whilst swimming off Surin Beach today, was helped back to shore. But not by one of the lifeguards on duty at the beach who stood at the shore and watched the rescue take place. The incident happened around 11am when a…
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Thai and foreign media warned off Mu Pa 13
“Stay away.” That’s the warning issued by the public relations office of Chiang Rai province after a correspondent of America’s ABC News conducted an interview with the youngest of the survivors from Tham Luang cave in defiance of advice of psychiatrists and child welfare officials. The film crew also visited the church for 14 year old Adul Sam-on where church…
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Malaysian Mahathir government to look at reducing voting age to 18 from 21
Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, Malaysia’s Youth and Sports Minister and the youngest ever minister, says the Malaysian government is planning to reduce the voting age from 21 to 18 before the next elections in 2023. In an interview with Bloomberg in KL, the 25 year old Cabinet member said the government would ask the Attorney-General’s Office to look into…
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Thailand’s Rabies death toll up to 14 this year
The death of a 19 year old in Buri Ram, to the east of Bangkok on the Cambodian border, and a 55 year old in Rayong, east of Pattaya, has raised the death toll in Thailand as a result of Rabies this year to 14. Both deaths occurred over the past two weeks. Dr Suwannachai Watanayingcharoen, director general of the Disease…
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74 year old British man dies after alleged row with ‘toy boy’ lover
PHOTO: Silom City Resort “Naked Brit businessman dead in his apartment in a pool of blood after ‘row’ with his Thai toy boy lover.” A headline that leaves little else to report. This one a sad story as reported by Murdoch’s ‘The Sun’ in the UK. A naked British businessman has been found dead in a pool of blood after a…
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Seven arrested over a 300 kilogram ‘ice’ shipment in Chiang Rai
Chiang Rai is in the news for a different reason this morning after six adults and a 15 year old have been arrested over a drug bust in Chiang Rai early today (Monday). The Nation reports that most of the group were riding in a suspected “spotter” car ahead of a a truck full of crystal methamphetamine, aka ‘ice’. Fourteen…
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‘Italian chef’ arrested for arson in Hua Hin
A Facebook post reports of an arrest of a local Italian chef who is wanted for arson in Hua Hin. Local Police issued the warrant on Sunday according to local journalist Kulsawek Sawekwannakorn who said the alleged crime took place five days ago in the seaside town in Prachuap Khiri Khan. Kulsawek claims on his Facebook page that the unnamed chef…
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Soldiers water down protest plans ahead of PMs north-eastern visit
Police visited the home of an Ubon Ratchathani academic over the weekend to ask that he and university students refrain from engaging in protests when PM Gen. Prayuth Chan-o-cha visits the north-eastern province over the next few days. Khaosod English reports that police officers went to the university lecturer Teerapon Anmai’s home and asked him not to make any political…
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Four Dubai tourists pulled out of the Nai Harn surf
Four male tourists were dragged from the surf off Nai Harn beach after getting into difficulty in waves last night (July 22). Nai Harn lifeguards rescued four Dubai male tourists at 7pm last night (Sunday). The head of Nai Harn Lifeguards, Jula Nontree, says, “The incident happened at 7pm (just after sunset) after we had finished our official working hours…
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Phuket’s crocodile arrives at Patong bay
Our latest crocodile update reports that it was last seen his morning (July 23) off Tritrang Beach in Patong Bay. Locals say that they have spotted the crocodile of Tritrang Beach at 9.15am. Karon Deputy Mayor says, “Last night we didn’t see the crocodile. It was last seen in the waters off Karon Beach near the Karon roundabout at 5.30pm yesterday…
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Pattaya’s “sex gurus” ordered to remain in detention as they continue fight
Ten Russian self-appraised ‘sex gurus’ at the centre of a sex-techniques course held in Pattaya in February have been ordered to remain in detention by the Pattaya Court. The Thai News Agency are reporting that eight of the ten involved in offering the course appeared in court at the end of last week. The Court asked if they admitted their crimes…
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Search for Phuket’s elusive reptile continues – Crocodile sightings off Karon Beach
A “crocodile catching operation centre” has been set up at Karon Beach on Phuket while the professional crocodile catchers from Surat Thani are still battling with strong winds and waves to find the elusive reptile. Beachgoers have been walking along the beach instead of being allowed to go into the water. The crocodile was last officially seen early yesterday morning…
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Teacher hangs herself ‘to atone for sins of previous life’
A 40 year old has been found dead, hanged in an apparent suicide at her parents’ home in Suphan Buri province, north west of Bangkok, yesterday. The former contract teacher had claimed to have memories of her previous life as a soldier who had taken many lives. The suicide report of Somkid Ridkanto in Tambon Sa Kaew, Muang district said she had…
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Rights groups call for laws to stop child marriages
“This isn’t just a marriage, but may be child abuse.” Defenders of Thailand’s children are calling for legal actions and amendments to laws to tackle the increasing number of “premature” marriages throughout the country. Activists say that such marriages harm the children. The comments follow the controversy of a 44 year old Malaysian man who ‘married’ an 11 year old…
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Same-sex civil union bill ready for Cabinet in two months
A same-sex civil partnership law should be drafted and discussed before next year’s elections. Pitikarn Sitthidech, the Rights and Liberties Protection Department chief, saystThe law, allowing same-sex couples to formally register as life partners, should be drafted by September. It would then be submitted to Deputy PM and Justice Minister ACM Prajin Juntong, who would decide whether it should go to…
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Floods continue to cause havoc in the north, west and central
Floods are causing havoc across swathes of provinces across Thailand. From the north in Chiang Mai, to the west in Kanchanaburi and as far south as Prachuap Khiri Khan and Ranong. The Thai Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation chief says that the flooding has been triggered by tropical storm Son-Tinh which still sits over Laos, so far affecting 13 Thai…
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Global Green Hotel Report – the third annual edition launched
by Bill Barnett of c9hotelworks.com The Green Lodging Trends Report 2018 (the third annual report) has been launched and will remain open until August 10, 2018. To participate, which is free, hotels need to sign up using the link HERE. Given the current influx of tourism to Phuket and all resort markets across Southeast Asia, this is a invaluable tool…
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