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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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Chiang Mai: Tomato truck overshoots corner in Hod district
Chiang Mai City News is reporting that a pick up delivery truck, loaded up with tomatoes for the market has over-shot a curve in the Hod District, Chaing Mai and ended up right next to a police box. Around 10pm on June 28 the incident occurred in Hod near the Tesco Lotus on the main road. A pickup truck was…
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Chiang Rai: Border patrol policemen searching cave shafts today
Officials resumed the search operations for the 13 missing footballers in Chiang Rai’s Tham Luang Cave at 7am. Forestry officials, Disaster Prevention and Mitigation officials, border patrol policemen and officials from other agencies started preparing equipment and foods to survey shafts leading to the cave. Some prepared equipment to climb down a 40 metre deep shaft after they climbed down…
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Bangkok: AMLO seizes bank accounts worth 134 million baht
The Anti-Money Laundering Office has sequestered about 134 million baht in bank accounts of four former senior monks implicated in the temple fund embezzlement scandal. Thai PBS is reporting that, according to the AMLO website, the seized cash deposits and bank accounts included: seven bank accounts worth 132 million baht of Phra Phrommasith, former abbot of Wat Saket; one bank…
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Bangkok: PM calls for support in Government reform agenda
The National News Bureau of Thailand reports that the PM is calling for younger Thais to be sympathetic towards the government’s efforts to implement structural reforms. PM Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha called for the support during a speech to youth participants in the Tree of Love music contest. He said that his administration has come up with a national strategy to…
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Accessing from above. Scientists add their knowledge to the search.
By Pratch Rujivanarom in Chiang Rai Academics, experts in the local geography and local people are pitching in to provide scientific data about the Tham Luang cave network. This local intel will support the official rescue mission for the youth football team believed trapped inside. Those working on the rescue speak of a tough operation, a battle against nature, in…
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Four more tourists caught climbing Krabi’s crabs again
Foreign tourists have again been caught climbing all over a Krabi landmark – the Mud Crab Sculpture. A Facebook user ‘Panisa Laelem’ on Wednesday (June 27) posted a PICTURE on her personal Facebook with the message… “I have just seen the news yesterday… Four more tourists climbing on the sculpture. Today I see with my own eyes… four foreign tourists.…
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Update: Chiang Rai search delves deeper into the caves
PHOTO: The Nation In the sixth day of the operation to rescue the 12 young footballers and their coach trapped in Tham Luang cave. Authorities have mobilised all their resources to reach them with the help of rescue teams from several countries, some specialist cave divers, but have face difficult conditions, rough terrains and poor weather. The Chiang Rai governor…
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Emergency crews battle airport fire during drill
Phuket International Airport emergency crews battled fires near the main runway today (June 29). Firefighters and rescue workers were deployed on the tarmac as part of regular drills aimed at improving response times and emergency response efficiency. This is the third such drill at the airport this year. Observing officials reported that the emergency crews were timely and effective in…
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Chiang Rai: Survival boxes being dropped into cave openings
As rescuers use heavy-duty drilling equipment to drill into the roof of some of the Tham Luang caves where the missing 13 are thought to be stranded, officials are sending in food and survival boxes into the flooded waterways coursing through the tunnels. The Nation is reporting that officials are dropping dozens of plastic boxes containing food, maps and mobile phones…
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Bali: Thousands stranded as Mount Agung erupts again
PHOTO: merdeka.com Sitting in the KLIA Terminal in Kuala Lumpur, the announcement comes over the PA. “Passengers are advised that the fight from KL to Bali has been cancelled.” This is why. Thousands of tourists are now stranded as the international airport closes following more eruptions from Mount Agung. People on the island report a thick plume of ash and…
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Four arrested for cable theft in Krabi
Krabi police yesterday (June 28) have arrested two men and two women for stealing communication cabling. They say that they are having to steal cabling as the rubber price is too low. The two men work as rubber tappers from the south. Krabi City Police arrested the four thieves – 38 year old Chartchai Sittidamrong, 27 year old Boonpitak Coonrueang,…
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Chiang Rai: Thai PM visits Chiang Rai search site
PHOTO: Thai PBS The Thai PM has been visiting the search site at the Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district today. He’s offered hope to the families of the 12 teenage footballers and their coach saying that they will all survive the ordeal as search reaches its sixth day. The PM arrived at Tham Luang-Khunnam Nangnon national park this…
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Midnight shootout in Bangkok lands drug suspect in hospital
A drug suspect has been severely injured in a gunfight with police in Bang Khen district, north of the Bangkok city centre, early this morning. 33 year old Atthapol Phosuwan from Nakhon Sawan was shot in his left cheek, right thigh and right calf . He was apprehended and rushed to Bhumibol Hospital. A team of motorcycle patrol policemen from Bang…
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Six metre, duck-eating python caught at a Krabi gas station
Krabi rescue workers yesterday (June 28) caught a six metre long python at a petrol station after the reptile had eaten a duck. Three rescue workers from Krabi Pitak Pracha Foundation, along with a plucky local, took about 20 minutes to catch the python which weighed 56 kilograms at a gas station in Thab Prik. Head of snake catcher team…
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Tobacco farmers rally at Chiang Mai city hall
Chiang Mai City Life is reporting that tobacco farmers have filed a petition after the Thai Tobacco Authority announced it will cease all purchasing for three years. On June 28 over 300 tobacco farmers and entrepreneurs rallied at the Chiang Mai City Hall to file a petition to the Ministry of Finance regarding an announcement by the Government that the…
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Plans for Phuket pork factory changed to ‘refrigeration and storage facility’
The plans to construct a pork processing factory in Mai Khao have been changed to a refrigeration and storage facility after a three hour discussion yesterday (June 28). Locals in Mai Khao are protesting against the company who was planning to construct a pork processing factory in the north section of Phuket island. Locals at Baan Dan Yid and Baan Dan…
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Government fast-tracking Riviera Project to promote southern coastal provinces
PHOTO: Travel notes The provinces of Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon and Ranong will be upgraded under the “Thailand Riviera” scheme to tap their full potential for natural, cultural, historical, gastronomic, sports and community-based tourism. This is the latest grand plan prepared by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will spearhead the marketing push…
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Chinese tourist drowns at Karon beach
A Chinese tourist who ignored the red flags and warnings from lifeguards earlier, has drowned at Karon Beach today (June 28). Karon lifeguards were notified by a beach vendor that a Chinese male had been hit by a big wave in front of the Karon football field, and disappeared in the surf. Karon lifeguards rushed to the scene where red…
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Thai man arrested in dodgy holiday scam
The Nation is reporting that 38 year old Suthathep Rakchart has been arrested under two warrants issued by the Ayutthaya Court on June 26 and Sukhothai Court on June 27. He’s been arrested on charges of public defrauding. Tourist police have arrested him for allegedly deceiving at least 135 Thai tourists to transfer him 1.5 million baht to pay for trips…
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Krabi FC sport scientist fired after carrying kratom on domestic flight
A sport scientist from the Krabi FC football association has been fired from the job after he was found with kratom at an airport on Tuesday (June 26). Police at Don Mueang International Airport arrester 26 year old Teerayut Santiwong who was working as a sport scientist for the Krabi FC football team. He was found with 4 green tea…
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Police hunt for Krabi TV thief
Krabi police are on the hunt for a thief who stole a 39 inch TV from a buffet restaurant in Krabi on Tuesday (June 26). The Police were notified of the thief who stole the television from the restaurant on Pisanpop Road in Krabi City. The Police and Forensic Police arrived at the restaurant to find 37 year old Sarawut Poomipak,…
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Malaysia: Biggest seizure in history – New Straits Times
PHOTO: New Straits Times “Items included 423 watches worth 78 million Malaysian Ringit, including the most expensive one, a Rolex Paul Newman Daytona worth about 3.5 million Ringit. (1 Malaysian Ringit = ~8 Thai Baht) PBS English is reporting that up to 1.1 billion Malaysian Ringit (about 9 billion baht) worth of cash, jewellery, luxury handbags and watches, as well…
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Chiang Rai: 650 personnel now involved in the search
PHOTOS: The Nation The cave search party grows after another night of rain. Police sniffer dogs have now joined the rescue workers and Border Patrol police looking for access ways to the cave from the mountaintop above. The number of personnel and sniffer dogs involved in the search has reached 650. The search for 12 young footballers and their assistant…
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US teacher, accused of student rape in 1982, extradited from Thailand after 36 years on the run
PHOTO: Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger Former Milton Academy theater program director Reynold Buono appeared in Dedham Superior Court on Wednesday. Buono pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape of a child and three counts of rape of a child with force. The Boston Globe is reporting that 72 year old Reynold Buono, a former drama teacher at Milton Academy…
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Malaysia: Chinese tourists fined for dancing in front of Kota Kinabalu mosque
PHOTO: Facebook/Sabah Info Dancing on crab sculptures, dancing in front of mosques. Chinese will do anything for THAT selfie. Channel News Asia have reported that two Chinese tourists, caught on video dancing in front of a mosque in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, were fined RM25 (200 baht) each. Dance coaches 27 year old Wan Han and 25 year old Zhang Na committed the offence…
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Chiang Rai: UK cave-diving experts get to work. US providing rescue equipment.
International experts have arrived in the last 24 hours to add to the level of expertise as every effort continues to be made to rescue 12 young footballers and their deputy coach trapped for five nights in the Tham Luang Cave in Chiang Rai province. Three cave-diving experts from the UK arrived on the scene yesterday to help locate the…
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Pakistan ambassador shares concerns over safety of Phuket tourists
Phuket Governor Norrapahat Plodthong welcomed the Pakistan Ambassador Designate in Thailand H.E. Asim Iftikhar Ahmad and his delegation to the Phuket City Hall yesterday (June 27). Topics up for discussion included increasing Pakistani tourism to the island and some of the challenges facing them. The ambassador said he was concerned about Pakistani tourist safety and facilities assisting their comfort and…
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Malaysia: Luxury items seized from ex-Malaysian PM Najib’s residences valued at over 10 billion baht
Straitstimes.com is reporting that Items seized from six premises linked to Malaysia’s ousted PM Najib Razak as part of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) probe are valued between RM900 million and RM1.1 billion (nearly 10 billion THB) – making it the biggest seizure the police has ever made in the country’s history. Police’s Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) chief Amar…
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Bangkok: Amnesty International questions Thailand’s commitment to abolish the death penalty
Khaosod English are reporting that Amnesty International Thailand says that it’s unsure whether the government’s fourth national human rights plan will once again commit to abolition as an explicit goal. Uncertainty is looming over Thailand’s commitment to abolish the death penalty in light of massive public support for capital punishment and the recent surprise execution at the Bang Kwan jail in…
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