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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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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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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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Pattaya taxis demanding 100 baht flag fall – three times more than Bangkok
Pattaya taxi drivers are trying to make a deal with authorities. They’ll use their taxi meters IF authorities increase the flag fall for taxi trips to 100 baht. Pattaya taxi operators met yesterday (Monday) to decide that 100 baht is an appropriate flag fall for the first two kilometres of any journey. The cost after the first 2 kilometres would…
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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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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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Joint Thai/Chinese crime bust nets 34 suspects in call-centre and online gambling gangs
The arrest of 34 suspects in major call centre scams and online gambling were announced yesterday. With cooperation from Chinese police, Thai officers checked 14 locations in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Chon Buri and Phuket on July 19 to make the arrests. The stings netted 34 suspects, including 26 Chinese nationals. The arrests were announced yesterday at a press conference at the Royal Thai…
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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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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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Bangkok father jumps to his death after acquittal of suspect in his son’s murder
A tragic story from the Bangkok Criminal Court today where it’s emerged that a man has jumped to his death after witnessing the acquittal of the suspect in his son’s murder. The man jumped from the sixth floor of the court building at 10am. Supachai Kanlahasunthorn came to the court at 9am to hear the verdict in the trial of…
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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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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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36 suspected drug users nabbed in Pattaya club raid
Police and Pattaya officials have raided a Pattaya club early this morning (Monday) and identified 36 customers who allegedly tested positive to illicit drug use. The assistant Bang Lamung district chief led the raid on JT Club Karaoke in Tambon Nong Plue, Pattaya, at 3.30am. Officials are reported to have found 150 customers dancing, even though the legal closing time is…
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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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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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New tropical storm warning for north and north-east until Tuesday
The Thai Meteorological Department have issued another warning for people in the north and in north-east of the country to brace for intense rains or heavy rains in some areas, today and Tuesday due to another tropical depression. The depression is situated in the Bay of Tonkin, near Hainan Island heading towards the Chinese mainland and Vietnamese coast. It was…
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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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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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Body of Phuket jet-ski staffer found in Phang Nga Bay
The body of the jet-ski staffer who disappeared in a Phuket storm around the Naka Island area last Tuesday (July 17) was found today (July 22) in Phang Nga Bay. A staff member of a jet ski business disappeared after he was hit by a wave near Koh Naka, off Ao Po in Pa Khlok at 3pm on Tuesday. Read the…
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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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Going north – Elusive Phuket crocodile avoids capture again
Phuket’s latest elusive crocodile escaped catch this morning off Karon Beach. It was first sighted off Yanui and Nai Harn beaches from Wednesday this week when a fisherman said it tried to chase him. Since then the crocodile has been taunting officials and professional crocodile catchers and making a slow track north long the island’s west coach beaches – yesterday…
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Boeing says Asian region biggest growth area for aviation in next two decades
By Data Leads. PHOTO: Thai Airways Boeing 787 Asian countries are estimated to require 16,930 more airplanes by 2037, making the region the fastest growing aviation area in the world. Boeing’s annual forecast, the Commercial Market Outlook, reveals that the world fleet of jet planes would need 42, 370 new planes valued at US$6.3 trillion. The forecast predicts that the global…
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