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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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Wild Boars to head home this Thursday
The Public Health Minister Dr Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn visited the young footballers at the Chiangrai Prachanukroh Hospital this morning (Saturday) after their rescue from the flooded Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai province as the world watched. The 12 Mu Pa Academy footballers and their coach are to be discharged from hospital next Thursday, Dr Piyasakol announced. Public Health Minister Dr Piyasakol…
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Vaping pilot causes 737 to plunge 6,000 metres
A vaping co-pilot in the cockpit of an Air China flight has caused the plane to plunge 6,000 meters (19,600 feet) after mistakenly flicking the wrong switch. A senior official from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) told reporters Friday that, without notifying the pilot, the unnamed co-pilot was trying to turn off air recycling fans to prevent the…
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Busan, South Korea – Best Destination in Asia, according to Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet have announced their Top Ten Asian destinations for 2018. Only one entry for Thailand – Chiang Mai. The South Korean portside city of Busan has won the top gong as the best destination in Asia 2018 by the influential travel blog. Busan is described as a “confluence of scenery, culture and cuisine.” It’s long been domestically lauded as…
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Injured Phuket monkey captured after swimming around Ao Po marina
A monkey which was found injured in Ao Po, on the north-east coast of Phuket, is now recovering and getting veterinary attention. It was found at the Ao Po Grand Marina. The Wildlife Animal Rescue Foundation of Thailand was notified last week about the monkey which some of the staff at the Ao Po marina believed had swam back from Koh…
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Tenth Multihull Solutions Regatta gets underway
Day one in the 10th Multihull Solutions Regatta saw fifteen boats divided into four classes compete off the shores of host organizer Phuket Yacht Club in Chalong Bay in the ‘Boat Lagoon’ Race Day. Before the regatta started, Multihull Solutions’ Andrew de Bruin said, “We are back for the 5th year as title sponsors to the Phuket Yacht…
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Authorities battle to contain the fallout of ‘Phoenix’ disaster
“…hotel bookings in Phuket by Chinese tourists in the next two months had shrunk by up to 70 percent.” Chinese tourists are cancelling Phuket hotel bookings, unnerving Thai authorities and tourism-related business who are scrambling to raise the image of the island’s battered safety reputation. The cancellations are coming mostly from the tour company businesses based in China whilst the FIT…
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Chiang Rai: Mu Pa team speak of their ordeal
As the team continues to recover in the Chiang Rai Prachanukro Hospital, the parents and guardians are now being given time with they kids. Here are some of the first details to emerge from some of the team members, as reported by Marisa Chimprabha… Chanin ‘Titan’ Wibulrungrueng Chanin Wibulrungrueng, one of the 13 Mu Pa Academy football club members who were…
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Chiang Rai: Mission Possible explained
by Pradit Phulsarikij – Nation Graphics As details emerge about the 17 day mission to find and extract the 13 members of the Mu Pa Football Academy from the Tham Luang caves in Chiang Rai, The Nation has put together an excellent infographic explaining many of the challenges that confronted some of the world’s diving experts. Click on the infographic for…
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Cathay Pacific brings the first A350-1000 to Suvarnabhumi
Cathay Pacific is the first airline to land an Airbus A350-1000 in Thailand and was congratulated by Airports of Thailand (AoT) deputy vice president Kanogwan Kasetsin and customer relations director Anussara Mongsup. Cathay Pacific’s A350-1000, the largest variant in the A350 family, carries 334 passengers in first, business and economy classes. Staff of Cathay Pacific, led by Kendrick Ko, country manager…
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“Massive, massive relief” – Diver Richard Stanton speaks
“The mission was an order of difficulty much higher than anything that’s been accomplished anywhere around the world by any other cave diving team.” The British diver who found 12 Thai boys and their coach trapped alive in a flooded cave has described his “massive relief” as he counted them one by one, in what he called an unprecedented rescue…
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Arrest warrant to be issued for the owner of ‘Phoenix’
Deputy Commander of the Royal Thai Police, Gen Sriwara Rangsiphramnakul, is urging police investigators to push on in the possible case against the owner of ‘Phoenix’ in order to request an arrest warrant as soon as possible. In the latest revelation, 27 passengers on the boat were found not to wearing life jackets at the time of the sinking. Gen Sriwara flew down from…
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German overstayed visa for nine years – another 56 arrested in crackdown
A nine year overstayer, 41 unlawful entrantss and 56 arrested – just another week for the regular crackdown by ‘Big Joke’ and his team. ‘Big Joke’ is the nickname for the police crime-killer, Pol Maj Gen Surachet Hakpal – deputy tourist police chief, who has been leading the way with the country’s main crackdowns and criminal investigations, including the boat…
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Up close and personal – team continues to recover
The 13 footballers rescued from a flooded cave in Chiang Rai province continue to recover under the supervision of staff at the Chiangrai Prachanukroh Hospital. Relatives have even been up to visit them and be with them. The Public Health Ministry inspector-general Dr Thongchai Lertwilairattapong gave the latest report card on the group’s recovery this morning (Friday). He reports that the…
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Pattaya: Crackdown on street racers nets 203 arrests
Nearly 200 motorbikes and as many people have been arrested in a crackdown on racing in areas around Pattaya. Regional police arrested more than 200 people for racing or selling parts for modified motorcycles in a province-wide sweep. Police announced that 186 motorcycles had been seized and 203 people arrested at a news conference at Bali Hai Pier. Police say the coordinated…
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Koh Phangan: Woman arrested as she gets off ferry with 320,000 baht of ‘ice’
Police in Koh Phangan have arrested a Thai woman after a tip off, as she was getting off the Don Sak ferry when it arrived at Koh Phangan. She was found with two condoms full of crystal methamphetamine stuffed into her vagina. The drugs weighed 104 grams and had an estimated street value around 320,000 baht. According to Sanook, she told…
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Chiang Mai: Don’t feed the pigeons
Chiang Mai City Life is reporting that the Public Health Office is warning travellers and locals not to feed the pigeons at Tha Pae Gate. This isn’t the first time tourists have been warned. As the number of pigeons at Tha Pae Gate increases officials are concerned about health and hygiene issues. A report has been released again in an…
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64 million baht approved for boat tragedy compensation
The Tourist Assistance Fund has approved about 64 million baht compensation for boats victims. One million baht is being paid as compensation for the deceased. Including the boat company’s insurance, 2.1 million baht will be paid out to the families or estates for each of the deaths following last week’s boat tragedy. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism…
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National: VIP treatment for foreign rescuers
Rescuers, who have the time to stay in Thailand, are being given free tours and extra privileges in thanks for their dedication and persistence over the past two weeks in the Tham Luang cave search and rescue mission. For the ones that must return home now, they’ve been offered free tickets and five-year visa free travel. The government is offering them a free-of-charge…
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Three of the Tham Luang cavers are stateless
By Pratch Rujivanarom When three of the Mu Pa footballers were rushed to the Chiang Rai hospital after their rescue, they couldn’t check in as Thai citizens, or as citizens of any country for that matter. They are stateless – no passports, no ‘home country’, no ID. The lack of Thai citizenship the three youth footballers highlights the hidden problems…
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15% of Phuket’s advanced bookings cancelled
About 15% of advance bookings have been cancelled in the past week in the wake of the boat capsize 8 days ago. Chinese tourists are voting with their bookings citing a loss of confidence in Phuket marine safety, and safety generally. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports Pongpanu Svetarundra says, “Chinese tourists are Thailand’s most important…
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Bangkok: Police retrieve 300,000 baht left in taxi
Thai Rath have our ‘honest taxi driver’ story of the week. The quick actions of officers at the Sutthisan police station in Bangkok has enabled the return of ten million won (or 300,000 baht) that a university student left in the back of a cab. Theta driver has also been praised for his role. 23 year old Pinchaya “Am” Phromrat, a…
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Comment: They’re out. Now what? The future for Mu Pa football team members.
by Tim Newton They’re out. Now what for the 13 young men from Mae Sai? They entered the Tham Luang caves on June 23 along with their 25 year old coach, Ekkapol on a benign post-practice trip to the nearby caves. The y’d been there before. Except for their families, guardians and school friends, they were basically unknown to anyone…
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Kamala man streams live video of his suicide
A man shot himself, killing him instantly, while on a Facebook live video stream inside a bedroom in Kamala earlier today (Thursday). Kamala Police were notified that the man had shot himself at a house in Soi Bang Wan in Kamala. Police and rescue workers arrived at the scene to find the body of a man who was later identified…
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Chiang Mai: 30 year old admits to raping 74 year old
Sanook is reporting that a 30 year old Thai man has told police he raped and robbed a 74 year old Chiang Mai woman because his wife was pregnant and he couldn’t have sex with her. He also claimed that he was drunk. The rapist, who already has priors and previous jail time for assault and robbery, had been in charge…
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Divers recovering the last body from ‘Phoenix’
A body, a passenger on ‘Phoenix’ when the boat sank last Thursday and found stuck and unable to be removed by divers, is hopefully going to be recovered today. The task to recover the last body inside the boat started early this morning. On a separate search, one male body was found yesterday (July 11) near Phi Phi Island in…
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Phetchaburi: Kalasin man arrested for alleged rape of a five year old, ten years ago
File photo The Nation is reporting that a Kalasin 39 tear old man has been arrested in Phetchaburi this morning while on the run. He has been arrested over allegations relating to the rape of a five year old girl in Bangkok 10 years ago. 39 year old Sa-nguan Kisarung from Kalasin, was arrested at his rented room in Tambon…
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Thai Navy SEAL video reveals rescue method
In the days leading up to the eventual evacuation of the Mu Pa team members from Tham Luang caves we were told that the teenagers were being taught to swim and dive in preparation for their arduous trek out of the cave, much of it underwater. This was reported by The Thaiger as well. Following the release of a Thai…
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Mercedes Benz driver lucky to escape burning car
A Mercedes Benz driver has escaped serious injury after the vehicle he was travelling in caught fire in Mai Khao last night (July 12). Tha Chatchai Police were notified of the boring car on Thepkrasattri Road, northbound, at 11.40pm. Firefighters, along with two fire trucks and the Tha Chatchai Police, arrived at the scene to find a Mercedes Benz ablaze.…
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40 tourists, 3 boat crew safely back from Koh Racha
Phuket Marine Officers were called yesterday to bring 40 tourists back to the Phuket Deep Sea Port following another day of strong winds and high seas. At 10am yesterday (July 11) officers from the Phuket Marine Office headed to Ao Tue at Koh Racha Yai to bring 40 tourist and five boat crew back to the Phuket Deep Sea Port…
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‘Phoenix’ to be salvaged as important evidence
The ‘Phoenix’ is to be salvaged in order to help find the one remaining missing passenger as well as another body which has been stuck in the boat, unable to be recovered by divers. The boat is to be salvaged from its current location 45 metres underwater, south-west of Phuket island. The marine Department Region 3 Chief Puripat Teerakulapisut says,…
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