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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 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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Ex-insurance broker arrested for alleged 10 million baht credit card scam
A 27 year old former insurance broker has been arrested along with information on approximately 20,500 credit-card accounts, some of which Police allege he used to make online purchases. Police estimate the amounts involve more than 10 million baht over recent years. Officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Intelligence Analysis and Special Tools Sub-Division cooperated with Bank of Ayudhya’s investigation and…
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Just one interview – Mu Pa 13 face the media tonight
The 13 members of the Mu Pa Football Academy, now recovered after their rescue from the Tham Luang caves last week, will sit down for a tightly-controlled media conference this evening. “After the media conference, which will also be their last, they will return to their homes and try to live a normal life”, said the new Chiang Rai provincial…
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“Phoenix might have reduced safety standards to save costs” – Surachate Hakparn
In the ongoing investigation into the sinking of ‘Phoenix’, it’s emerged that the boat may have cut back on safety equipment in efforts to save costs. We now know that the ‘Phoenix’ is owned by TC Blue Dream, with 26 year old Thai Woralak Rerkchaikan as its biggest shareholder. She is now in detention after Phuket Provincial Court denied her bail…
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Search for a jet-ski operator missing off Ao Po
A staff member of a jet ski business has disappeared after he was hit by a wave near Koh Naka in Pa Khlok at 3pm yesterday (July 17) while a search continues today (July 19). The Thalang Police were notified that the staff member was hit by a wave while riding on a jet-ski between Koh Naka Yai and Koh…
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Drive-by shooter kills Muslim man riding ‘saleng’ in Pattani
A Muslim pillion rider has died following a shooting in Pattani late last night. Masore Dueha was travelling with is wife in the ‘saleng’ on a main road in Klang Thung Na village in Kolor Tanning, Nong Chik district, Pattani. The man was shot three times in his chest and died at the Yarang district hospital. His wife, Wilailak Yingcharoen, suffered…
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Phuket boat accident “marginally affects tourism” – Tourism Minister
PHOTO: Tourism and Sports Minister, Weerasak Kowsurat walking with British cave diver Charles Harper last week Quoting the National News Bureau of Thailand… “The Tourism and Sports Minister, Weerasak Kowsurat, admitted that the tour boat that capsized off the coast of Phuket province on July 5, resulting in the deaths of 47 Chinese tourists, has caused some people to cancel their…
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Ranong: Nine Pakistanis arrested for overstay on their way to Ranong
Ranong remains a popular visa run location for expats and tourists, a five hour drive north of Phuket. A 30 minute trip across the water to Myanmar and, bingo, new visa stamp. But Daily News is reporting that nine Pakistani nationals have been arrested in Ranong when trying a visa run last week. None of the men told Daily News…
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Pattaya foreigners claim damage caused by next door condo construction
A group of European residents bought houses in Pattaya only for a an unexpected large condominium complex to be built next door. They say they’ve suffered damage to their houses in the construction phase and now claim they can’t even rent out their properties due to the noise. Complaints to the local authority and the police have fallen on deaf ears…
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Three injured in Phuket wedding party fight
Three men have sustained injures after a fight at a wedding party in Koh Sirey early this morning (July 17). The Phuket City Police were notified of the incident at 2am at Baan Laem Tukkae in Koh Sirey. Local residences told police, when they arrived, that the two people injured had already been taken to the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation…
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French tourist says money stolen on Bangkok-Koh Phangan bus
PHOTO: Bangkok-Koh Phangan bus A 23 year old French woman has filed an official complaint with the Surat Thani police. She claims that 350 euros in cash were stolen from her bag aboard a bus from Bangkok to Koh Phangan (part of the journey is a ferry trip to the island). ‘Nadia’ filed the complaint at the Muang Surat Thani…
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Court refused bail for ‘Phoenix’ owner and chief engineer
The ‘Phoenix’ boat captain, chief engineer and boat owner are now in custody at the Phuket Provincial Prison. The Thai ‘owner’ of ‘Phoenix’ remains in custody after she surrendered following the issuing of an arrest warrant over the weekend. Read more HERE. The Chalong Police have already pressed charges of a reckless act causing death, serious injuries, mental and bodily harm…
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The team were ‘heavily sedated’ – Australian diver
PHOTO: thewest.com.au The team of 13 rescued from the Tham Luang caves last week were ‘heavily sedated’ to assist in their successful recovery and to avoid panicking. One of two Australian experts who were with the Mu Pa football team and helped in last week’s rescue from the Tham Luong cave in Chiang Rai says the boys and their coach…
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Patients should find blood pressure medication before ditching recalled drug
About 20,000 people with blood-pressure problems in Thailand rely on the five drugs that the FDA intends to recall over the next two weeks. On the recall list are Valatan 80 drug registration No 1A/54 (NG); Valatan 160 drug registration No 1A 10/54; Valsarin 80 drug registration No 1A 4/60; Valsarin 160 drug registration No 1A 5/60; and Valsarin 320…
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Body of missing fisherman found, following July 5 Phuket storm
The body of a Rawai fisherman was found yesterday (July 16) near Koh Racha. Two local fishermen from Rawai have been missing since heading out fishing on Thursday (July 5), the same day of the boat disaster when two tour boats sank and 47 Chinese tourists drowned, including 16 children. The Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command (NAC3) officers were…
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Phuket man arrested with 20,000 methamphetamine pills
A man has been arrested with methamphetamine pills, crystal methamphetamine, a gun and ammunition. A team of the Border Patrol Police last week arrested 22 year old Tanaset ‘Fluk’ Kraimaneelert at a housing estate in Rassada. Police seized 1.06 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 20,000 methamphetamine pills, a gun and 21 bullets. Tanaset was taken to the Phuket City Police Station and…
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“They’ll grow up to work for country’s benefit” – Dr Pak
“I’m confident that the Mu Pa boys will grow up to be excellent citizens of the country and work for the benefits of the country’s future and reputation,” wrote Dr Pak Loharnchun in a Facebook post. The Army doctor played a leading role in helping the boys. The doctor also posted photos of himself giving the boys goodbye hugs in Chiangrai…
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Thailand says “thank you”
The Thai Government is thanking the world for the international efforts to rescue the Mu Pa football team and their coach after being trapped in the Tham Luang caves. The show of gratitude is a 30-second TV spot which started airing on CNN International over the weekend. It starts with the smartphone video of the young survivors the moment they…
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Unhinged Elon Musk calls cave rescuer a ‘pedo’
A bizarre tirade of Twitter posts from Billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk over the weekend has angered netizens. The genius CEO behind several of America’s most high-profile tech companies Tweeted to his 22 million social media followers on Sunday an unfounded and disparaging claim about an expert caver who criticized a miniature submarine he made. According to CNN, Musk called…
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Chumpon: Policeman shot dead by pick-up driver
The Nation is reporting that a policeman was shot dead in Chumphon province last night after the driver of the car he was in apparently angered a truck driver by cutting in front of him. The shooting occurred at about 11.30pm at the Pathomporn Intersection in Muang district. Police Cpl Phayungsak Maidee, from the province’s narcotics suppression subdivision, was shot…
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Thai owner of ‘Phoenix’ now in custody
The Thai ‘owner’ of ‘Phoenix’ remains in custody after she surrendered following the issuing of an arrest warrant. Arrest warrants for the ‘Phoenix’ owner, 26 year old Woraluck Rueakchaiyakan from Phuket and boat chief engineer, 56 year old Onjan Kanhayotee from Phetchabun, were issued last Friday (July 13). They face charges of a “reckless act causing death, serious injuries, mental…
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Chiang Mai: Spanish man arrested in Lampang over UK cocaine bust
Heavily armed drug suppression police have arrested a 36 year old Spanish citizen at a noodle shop in Lampang in northern Thailand at the weekend. A warrant for the arrest of Spaniard Francesco Jesus Gutierrez Marcos was issued in Thailand last Friday following representation from UK authorities and an official extradition request. Marcos is alleged to be a member of…
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“Leave the kids alone” – Child psychiatrist
(4 minute read) The global attention drawn to the dramatic rescue mission has shone a glaring spotlight on the 12 young footballers from the Mu Pa Academy, making them unwitting public figures. Psychiatrists are stressing that the boys should draw on their own personal strength and support from their families to avoid becoming tainted by fame. Child psychiatrists are advising…
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Last body from the Phuket boat disaster recovered
Last night (July 15) divers recovered the final body from ‘Phoenix’. The body had been wedged under the boat. The body was brought back to the Phuket Deep Sea Port before transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital. The body arrived at the port at 8:50pm. Chinese Ambassador to Thailand Lyu Jian, the Chinese Consul-General in Songkhla Zhou Haicheng and Phuket Governor Norraphat…
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Phuket’s hotel bookings starting to wane in wake of boating disaster
(4 minute read) The Nation is reporting that Thai tourism authorities are expressing concern following an increase in cancellations of hotel room bookings by Chinese tourists following the tragic July 5 boat accident. So far, 7,300 Phuket hotel room bookings for July and August have been cancelled by Chinese tourists in just 16 hotels that have reported figures so far,…
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Chiang Rai: Mu Pa team pay tribute to Saman Kunan
The Mu Pa Football players trapped in the Tham Luang Caves for almost three weeks paid tribute to the Navy SEAL who lost his life during the rescue operation. Wiping away tears, the boys wrote messages of thanks on a portrait of the former Navy SEAL Saman Kunan, who died July 6 during an operation to deliver oxygen tanks to…
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Multihull Solutions Regatta wraps up with ‘Fugazi’ claiming top honours
The 10th annual Multihull Solutions Regatta wrapped up today with another good day of sailing. Principal Race Officer Simon James ran two races today, a three-lap windward-leeward and then a triangle course for all classes except Cruising, which did a loop around nearby Koh Lon. Dan Fidock’s trimaran Fugazi claimed the Racing Multihull division winning six of the eight races…
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Chiang Rai: “I thought it would be a recovery rather than a rescue”
PHOTO: Perth vet and craig diver Craig Challen An Australian diver from Perth, Craig Challen, has spoken exclusively about the Tham Luang cave rescue and why he had fears that some or all of them mightn’t get out of the caves alive. Here are some of the main points from The Sunday Times interview: • When Craig arrived in Thailand he thought…
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“Tourists will come flooding back to the world class resort”
PHOTOS: ข่าวพัทยา Pattayanews An enthusiastic Pattaya News is reporting that, in relation to the restoration of the beach in Pattaya, it was only a matter of time before the tourists came flooding back to the sands. The report is from a meeting where it was declared that 400 metres of the restoration work was done meaning that 100 metres was…
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Four cavers are stateless – “won’t get any special treatment”
“I understand that society hopes the rescued boys get citizenship. But we have to comply with the law,” Mae Sai district chief Somsak Khanakham said. The chief says that Thai citizenship shall be granted based on the law and there will be no exemptions, even for four of the footballers rescued from the cave. He spoke after news reports said…
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