News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond.
-
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...
-
Miss Grand Thailand contestants walk the red carpet in Phuket Town
77 of the Miss Grand Thailand beauty contestants were walking red carpet on Thalang Road in ‘Baba’ costumes yesterday (July 2). President of the Phuket Red Cross, Sudarat Plodthong, welcomed the 77 beauty contestants from around Thailand. The contestants, resplendent in ‘Baba’ costumes, were walking on a specially laid red carpet along a section of Phuket Town’s Thalang Road. They introduced…
-
Chiang Rai: Alternatives being checked out for the evacuation of the 13 member team
Finding the 13 footballers 300 metres away from the ‘Pattaya Beach’ inside the caves is just the first step in the recovery operation. But the prospect of getting 13 weak individuals out through the inundated and tricky cave systems, a lot of it still underwater, is proving an enormous challenge for rescuers. So, rescue teams are continuing to search for…
-
Chiang Mai: Songtaew drivers bully a Grab car driver
PHOTO: Chiang Mai City Life The ‘old guard’ continues to try and bully the newer forms of public transport that are gaining traction around the world. Tuk tuk, taxi and songtaew thugs should probably resort to co-operating and working with Grab/Uber, etc rather than threatening them. Officials need to amend the laws as well to suit the brave-new-world of public…
-
Phuket Yacht Club getting kids started in sailing
Twenty three junior sailors aged between seven and fourteen descended on the Phuket Yacht Club last Saturday for a day of fun and excitement in the first O’pen BIC sailing challenge in Thailand. “We were certainly overwhelmed by the response” said the club’s Commodore, Scott Duncanson. “As this was the first time we have held a junior sailing regatta we…
-
Lions Club of Phuket Pearl raises money for Phuket Sunshine Village
The Lions Club of Phuket Pearl Association hosted their Gala Dinner at La Butcheries Restaurant. Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong was their special guest at the dinner. The dinner was under the theme ‘Open Your Heart Day’ to raise money to buy computer notebooks for children at the Phuket Sunshine Village Foundation. Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong says, “We are very glad…
-
Pakistani and Indian bag snatchers arrested
Police have arrested an Indian man and Pakistani woman who snatched two female Chinese tourists’ bags on the weekend at Kata Beach. Karon Police were notified of the incident that two suspects had snatched the Chinese ladies’ bags on Kata Beach at 9.50pm on Sunday night (July 1). Two female Chinese tourists were later identified as 16 year old Li…
-
Chiang Rai: PM offers congratulations and thanks rescuers
PHOTO: Thai PBS Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has congratulated the officials, civilians, volunteers and foreign rescuers involved in the search and rescue operations. He applauded their success in finding the 12 boys and their football coach deep inside the Tham Luang cave on late Monday night. He also thanked specifically the Navy SEAL teams for their sacrifice, resolve and cooperation…
-
Chiang Rai: Complicated process of evacuation begins
“Operation to rescue footballers a success but not over yet.” Chiang Rai Governor. “The operation to rescue the 13 missing Mu Pa Academy football club members was a success,” the head of the mission declared after all 13 members were found alive on Monday night on a ledge in the Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai province. The discovery follows…
-
“Alert and in good spirits.” Team alive. Rescuers now face evacuation challenges.
The twelve boys and their coach have been discovered alive following nine days of frantic searching. They were trapped by floodwaters in a cave complex in the far north of Thailand. The governor of Chiang Rai Province said rescue workers were providing care and managing their extended stay whilst they await a supervised extraction. Divers reached the group after enlarging…
-
Found!
The 12 missing teenage footballers and their coach have been found, alive. The Navy SEALS reached the area known as ‘Pattaya Beach’ but it was flooded. They proceeded a little further and found the group. Now the task is being worked out how to bring them back to the front of the cave. The Governor of Chiang Rai made the…
-
Soi Dog’s beach cleaning day at Mai Khao
On Friday, June 29, Soi Dog Foundation gathered its staff, volunteers and visitors at Mai Khao Beach to collect trash along one of Phuket’s most beautiful beaches. As members of the Mai Khao community, Soi Dog wants to keep it pure and safe for tourists and residents to enjoy. The crew succeeded in collecting over 2.5 tonnes of rubbish. Understanding…
-
Chiang Mai: High speed crash results in a roadside lychee salad
A high speed crash in Chiang Mai has resulted in a wrecked lychee truck. The incident accident happened last night (Sunday) near a school in Chiang Dao. The pick-up truck, travelling from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, was found overturned with crates of lychees scattered across the road. When police found the ruck the air-bag had been deployed, such was the…
-
Chon Buri: Cambodian woman cuts off Thai husband’s penis
PHOTO: Sanook Police have arrested the jealous Cambodian wife of a Thai man this morning (Monday) after she allegedly cut off his penis. And then hid it. By the time the severed penis was found, it was too late for reattachment. The wife, identified only as 24 year old Karuna, called an emergency hotline at 6.20am asking that her 40 year…
-
Hua Hin: Seven dead after morning collision
PHOTO: Khaosod English By Jintamas Saksornchai Seven people have died, just outside the Prachuap Khiri Khan township, following a collision between a car and pick-up truck. From the police’s early investigations it appears that the truck lost control and drove into the opposite lane, trying to avoid colliding into a vehicle in front. The truck crashed into a car then the…
-
Chiang Mai: Singaporean cyclist killed in Hang Dong district
PHOTO: The New Paper 57 year old Denison Seah from Singapore was killed in an accident yesterday morning (July 1) while on a casual ride in Chiang Mai. He had lived in the northern city for the past three years. The Straits Times out of Singapore reports that he was a competitive cyclist who had taken part in numerous regional…
-
Chachoengsao: Traffic chaos – six crashes in two hours. Six injured.
Six accidents, six injured. 24 vehicles damaged. A busy morning in Chachoengsao, just to the east of Bangkok. Traffic chaos reigned in the Muang district this morning (Monday) after 24 vehicles were involved in six accidents. Six people were injured, three of them severely. The first accident occurred in the heart of Muang district at 7.30am when a pickup truck…
-
Miss Grand Thailand 2018 Charity Night Run raises money for bike helmets
The Miss Grand Thailand 2018 Charity Night Run Phuket was held on Saturday (June 30) night from 8pm, It started and finished at Limelight Avenue in Phuket Town and was hosted by the Phuket Governor. Norraphat Plodthong, The Governor also joined in the run. This year’s charity event was all about working with local Phuket students and buying new bike…
-
Koh Payu monkeys get a seafood feast
The Deputy Director General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) headed out to Koh Payu where 80 monkeys have been recently released to their new home. The visit was to check on their welfare and give them some seafood treats. On June 21, 80 monkeys, which had already been sterilised, were released onto Koh Payu,…
-
Chiang Rai: Rescuers poised to reach ‘Pattaya Beach’
Rescuers are poised to reach the so-called ‘Pattaya Beach’ chamber in the Tham Luang caves in Chiang Rai province. Efforts continue to locate the young football team missing in the cave complex for over a week. Despite strenuous efforts, the very difficult conditions have meant the rescuers have not yet been able to make any contact with the 12 missing…
-
Hopes and prayers unanswered – time is running out.
By Tim Newton Now into the ninth day. Hopes and prayers unanswered. The 12 teenagers and their coach went into the caves last Saturday afternoon (June 23) following their weekly practice. We are told they were carrying with them basic provisions, water and a first aid kit. Any provisions would now be long finished. Luckily water is in plentiful supply.…
-
10,000 runners expected for this year’s Pattaya Marathon
A major international sporting date in Thailand’s calendar of festivals and events is the Pattaya Marathon, and 2018 marks the 27th edition of this popular race with organisers expecting 10,000 runners from around the world. The event is being held on July 15. The ‘Pattaya Marathon 2018’ race route is designed to impress both participants and spectators. It begins at Central…
-
Middle-eastern motorbike racers rounded up in Pattaya
A team of more than 50 Pattaya police plus local Tourist police have detained a group of middle-eastern motorbike racers after blocking access to Soi VC and Soi Yen Sabai as the group were riding round on their modified motorbikes. The police action happened on Sunday. After spotting the police some of the youths casually tried to park up their…
-
Thai and Chinese clash over damming of the Mekong
The Mekong River is shared my six countries and is the world’s twelfth longest river. But running through six going economies is causing a host of challenges and conflicts as to how to manage the river. Hydro-electric power is just one of the issues. Chinese experts who insist that hydropower projects on the Mekong River will benefit all stakeholders met…
-
Motorcyclist killed in Patong Hill accident
A female motorbike driver has died after she lost control of her vehicle and collided with two cars on Patong Hill early Sunday (July 1). Kathu Police were notified of the accident on a curve on Phra Baramee Road at 4am. Police and rescue workers arrived at the scene to find a Honda motorbike, whose driver was later identified as…
-
Chiang Rai: Race against time
Yesterday’s progress… • The Royal Thai Navy’s SEALs set up a forward command in the third chamber of the Tham Luang cave. • The SEALs venture out of the third chamber to get closer to “Pattaya Beach” where the stranded footballers are thought to have gathered. • The water level in the cave reduces due to all-out drainage efforts, which…
-
“Marriage of 11 year old girl is illegal.” Malaysian Deputy PM.
PHOTO: Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail/The Star Online The Star Online, as a follow up to its earlier revelation about the marriage of a 41 year old Malay man to a Thai 11 year old girl, says that Deputy Malaysian PM, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, says the Government is taking the matter of the child…
-
Malaysian man takes 11 year old Thai girl as third wife
The Star Online is reporting that a 41 year old Malaysian father of six has is poised to marry an 11 year old Thai girl, more than 30 years younger than him, as his third wife. He went to Golok, a town on the border of Malaysia and southern Thailand, two weeks ago during Hari Raya to have the marriage…
-
Pattaya Beach, here we come – Navy SEALS getting closer
It’s full steam ahead to day as rescuer make an all-out-attempt to reach the area in the Tham Luang caves known as ‘Pattaya Beach’. The group of 13 has been stuck in the cave since they were caught in there eight days ago by sudden flooding rains. The Royal Thai Navy’s SEALs are now trying to dive through 800 metre…
-
Chiang Mai: AirBnB launches ‘Experience in Chiang Mai’ campaign
PHOTO: Niki Landry Designs Perhaps as a reaction to recent publicity about non-hotel, room sharing websites not being able to legally rent out rooms for less than 30 days, AirBnB has put its best foot forward with an ‘Experience in Chiang Mai’ campaign. Chiang Mai City Life reports that the service aims to widen travellers journeys along with encouraging local culture. The…
-
Chinese boy in serious condition after being pulled from a pool on Naka Island
Doctors say that a four year old Chinese boy, pulled from the private pool of a hotel on Naka Yai Island yesterday (June 30), has only 30% chance of survival. Phuket Tourist Police were notified about the incident from a Paklok Municipality rescue team at 9am. The boy had already been transferred to the Thalang Hospital. A hotel manager told…
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.