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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 Planning to extend your Thai visa? Why health insurance is more important than ever
If you plan to stay longer in Thailand, having health insurance is now more important than ever. Thai immigration often asks for proof of medical coverage when you apply to extend your visa. This applies to many types of visas,...
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Double murder at “Buddha Mountain” in Sattahip
PHOTOS: Thai Rath Thai Rath is reporting that Chonburi police, investigating the double execution-style murder in the car park at Buddha Mountain in Sattahip, say initial investigations have revealed a number of possible motives in the gruesome hit. Deputy provincial chief Pol Maj Gen Chettha Komonwatthana spoke to reporters after a meeting at Na Jomtien police station. He claims the case…
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Pattaya mayor takes steps to return disputed land on Bali Hai cape to public use
Manager Online is reporting that Pattaya’s mayor has contacted the land department to rescind title deeds related to land at the tip of Bali Hai cape in South Pattaya. The area is known as “Achaland” and has become the property of Achaland Co Ltd. The Mayor asserts that a “chanote” or title deed was issued by allegedly corrupt officials. A Supreme…
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Protesters turn to ‘cursing ritual’ in the latest Doi Suthep protests
PHOTO: File Photo by Nisanart Kangwanwong If banners and peaceful protests don’t work, try a bit of local northern Thai ‘woo woo’ instead. As part of next month’s protests agains the Doi Suthep housing development in Chiang Mai organisers are planning a ‘cursing ritual’. The Doi Suthep Forest Reclamation Network is staging a major protest in late August to pressure…
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Indian currency cons arrested on Samui
Thai TV Channel 7 has featured the arrest of two Indian citizens who were attempting to rip off currency exchanges on Koh Samui. The scam works as follows… the Indians would bring 10 x US$100 dollar bills to a currency exchange booth, to change to Thai currency. One would then ask to recount the US dollars and take out two…
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Man surrenders after killing co-worker in Thalang
A man has surrendered himself to police after stabbing and slashing his friend to death. The Thalang Police were notified of the incident that happened in front of a local shop in Baan Don, Thalang at 8pm on Friday. Thalang Police and rescue workers arrived at the scene to find a body of a man who was later identified as…
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First croc caught at sea – Yanui’s crocodile catchers
One of the Surat Thani-based crocodile catcher team says that ‘Yanui’ is the first crocodile that he has caught in the sea – a lot more difficult than catching ‘Laypang’, last August’s crocodile captured in a lagoon off Layan Beach. Head of the crocodile catcher team, Nikhom Suksawat, says, “It took 12 days to catch the crocodile because the weather…
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Search for missing boy at Nai Yang Beach resumes
A search for a missing boy resumed this morning with jet-skis and speedboats combing the shoreline and areas around Nai Yang Beach. Six boys headed into the water, but only up to their knees not far from the shore, yesterday afternoon. But the conditions were very rough with Nai Yang beach known for its rips dangerous surf at this time…
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Floods hit five villages near the Tham Luang cave rescue site – Chiang Rai
PHOTO: Local News2010A month ago the local villagers near the Tham Luang caves in Chiang Rai were volunteering with food and helping hands. Now they’re fighting to save their homes. Mountain run-off last night (Monday) has hit five villages in Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district, near where the young Moo Pa (Wild Boars) football team was recently rescued from the…
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Chinese outbound tourism contributed US$ 115 billion in 2017
PHOTO: EPA-EFE “I prefer customised trips to group tours because I’ll have a more flexible schedule and can change it as I like. I’d also have more time to go shopping and find good local restaurants.” – 29 year old Chinese traveller Du Ni China Daily reports on the rise and rise of Chinese outbound tourism, a growing regional phenomenon…
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MH370 final investigation report tabled in KL
PHOTO: Channel News Asia The disappearance of the entire 73 metre-long plane, passengers and crew remains one of the world’s biggest aviation mysteries. A report has just been tabled concerning the fate of the 239 passengers travelling on flight MH 370 which vanished in 2014. Malaysian authorities say they can’t determine the cause of the disappearance of the Malaysia Airlines…
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Rising Mekong threatens provinces in Thailand and Laos
PHOTOS: The Nation Authorities in Thailand’s northern and northeastern provinces are watching the rising water levels in the Mekong after torrential rains have hit large stretches of the country causing flooding in both residential and agricultural areas. The Mekong river flows through parts of China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department has instructed its…
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UPDATE: Norwegian recuses two boys from surf while 11 year old remains missing
A Norwegian man has rescue two boys from strong surf at Nai Yang Beach. Three other boys managed to get back to the shore whilst other boy is still missing. Sakoo Police were notified of the incident around midday that five Thai boys had survived being washed into strong surf, and either being saved or getting back to shore themselves,…
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Nearly 100 Burmese arrested since start of June with fake visas
PHOTO: Thai Rath Thai Rath is reporting that a leading immigration spokesman has warned Burmese to double check their visas to ensure that they haven’t been duped with fake visa stamps. The warning comes as more people are being found with the fake stamps in Thailand on a daily basis. Pol Maj Gen Itthiphon Itthisanronchai, deputy immigration chief and acting as…
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One missing in Nai Yang beach accident – Photos and video
PHOTOS: Tanakit Meebunkit/Facebook – Emergency Incident Phuket VIDEO: Wallop Jf Boonjun One child remains missing after a fun day to Nai Yang beach in the north end of the island’s west coast beaches, went wrong. The missing boy has been named as 11 year old Suphat Jampathong from the Wat Mongkolwararam School. The kids were playing in the shallows when a…
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Laos to work with Korean, Thai and Laos owners during investigation
PHOTO: Laos PM Thongloun Sisoulith By Souksakhone Vaenkeo – Vientiane Times As the mopping up continues in southern Laos, relief starts to pour in and the death tolls rises, the Laos government is no promising a ‘transparent and just’ investigation. “The government will work with the countries whose companies are stakeholders in the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy hydropower project to investigate the cause…
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Man killed in Patong road accident
A man has died in Patong after he appears to have lost control of his motorbike on Saturday (July 28). Patong Police were notified about the accident at 10.44am on Pang-Muang Sai Kor Road in Patong. Police and emergency responders arrived at the scene to find the body of a man who was later identified as 23 year old Adipong…
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South Korean medical team arrives in southern Laos with relief supplies
PHOTOS: Joint Press Corps-Yonhap The Korea Herald is reporting that a South Korean medical team has flown into in Laos yesterday with relief supplies following the deadly flooding that resulted from the collapse of a dam that was being constructed by a Korean builder. An emergency relief team composed of 15 medical personnel and five support staff arrived at Pakse…
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Croc breeders, you have until August 10 to register your crocodile – Phuket Governor
By Salinee Prab The latest crocodile-on-the-loose has been snared but Phuket’s Governor is now threatening to take legal action against crocodile owners who fail to register their animals by August 10. Norapat Plodthong says that only five owners had registered their reptiles since the order went out. Norapat says legal action would be taken against those failing to report by…
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Why do Chinese tourists like coming to Thailand?
By Kanjana Lao Nation Graphics A Nielsen Survey has asked Chinese tourists why they like coming to Thailand. Thailand remains popular among Chinese tourists, of all ages, due to its relatively low costs. Despite the Phuket boating tragedy on July 6, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports expect the arrival of Chinese tourists in 2018 to exceed the 2017 total.…
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Thais and foreigners stranded on Lombok volcano following earthquake
In the wake of this morning’s Lombok earthquake, some 500 Thais and foreigners have been stranded on an active volcano on the Indonesian island. Lombok is situated about 100 kilometres from Bali. The shallow 6.4 magnitude quake that jolted the island triggered land and rockslides, preventing the tourists from heading back down the mountain. The Thai embassy in Indonesia was…
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Lao aid truck plunges off bridge – one dead, two injured
Aid continues to rush into southern Laos as international relief tries to grasp the full extent of the damage from the floods that occured last Monday night after a privately owned hydroelectric dam breached its walls. But as relief teams pour in, a man has been killed and two others injured when their truck loaded with provisions and donated items…
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Pattaya street racers busted
Pattaya youth have been foiled in their attempts to organise a late night street race. Pattaya police say they’ve detained 20 young motorcyclists early this morning (Sunday) and seized their bikes on suspicion they were planning illegal street races. Muang Pattaya Police led by deputy superintendent Pol Lt Colonel Korn Somkanay began a sweep of Jomtien 2 Road at about 1.30am…
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Lombok earthquake – 10 people now confirmed dead, over 40 injured
PHOTO: Indonesian Search And Rescue Agency 10 people are now confirmed dead with 40 or more injured following this morning’s strong Lombok earthquake. Lombok is an Indonesian island, next door to Bali, although the epicentre of the quake wasn’t near the tourist areas. The tremor is said to have sent people running from their homes in panic. The initial 6.4…
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‘The Heroes’ unveiled in Chiang Rai
A 13 x 3 metre mural has become the latest step in immortalising the Tham Luang cave rescue for generations to come. The mural will shortly be moved to be part of an exhibit which will be constructed at the front of the mouth of the caves. “The Heroes” is a canvas painting which portrays the story and the many,…
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33 households evacuated in Nan – more landslides feared
PHOTO: Thai PBS As floods and torrential rain continue to plague northern Thailand, including neighbouring regions in Myanmar and Laos, 33 households in a mountainous village in Bo Klua district of the northernmost province of Nan have been ordered to immediately evacuate to a temple five kilometres away for fear that they might be struck by a landslide. Bo Klua…
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Thaksin claims election delays in birthday comments – UK
Thaksin Shinawatra, the fugitive former Thai PM, is still firing missives in exile – this time in comments his 69th birthday in London. A spokesman for the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) yesterday insisted that there was no change in the schedule for the next election. Maj-General Piyapong Klinphan debunked speculation by former PM Thaksin Shinawatra about a change…
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Gotcha! Phuket’s crocodile caught at Layan Beach
Phuket’s elusive crocodile has finally been caught at Layan Beach. The ‘Yanui’ crocodile (named by local Phuket reporters after the original beach it was sighted) has been caught at Layan Beach early today after more than ten days of search operations, sightings, drone photos and lots of people pointing out to sea. The crocodile was eventually caught by the Surat…
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Questions over reliable death toll in the Laos floods – foreign media banned
PHOTO: Thai PBS In a sign of the times where social media is simply instantaneous, but often unreliable, the Lao PM Thongloun Sisoulith is warning members of the public to be aware and conscious about news and reports on the deadly flooding in southern Attapeu province. But some international news agencies are claiming that the Laos government is trying to…
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Online poker casino smashed in Klong Toei raid
Thailand’s favourite crime buster, Pol Maj Gen Surachet Hakpal, aka ‘Big Joke’, has arrested 58 Chinese nationals running casino operations in an upmarket tower block in Bangkok’s Klong Toei district. Daily News is reporting that a large cache of evidence in the form of computers, notebooks, phones and account books was recovered during the raid on two sections of the…
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Australian doctor reveals about the complicated sedation of Mu Pa 13
Dr Richard Harris, the Australian doctor involved in the Tham Luang cave rescue, has revealed new details about the sedation of the young football team, following a ceremony at Government House in his home city of Adelaide on Thursday where he received a standing ovation. Thai PBS reports that Dr Harris spoke about howhe taught the other divers how to…
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