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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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Bangkok: Nine arrests net 70 million baht in drugs and assets
By Khanathit Srihirundaj Five successful drug busts had led to the arrest of nine suspects along with 700kg of marijuana, 2.8kg of cocaine, 306,000 methamphetamine pills, 2kg of crystal meth or “ice”, four vehicles and 12 cell phones. The evidence was worth over 70 million baht. The announcement today from National police chief General Chakthip Chaijinda. In the first case,…
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Chiang Rai: Army chief says ‘hopes remain high’
The Army Commander in Chief, General Chalermchai Sitthisart says hopes remain high in the search for 12 young football players and their deputy coach who went missing last Saturday afternoon in the flooded Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai province. He was speaking during a visit to the operational site in front of the cave in Mae Sai district. “The…
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Mother and baby dolphin found off Phuket
Two dolphins have been found on a beach at Koh Yao Yai in Phang Nga. A baby dolphin was released back to the sea while the mother dolphin has been brought back to Phuket for treatment today (June 27). This morning a team of officials from the Phuket Marine Biological Centre (PMBC) were notified by Wittaya Kongbamrungwong from Marine Endanger…
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Four more tourists caught climbing crab sculpture in Krabi
Four more tourists have been caught climbing all over a Krabi landmark – the Mud Crabs Sculpture. Krabi Tourist Police are tracking down the tour company that were in control of the tourists that were filmed climbing on the sculpture. This follows the tour group, two days earlier, climbing all over the popular sculptures. A Facebook user ‘Panisa Laelem’ on…
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Chiang Mai: 69 year old Japanese expat found dead outside massage parlour
PHOTO: CityNews On June 27, police received a report that a body was found in a car parked at a massage parlour in Chang Klan south-east of the main Chiang Mai centre. An elderly Japanese man was found dead in his car outside the massage parlour. The body was found dead, sitting in the driver’s seat. The car was locked…
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Songkhla: Teachers, parents and students protest new school director
Teachers and parents have joined students of a school in Songkhla to protest against the transfer to their school of a new director who has been alleged to already have a tainted image. The demonstration was held this morning (Wednesday) at the Nawamintha Chuthit Thaksin School in Muang district. It was attended by about 2,000 students, teachers and representatives of…
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Floods paralyse Phuket roads, flights delayed and diverted
Many parts of Phuket were underwater last night (June 26) after a two-hour spurt of heavy rain early in the evening. A number of roads in Phuket Town, around Samkong, as well as on Thepkrasattri Road in front of the main SuperCheap, and in Thalang, were also flooded by the short but heavy deluge. Many flights were unable to land…
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Chiang Rai: HM The King calls for crowd control in the cave search
By Jakrawan Salaytoo The Thai Interior Minister General Anupong Paojinda has told reporters at Government House in Bangkok that the King shares the public’s concern for the missing party. His Majesty the King has instructed officials to ensure that the crowd gathered outside a Chiang Rai cave does not impede the continuing search for 12 youngsters and their football coach…
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Former American police officer found dead
A body of a former American policeman has been found dead at a house in Koh Kaew yesterday (June 26). Phuket City Police were notified of the situation at a house in Koh Kaew at 2.30pm. Police and emergency responders arrived at the scene to find the body of 58 year old Ronald Lee Barfield, an American national from Florida, on…
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Phuket Prison escapee surrenders in Trang
A male prisoner, who escaped from hospital custody on Monday night (June 25), has surrendered himself to the Kan Tang District Chief in Trang. The Phuket Provincial Prison Commander Somkid Kammang filed a report with the Phuket City Police on Monday (June 25). Commander Somkid says, “The male prisoner 23 year old Prawit Pitak from Trang has escaped from Vachira…
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Nakhon Phanom: Up in smoke
Nakhon Phanom’s provincial administration has destroyed 8,700 kilograms of seized marijuana to mark the “International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking”. The drugs were destroyed in a massive fire in a local field. Provincial Governor Somchai Witdamrong chaired the ceremony, held at 9am on the field in front of the Nakhon Phanom rangers’ command. Somchai said the marijuana had…
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Chiang Mai: Mission ‘Rabies’
In response to the increased number of human deaths from rabies in Thailand this year, Mission Rabies was keen to work with the government to protect the communities of Chiang Mai. Upon the kind invitation of Chiang Mai Municipality, San Pong municipality and Khi Lek municipality, Mission Rabies, in combination with WVS Thailand (locally known as WVS Care for Dogs),…
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Chiang Mai: Axe-wielding monk attacks abbot and nun at temple
A small quarrel has led to an abbot being attacked by a monk with an axe in Mae Rim, north-west of Chiang Mai city. Chiang Mai City news reports that the assault took place at Huay Pha Pu in Pong Yaeng, Mae Rim, after a quarrel broke out between an 58 year old monk and a newly appointed acting abbot,…
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Saudi Arabian dies after trip to Koh Naka
A Saudi Arabian citizen has died following a trip to Koh Naka yesterday (June 25). Thalang Police were notified by staff at the Thalang Hospital last night. A body of a man, identified as 56 year old Alanazi Ali Awad M from Saudi Arabia, was at Thalang Hospital when police arrived. 38 year old Sarawut Denser, a tour guide, told police…
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Pattaya: Chinese and Vietnamese tourists dotting Pattaya landmark with stickers
Pattaya Update News is reporting that they’ve received numerous complaints from angry locals who are furious with Chinese and Vietnamese tourists for defacing a famous Pattaya landmark. They report that the Asian tourists have been pasting stickers, used to identify tour members and tour groups at the temple of Wat Nong Yai in Bang Lamung. Trees, pillars, walls, vegetation and…
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Chiang Rai: Search area becomes crowded with media and onlookers
The ongoing search in Chiang Rai, where 13 members of a football team are trapped inside by rising floodwaters, is starting to suffer from too much media and local interest. The search of Luang Cave in Tham Luang-Khun Nam Nang Non Forest Park is being led by Navy SEAL personnel, who have been joined by teams of experts from universities…
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Chiang Mai: Gas tank explosion kills man, destroys half the house
A faulty gas tank has exploded in the home of a man in Saraphi, south-west of Chiang Mai’s city centre, killing him instantly. The explosion also destroyed half the man’s home. This incident happened over the weekend. Police rushed to the scene at a house in Nong Pheung, Saraphi. Police entered the home and discovered a man who had been…
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Chiang Rai: King expresses concern over the safety of the trapped team
His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn has expressed concern over the safety of the 13 missing people in the Chiang Rai caves. Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda, quoting the principal private secretary to the King says His Majesty has been closely followed up the rescue operations. As the commander of the national public disaster prevention and mitigation, General Anupong will fly to…
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Myanmar: Sacked – Top general accused of involvement in Rohingya crackdown
PHOTO: Major General Maung Maung Soe amd defacto Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi Myanmar is accused of a crackdown in Rakhine state that has, so far, forced 700,000 Rohingya to flee. The UN and major western powers describe the crackdown as “ethnic cleansing”. In response, Myanmar’s military now says it’s sacked a top general who was named in fresh EU…
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Phichit: Hundreds affected by Dengue
All 12 districts in the province of Phichit in central Thailand will soon be declared dengue outbreak control zones with 652 cases of dengue fever now reported in the province so far this year. A committee in charge of disease control made the call this week in a bid to integrate efforts by all pertinent government agencies. The committee was…
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Motorbike driver dies after collision with power pole
A man has died following an accident in Koh Kaew last night (June 25). The Phuket City Police were notified of the incident at 10.30pm near Bansapam Mongkolwittaya School in Koh Kaew. Police and rescue workers arrived at the scene to find a Honda motorbike at the base of the power pole. Police found traces of the collision on the…
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Phuket Police hunt for the thief of the heroine statue sword
A thief has stolen a sword which was part of a statue of the Phuket’s Heroines which was in a temple in Thalang. Read more HERE. Khun Prasong, who was a previous Thepkrasattri Mayor, says, “Muang Gomarapat Temple is an important place for Phuket people. This is a place where the annual ‘Thalang Victory Day’ is being held every March.…
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Woman dies in Phuket Town road smash
A woman is reported dead following an accident in Phuket Town this morning (June 26). The Phuket City Police were notified of the incident at 5.30am at an intersection in front of Phuketthaihua Asean Wittaya School on Wichit Songkram Road in Phuket Town. Police and rescue workers arrived at the scene to find a damaged motorbike, a car, a van…
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Chaiyaphum: 35 year old man stabbed 30 times
A 35 year old Chaiyaphum man has stabbed to death in his bedroom in the Chaturas district, north-east of Bangkok, early today (Tuesday). Police said there appear to have been signs of fighting in Wutthichai Wamin’s room and that he had been hit on the head with a blunt object and stabbed more than 30 times. Chaturas police station was…
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Phuket airport’s domestic terminal officially launched
Phuket airport’s domestic terminal renovation was officially launched yesterday (June 25). The opening ceremony was held at the Phuket International Airport and hosted by the Airport of Thailand (AOT) president Nitinai Sirismatthakarn. Khun Nitinai says, “The Phuket International Domestic Terminal upgrade project is now complete with new facilities and world standard security services. The airport is now available to service up to…
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Election date delay mooted
Dates for the forthcoming election, earmarked for February 2019 for the last year, are now in flux again following yesterday’s meeting between potential future political players and the NCPO. The election is likely to take place some time between February 24 and May 5 next year, this from the Deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam at yesterday’s meeting. It is the first time…
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Deputy PM Prawit calls the Time Magazine article ‘factually innacurate’
It hasn’t even landed on the magazine stands yet and already the Time magazine article is causing controversy. Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwan is denying that the government or the NCPO has banned the distribution and sale of Time magazine’s Asia edition for July 2 issue. Read our story about the Time Prayut feature HERE. Prawit is reported by Thai PBS…
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‘Clean.’ Overcrowded Krabi prison declared drug-free
A random inspection at Krabi prison has turned up no drugs. Officers, led by Phang Nga Prison Chief Soonthorn Detrak and Krabi Prison Chief Yingpinyo Morapan, began the search at 4:30pm last Friday. Chief Soontorn says, “This is a special raid by the Region 8 Prison. Areas searched included personal lockers of all inmates as well as sleeping quarters, the…
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UPDATE: Today’s Chiang Rai cave search timetable – 12 missing
A rescue team, which now includes a Navy SEAL unit, are continuing search for the missing 12 young footballers and their coach. The 13 have been trapped inside a cave in Tham Luang Khunnam Nang Non Forest Park in Mae Sai district since Saturday. A flash flood that hit the area prevented the missing group from leaving the cave after…
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Pattaya: Thai woman falls to death from apartment building
A Thai woman has died after falling from a room on the fifth floor of a Pattaya apartment early on today (Monday). Police are holding her Australian boyfriend for questioning following the incident at 2.30am at Min Mansion in Tambon Nong Plue, Bang Lamung district. Police say 28 year old Wilawal Poolsukserm fell from her room and died on the way…
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