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.
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Nong Khai woman hit by lightning – “Buddha amulet saved my life”
A woman in Nong Khai, right on the Laos border near Vientiane, claims the special power of her Buddha amulet helped her survive a lightning strike. The same lightning strike killed a worker. 50 year old Pornnipha Ratyothee says that she suffered a ‘mild burn’ on her neck when she was hit by lightning on July 12 and had to…
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Krabi crackdown on dodgy hostels – 99% illegal
Krabi’s Governor has ordered a deadline on the closure of illegal hostels after officials found that 99% of the businesses are illegal and don’t comply with regulations. Yesterday (July 19) officials ordered illegal hostel and hotel operators to meet with investigating officers at the Krabi administrative office next Monday (July 23) to face legal charges. Krabi’s Governor, Lt Col ML…
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More wind and rain predicted for the North and South
The Thai Meteorological Department is warning we still have some rain ahead, in the northern and southern ends of the country. They report that the active low-pressure system from tropical depression Son-tinh is still leading to torrential rain for the North and the North-east of Thailand. “People should beware of severe weather conditions and stay tuned for the weather forecast.…
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Cambodian couple demand Thai police probe
A Cambodian couple, engaged in a legal battle with relatives, yesterday filed a complaint against two Thai police officers in Bangkok. Baby-clothing exporter 43 year old Sing Thea and his wife Chean Kallyan say their previous accusation – that their relatives had embezzled 18 million baht – had been handled by the Thai officers in question. This had resulted in…
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Foreign tourism eclipses 20 million for first 6 months of 2018
Revenue from tourism up 15%. Tourist numbers up 12%, year-on-year. Could Thailand exceed 40 million tourists for 2018? Thai Visa reports the the number of foreign tourists visiting Thailand reached 20 million in the first half of 2018. This represents an increase on the same period last year of 12%, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. Tourism revenue…
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Up to 20,000 fake Thai visas being issued to Burmese
PHOTO: Thai Rath Thai Rath are reporting that an extensive network of fake visas for Thailand is emerging, being issued in Myanmar. Two men were arrested in Ayuthaya two days ago while attempting to extend their fake visas. They were found to have dodgy stamps but the two claimed it “was news to them”. They claim that they had gone to…
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Blessing ceremony dedicated to Saman Kunan. 11 Mu Pa team members poised to enter monkhood.
PHOTO: AP/Sakchai Lalit Thai PBS is reporting that members of the Mu Pa soccer team, along with their coach, attended a traditional blessing ceremony at a local temple in Mae Sai District, Chiang Rai this morning. Nine soldiers entered the monkhood as a dedication to former SEAL member Saman Gunan who died while taking part in the massive rescue operation…
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Stray dog adoptions on the rise
Phuket is seeing a positive trend in the number of adoptions from locals and Thai citizens over the years; encouraging as Thai people used to be only interested in pure breeds, sometimes even choosing dogs that are not comfortable in the climate of Thailand (like Huskies). Meet Kittipong Tongwon, nicknamed K. Aof, who recently adopted an 8 week old puppy…
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Swedish tourist dies in Pattaya motorcycle crash
PHOTO: Facebook A Swedish tourist was fatally injured when his motorcycle collided with another motorbike on a Pattaya road early yesterday (Wednesday), according to Pattaya police. The Pattaya police station was alerted of the accident on Jomtien 2 road in Tambon Nong Plue in Chon Buri’s Bang Lamung district at 12.30am. The tourist, 38 year old Tommi Nilson, died on his…
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Belgian motorcyclist found dead on Wiset Road, Rawai
Chalong Police arrived at the Chalong underpass roadworks construction control office on Wiset Road in Rawai at 6am this morning to find the body of a foreign man who was later identified as 39 year old Belgian Frederik Maes on the ground. Two serious wounds were found on his stomach, knees and left leg. Blood was found coming from his…
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The one hour expedition that lasted three weeks
The 12 Mu Pa teenage footballers and their coach planned visit the Tham Luang caves on June 23. They arrived around 4pm and ventured inside with a plan to spend about an hour exploring. They were meant to be out by 5 pm. 18 days later the last of them emerged after a ‘miraculous’ (their words) rescue involving hundreds of…
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Rawai Mayor confirms 3 metre crocodile off Nai Harn beach
Red flags have been put up on Nai Harn and Yanui Beaches to warn tourists of a crocodile in the water. Locals and Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos have been patrolling the southern beaches trying to locate the crocodile that was first reported yesterday morning by a local fisherman. Watch the video HERE. Mayor Aroon says, “I can confirm that there…
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Hua Hin: Five of ten investigated hotels found to be ‘illegal’
PHOTO: Mapio.net Five Hua Hin hotels, under the spotlight in an investigation into the town’s illegal hotels, are now set to be served closure notices. Manager Online is reporting that Somporn Patchimpetch, the head of the investigating committee, says that loopholes in the law had meant that the ten dodgy hotels had continued to operate for the last few months.…
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86 billion baht budget set for Chiang Mai light rail system
A green light for a go ahead of Chiang Mai’s planned light railway transit system has been issued by the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA). Chiang Mai City Life is reporting that, following an initial approval for the project back in August 2017, the MRTA has finally given the green light to start the formal planning and construction…
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National: War on plastic bags – Thai environment minister
If you go to any Thai market or even stop off at a street store selling a refreshing Thai iced-coffee, you will know that you end up with plastic bags, plastic containers and plastic carry-bags for everything. Thai Rath is reporting that the Thai environment minister, General Surasak Kanjanarat, is declaring war on plastic bags in the Kingdom. The Thai…
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Five jailed up to 19 years for forcing Moroccan women into prostitution
PHOTOS: The Nation “Pearl was accused of being the gang leader as he owns the Dream Disco Pub on the fourth floor of the Zenith Hotel where the four victims were forced into prostitution from October 2016 to March 2017.” A 46 year old Australian has been sentenced to 19 years imprisonment by the Criminal Court, and a Syrian, two…
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Thai citizenship likely for one of the Mu Pa team
PHOTOS: The Nation During the rescue of the Mu Pa 13 from the Tham Luang caves in Chiang Rai it emerged that three of the team members and their 25 year old coach Ekkapol, were ‘stateless’ – caught in a bureaucratic neverland between Thailand and the nearby border Myanmar area which isn’t recognised by the Myanmar government. Their status leaves…
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“We only intended to visit the cave for an hour” – Mu Pa 13
PHOTOS: The Nation The Mu Pa Academy team and their assistant coach yesterday fronted the media as a group for the first and last time last night in Chiang Rai in a carefully staged media event. Questions from local and international media were carefully vetted before being addressed to the team members who, all dressed in match team T Shirts,…
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British divers reveal more details – VIDEO interview John Volanthen
Whilst the Mu Pa 13 team, along with some Thai Navy Seals, doctors and psychiatrists have participated in a group interview in Chiang Rai tonight, some of the British divers have related their stories to the British press. Three of the British divers involved in the extraordinary rescue of 12 boys and their football coach who were trapped inside the…
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Thais, Chinese and Burmese arrested over Phuket’s 13 million baht ‘call centre’ gang
“Police seized 8 laptops, 4 wi-fi routers, 150 mobile phones, 4 iPad tablets, one money counting machine, 135 credit cards, 6 ATM cards, 52 SIM cards, 13,568,570 baht in cash, 3,800 yuan cash and one new Mercedes Benz CLA 200.” Representatives of the Tourist Police Bureau, based in Bangkok, have arrested 2 Thais, 22 Chinese and 1 Burmese who were…
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Live hand grenade found in Phuket
A live M26 hand grenade was found on Patak Road in Karon today (July 18). Karon Police were notified that an object, similar to a hand grenade, was on Patak Road at 5am this morning. Experts from Phuket’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit were called immediately to the scene to find the M26 hand grenade near a rubbish bin in…
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15 year old dies in Chiang Mai boarding house fire
PHOTO: Chiang Mai City Life A 15 year old girl has died following a fire that engulfed the living areas of a Christian boarding school in Fang district, north of Chiang Mai city, this morning. Fang police were alerted at 1:30am about the fire at the Christian Paolo School that is run by the Evangelical Fellowship of Thailand. Ten fire engines…
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60 tourists stuck at Koh Racha
The Royal Thai Navy were called today (July 18) to bring about 60 tourists back to the Phuket’s Deep Sea Port following another day of strong winds and high seas. At about noon (July 18) Rawai’s Mayor Aroon Solos was notified that about 60 tourists were stuck at Koh Racha Yai as they are unable to leave the island due…
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“Serenata” recovered as evidence in the July 5 boating tragedy in Phuket
The boat “Serenata” has been recovered from the waters to the south-west of Phuket and is now sitting as a falorn figure in the Boat Lagoon hard stand area. The boat has been recovered as part of the ongoing investigation into the two boats that sank back on July 5 resulting in the death of 47 Chinese tourists who drowned.…
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Illegal hostel crackdown in Krabi
Administrative officers, soldiers, police and land officers in Krabi have conducted raids in an effort to follow up recent crackdowns on illegal hostels around Krabi. Krabi Vice Governor Apinan Pueakpong says, “in yesterday’s raids (July 17) we found more than 10 illegal hostels which have modified the buildings without a permit and are operating without proper licences. Some of these…
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Three dead in light aircraft crash in Khon Kaen
PHOTO: National News Bureau of Thailand A small privately-owned plane* has crashed in a field in Khon Kaen, north-east Thailand, this morning (July 18). Three people are reported dead. Chonnabot Police in Khon Kaen were notified of the incident from locals saying that a small aircraft crashed into a field and burst into flames in Baan Hooling in Chonnabot district at…
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Officials seize decorative corals in Chatuchak, Bangkok
Thai PBS are reporting that police and officials in Bangkok have swooped on shops in Chatuchak, in Bangkok’s northern suburbs, and seized a substantial haul of decorative corals and coralline algae. A member of the Yiew Dong (forest hawk) task force of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, said the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment received lots…
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Bangkok driver threatens woman with machete
“The clip shows a man at the wheel of a black Toyota Camry, repeatedly trying to cut in front of a car whose dashboard cam is recording the incident, by driving against the traffic.” Netizens are condemning a male driver caught on video threatening a female driver with a machete after he drove against the traffic to cut in front…
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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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