Year: 2017
- News
Missing Chinese tourist found drowned at Kata Beach
The body of a Chinese tourist, 23 year old Shi Yieing, who disappeared on September 30, has been found washed up ashore last night at Kata Beach. On September 30, her friend, Zhang Lei, reported to Karon police that at about 3pm, that he and four others, including Shi, went swimming at Karon beach before she went missing in the…
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PM Prayut meets US President Trump today
While Thai Government officials have said they will focus on economic matters during a top-level Thailand-US meeting at the White House today, it is security concerns, particularly relating to Thailand’s logistics role regarding the US on rising tensions in East Asia, that should be watched closely, academics believe. Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha leads a Thai delegation, dominated by high-level…
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Phew, that’s the first day done – new lifeguard regime
Today (October 1), Phuket’s Governor visited the Marine Safety Centres in Patong and Karon to cheer up the temporary beach lifeguard teams whilst two tourists were saved from the waters off Nai Harn Beach thanks to volunteers this afternoon. Following the end of the Phuket Lifeguard Company contract yesterday, Phuket Governor Norapat Plodthong visited the two locations which had gathered…
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Three foreign overstayers arrested
3 foreigners have been arrested on Bangla Road, Patong, including 33 year old Khurram Rasheed from Pakistan, 23 year old Riasat Ali from Pakistan, and 21 year old Ratnakar Reddy Singireddy from India. The police made a patrol in the area yesterday evening (September 30) following the current crackdown on illegal immigrants. Police noticed the three men looking suspicious so…
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Phuket officials get behind the ‘Run 2Gether’ in Phuket Town
Early this morning (October 1), Phuket Governor, Norapat Plodthong, hosted the “Run 2Gether Phuket Town” event, the first ever running event that gathered 1,000 runners and disabled people to join the activity together. The Governor also joined the run, leading the way for participants in the event which started in front of Limelight Avenue mall. “I’m very glad that many…
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Phang Nga family pleas for Bangkok bombing suspect to be sent back for trial
The family of Wanna Suansan, from Phang Nga, (Wanna is a suspect in the Ratchaprasong/Erawan Shrine bomb case), is calling for her return to Thailand after she has given birth and raised 2 children in Turkey’s immigration prison over the past 2 years. Right before the bomb, which happened in the middle of Bangkok at Ratchaprasong intersection on August 17,…
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Business as usual – Phuket’s beaches under lifeguard patrol
The Phuket Governor held a meeting yesterday (Saturday) bringing together all the beach lifeguard resources to prepare for the end of the lifeguard company contract which finished at 6.30 pm last night. Several local officials from the areas across Phuket joined the meeting to finalise preparations to send beach guards to each beach on the island today. There are 4…
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More fire jellyfish found off Krabi
More of the fire jellyfish have been found at the beach at Koh Hong between Krabi and Koh Yao Noi. The Chief of Than Bok Khorani National Park, Jampen Pompakdee, and his team collected the poisonous (nasty stings but unlikely to be fatal) fire jellyfish floating along the coast of the Hong Island beach. “The number of fire jellyfish found…
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Where’s Yingluck? CNN report contradicts Thai PM
Thailand’s former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is in London and seeking political asylum in the United Kingdom, a source in her Pheu Thai Party told CNN on Thursday. The Supreme Court convicted Yingluck on Wednesday of dereliction of duty over a controversial rice subsidy program and sentenced her to five years in prison. The scheme cost Thailand billions of dollars.…
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Chinese tour bus catches fire – no injuries
We’re used to seeing smoke come out of the back of the hundreds of tour buses moving around Phuket’s roads, but not like this. 22 Chinese tourists and their 50 year old bus driver, Khunchai Pinyo, had a scare yesterday. “I was driving the bus with 22 Chinese tourists coming back from Thalang to a birds nest shop in Koh…
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Suspect confesses to fatal Pattani bombing
One of the six detainees who were allegedly involved in a bomb attack that killed fours rangers in Pattani’s Sai Buri district last week, has confessed to the crime, Pattani Taskforce commander Maj-General Jatuporn Klampasut told a press conference on Friday. Following the September 22 attack that also wounded six others including a civilian, Jatuporn led a 500-strong manhunt at…
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250,000 expected to attend the Royal Cremation next month
About 250,000 Thai citizens are expected to attend the Royal Cremation of His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej at Sanam Luang in Bangkok on October 26, Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan said on Friday. If Sanam Luang becomes overcrowded, the authorities will seek the cooperation of mourners to place funeral flowers at replicas of the royal crematorium at…
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Laypang, Phuket’s star croc, has finally started to eat
The crocodile captured from the tin mine lake near Laypang and Bang Tao Beach last month has started to eat some chicken today (September 29) after rejecting the tasty morsels for a month. The crocodile’s complete DNA test is expected early next month. The 200 kilogram reptile, that remains in the rehabilitation pond at the Phuket Coastal Aquatic Animals Development…
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Ao Sane luxury villa being investigated by the DSI
The 12 metre high beach villa project on the cliff at Ao Sane has been proven to be illegal according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The owners were instructed to demolish the upper structure to meet the legal height of 6 metres back in August. In the meantime DSI (Department of Special Investigations) officials have been on…
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Punching above its weight – Rayong, Thailand
Singapore has been crowned as the Asia-Pacific city of the future by the Financial Times. The city/state was able to attract the largest share of investment in the region in the period 2012 – 2016, putting on top of the Economic Potential category. Asia-Pacific Cities of the Future, by Economic Potential: 1. Singapore 2. Tokyo 3. Shanghai 4. Hong Kong 5.…
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THAIGER TODAY Friday, September 29
Phuket OrBorJor says it will continue the existing contract until a new contract is negotiated for Phuket’s Lifeguards | Custard Pie led police to the ATM bomber | May Bay to be closed next year | Two men arrested over rape of a woman in Ubon Ratchathani. Plus all the fun of the Cake & Coffee day at Kajonkiat International…
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Ao Sane and Nakkerd Mountain under DSI investigation for encroachment
The DSI deputy director-general, Pol Lt Col Prawut Wongsinil, along with his DSI team, Forestry officers and local authorities, visited two alleged encroached land plots including at Ao Sane Beach (Baan Laem Krating) near Nai Harn beach and Nakkerd Mountain in Karon. The first spot visited was Nakkerd Mountain following complaints about an illegal land deed covering 20 rai of…
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Maya Bay being closed for three months next year
Park officials say they’re going to close Phi Phi island’s famous Maya Bay from June for three months next year. Officials of the Koh Phi Phi National park authority held crisis talks yesterday where they were told that the bay has been ravaged by too much tourism. So it’s going to be shut to allow the beach side of Maya Bay, as well…
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Should you pay more for a sea view?
While Phuket is an island, most property buyers are led to believe that sea views or proximity to the ocean are a key driver of real estate value. Fact or fiction? According to data from leading online marketplace FazWaz.com the answer lays inside the numbers. Looking at Phuket’s primary and secondary condominium sector and analysing pricing points from the ocean…
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UPDATE: Phuket’s beach lifeguard emergency sorted, in the short-term
Phuket’s Governor Norapat Plodthong hosted a meeting at the provincial hall today (September 28), gathering all local authorities, including the Tambon administration organisation with defence volunteers and Royal Thai Navy area 3, to discuss about the beach security measures after the Phuket Lifeguard Company finishes its contract on Saturday night. The Governor says the team of defence volunteers, working with…
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Thailand unfurls National Flag Day
Citizens across the country united in singing the national anthem at 8am on Thursday to celebrate the centenary of the national flag. At 7.45am at Government House in Bangkok, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha formally presented the flag to a guard of honour to be flown in front of the Santi Maitree Building. He then led officials and members of…
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Yingluck says she’ll stay out of politics
Fugitive former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra is in Dubai and has promised not to be involved in any political activities, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said on Thursday. Authorities in Dubai have also promised the Thai Foreign Ministry that they would keep an eye on Yingluck and ensure she did not take part in any political campaigns, Prawit said. Prime…
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Tourist Police getting ready for high-season
Today (September 28), the tourist police rehearsed aerial transportation of injured people to improve their readiness for the forthcoming high season. The rehearsal took place on the football field of Baan Sapam Mongkol Wittaya School, demonstrating the transportation of injured patients by helicopter. “We got a great cooperation for this rehearsal. The safety of tourists in Phuket is our priority…
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THAIGER TODAY Thursday, September 28
PM says Yingluck is in Dubai | Polish man suspected of blowing up an ATM ‘planning more attacks’ | Crisis meeting in Pattaya to sort out Taxi/Uber turf wars | UN Aid agencies visiting Rhakine State today
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Don’t hold your breath! Unless it’s for a good cause.
Today in Rawai Phuket, a rather unusual challenge took place with Krix Luther, founder of Clean The Beach Boot Camp, Phuket taking to the water in an attempt to hold his breath underwater. For 10 minutes! The purpose of the challenge was to raise funds, through sponsorship, for the Clean The Beach Boot Camp now in its 4th year. The…
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Unanimous verdict against Yingluck Shinawatra
Update from The Nation The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled unanimously to sentence fugitive former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra to five years in prison. The fugitive politician was convicted of negligence in preventing corruption and irregularities in her government’s rice-pledging scheme prior to the 2014 coup. The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders ruled that Yingluck had acknowledged…
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DSI checking alleged Phang Nga National Park encroachment
The DSI (Department of Special Investigations) are checking two luxury houses located on Pa Kuantohla and Pa Laemsam mountains alongside another 2,000 rai of land that is alleged to have an illegal land deed. After checking the land document at the local land office, DSI have found that the names of landlords are a famous millionaire and his children who…
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Yingluck guilty
Fugitive former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra has been sentenced to a five-year jail term. The Supreme Court took almost three hours to read the verdict on Yingluck’s alleged negligence in her government’s rice-pledging scheme. The former Prime Minister, ousted by the current military-led Government in 2014, wasn’t at the Court to hear today’s verdict. She fled the country on August…
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Crisis unfolding on our doorstep
PHOTO: Voice of America A significant regional humanitarian crisis is underway only a few thousand kilometres from our tropical island. Whilst the situation for the Rohingya has been parlous for decades, it’s only recently become acute after a group calling itself the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army attacked several Myanmar Army outposts on August 25 – the Myanmar Army has…
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UPDATE: Phuket Lifeguard boycott of OrBorTor contract
The Governor said today (September 27) that there is no auctioneer joining the bid so far, possibly because of the lower budget of this year. “I can see that the budget has been cut down every year, from 25 million to 22 million and this year 19.8 million Baht. Today is the last day for interested auctioneers to file their…
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THAIGER TODAY Wednesday, September 27
Awaiting the BIG verdict | Another parasail accident at Patong beach | A Polish man arrested over the 300,000 Baht ATM theft | HM the Thai King grants extra days for paying respects at the Grand Palace | Lifeguards determined to boycott next year’s beach lifeguard contract.
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Thai PM promises to shorten his weekly Friday night address
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha says he’s going to continue with his weekly “Returning Happiness to the People” address on Friday nights, but is promising to cut the speech down by 50%, to around 20 minutes. In a rather candid speech at a seminar in Pattaya, the Thai PM apologised for “not talking politely sometimes with the media”. General Prayut has…
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HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn extends time to pay respects at Grand Palace
His Majesty the King has ordered an extension of the final day Thais can pay their last respects to His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej in the Grand Palace from this Saturday to next Thursday, October 5. The Royal Household Bureau had initially set this Saturday as the last day people could pay their respects before the late King’s…
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Kite-boarding accident at Patong Beach injures Chilean tourist
A Chilean man in his late 20s was lucky to escape more serious injuries after his kite board canopy finished up in trees after dragging the man along the ground and into several parked motorbikes. The incident happened at 3.30 this afternoon (September 26) at Patong Beach. Kusoldarm volunteers attended the scene and the man has been taken to Patong…
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Karabi’s Bok Koranee Waterfall closed
Than Bok Koranee Waterfall in Krabi has been closed due to possible flash flooding. The Chief of Than Bok Koranee National Park, Weerasak Srisajjang, has ordered national park officers to closed down the waterfall today (September 26) after muddy water was found along the swiftly flowing waterfall. In front of the waterfall signage has been installed to strictly prohibit the…
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Buddha decorations cause outcry in Chiang Mai
An American and his Thai wife on Tuesday agreed to remove 36 Buddha-head images from the fence at their Chiang Mai house following a Facebook uproar. With tears in her eyes, 34 year old Nualchan Sonchanthuek says she and her American husband, 68 year old Paul Blum did not expect the images would generate a commotion and they simply wanted…
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UPDATE: Another 17 bodies found in mass graves – Rhakine State
Update from Voice of America Mass graves of dozens of slain Hindus have been found in Myanmar’s troubled Rakhine state, according to government officials. Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Minister Dr. Win Myat Aye told VOA’s Burmese Service he witnessed another 17 bodies recovered Monday, after 25 bodies were found in two mass graves a day earlier. Aye said most…
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