Year: 2018

  • NewsSATURDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes

    SATURDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes

    Welcome to your weekend. Was quite a bit of rain around the island last night and more is forecast today. But, as usual, still plenty of sunshine. Let’s see what stories are making headlines today… Woman found floating off Koh Phi Phi identified Police on Koh Phi Phi say that the body of a woman found floating off Lo Dalum…

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  • Thai LifePhuket’s low season growth produces record tourism numbers in 2017

    Phuket’s low season growth produces record tourism numbers in 2017

    By Bill Barnett of c9Hotelworks.com For 2017 the island’s gateway airport posted 11.3% year-on-year growth to reach an estimated 8.4 million incoming passengers. This was mainly driven by a 20% surge in Mainland Chinese travelers to the island and a rising number visitors during low season of 11.2% compared to the same period in 2016. Passenger arrivals remain the key…

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  • NewsJapanese tourist killed by boat propellor in Koh Similan

    Japanese tourist killed by boat propellor in Koh Similan

    Just days after the Phuket Governor reported a clean sheet for marine boat accidents during the Seven Dangerous Days reporting period, a Japanese tourist has died during a trip to Koh Similan. 37 year old Yoshida Saori from Japan was scuba diving alone near Koh Tachai yesterday (January 4). She jumped from the boat when a big wave pushed her…

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  • NewsDrugs crackdown on Naka Island

    Drugs crackdown on Naka Island

    Nearly a hundred Phuket police arrested 6 alleged drug dealers on Naka Island after receiving reports from locals that they were selling drugs to tourists and threatening people by posting pictures of weapons on social media. A barrage of 95 Phuket police, bringing together Thalang Police, Muang Phuket Police, Kathu Police, Thachatchai Police and Cherngtalay Police arrested 3 drug dealers.…

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  • NewsTHAIGER TODAY Friday, January 5

    THAIGER TODAY Friday, January 5

    Prayut lashes out at media | Gentlemen can get their ‘bits’ lasered | Phuket Immigration website in ‘Thai’ language only | Tourists leave record amounts of garbage | Police nab drug ‘king-pins’ in Mai Khao | Malaysians arrested in BKK for phone scams.

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  • NewsHonda ablaze in Phuket town

    Honda ablaze in Phuket town

    Early today (January 5) at 5.30 am, police received a report about a car on fire in Soi Kor Pai in Phuket Town. The car was parked on the side road. Fire fighters brought 2 fire trucks and took about 20 minutes to extinguish the fire. No one was injured. The car was a blue Honda Civic with the plate…

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  • NewsSocial media aroused. Thailand pioneers penis whitening laser service.

    Social media aroused. Thailand pioneers penis whitening laser service.

    PHOTO: Lelux Hospital, usually advertising as a dental clinic, is now providing services a little lower on men’s bodies Thailand is probably the first country in the world where services are available to lighten the skin tone of male genitalia. Health authorities, however, have expressed worry and warned people about possible adverse impacts from such treatments. “The skin of the…

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  • NewsFRIDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes

    FRIDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes

    Final day of the week and a lead into your standard, normal, hopefully quiet, weekend. Weather seems to be staying cloudy but the threatened rain has mostly held off this week. It may not be bright blue sunny skies but it’s still a great place to live! What’s happening around Thailand and Phuket today? Seven Dangerous Days – final reports…

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  • NewsTourists leave. Garbage problem stays.

    Tourists leave. Garbage problem stays.

    Tourists left behind more garbage at New Year holiday destinations this year, report tourism operators around Khao Lak and Hua Hin. Garbage was left behind in major tourist destinations as tourists returned home after New Year long holidays. Popular seaside retreats at Hua Hin in Prachuap Khiri Khan and Khao Lak in Phang Nga have reported that the amount of…

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  • NewsHimalayan vulture rescued by Phuket villagers

    Himalayan vulture rescued by Phuket villagers

    By Anotai Ngarndee Villagers in Phuket handed over a Himalayan griffon vulture on Thursday to a wildlife nursery station in Phang Nga, which they found in weak condition in the province. Theetat Dam-udom, chief of the nursery station, said the vulture was an adult weighing about eight kilograms with a wingspan of about three metres. The vulture was found in…

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  • NewsRussian woman attacked on Koh Phi Phi

    Russian woman attacked on Koh Phi Phi

    FILE PHOTO Police Region 8 Commander, Pol Lt Gen Sorasak Yenprem, has ordered an urgent investigation and search to find the man who allegedly attacked a Russian woman on Koh Phi Phi on the New Year’s night. The 28 year old Russian woman (name supplied but not being made public) was celebrating the New Year’s Eve with her mother on…

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  • News3 big drug dealers arrested in Mai Khao

    3 big drug dealers arrested in Mai Khao

    Thachatchai Police, together with military officers, arrested three big drug dealers from a network called ‘Ann Power’. One of them also happened to be the head of the network. The force raided the targeted area, the Kok Pae Community, through five different spots around the community and arrested the three drug dealers, including 40 year old Paiboon Rattanapak aka ‘Ann…

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  • NewsPhuket’s ‘seven days of danger’ results announced

    Phuket’s ‘seven days of danger’ results announced

    This morning (December 4), Phuket Governor chaired a meeting at Provincial hall to announce the official statistics for Phuket from the ‘Seven Days of Danger reporting period. There were 7 accidents on the 7th day, January 3, with 7 injuries. For the whole period of 7 days, there was a total of 46 accidents with 46 injuries and 2 casualties.…

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  • NewsUPDATE: 4 motorcycle thugs surrendered

    UPDATE: 4 motorcycle thugs surrendered

    The four members of a motorcycle gang who attacked 40 year old Romy Navio, who tried to stop them from hurting three other young men, have surrendered. Yesterday (December 3) at 2pm, the four, including 18 year old Nattawut ‘Fad’ Plighin, 18 year old Sarun ‘Yak’ Muenkla, 18 year old Panuruj ‘Tiw’ Sudpangyang and 18 year old Kajorn ‘Ben’ Raya,…

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  • NewsTHAIGER TODAY Thursday, January 4

    THAIGER TODAY Thursday, January 4

    ‘Somtam Index’ shows Krabi most expensive | Deluge of new year drink-driving prosecutions causing paperwork nightmare | Tourist pest from Jungceylon was at it again the afternoon before | Thai auto industry doing well | Official stats after six days of ‘seven day’ reporting period | BKK cracking down on noisy vehicles.

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  • NewsTHURSDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your news in 3 minutes

    THURSDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your news in 3 minutes

    Settling into the routine for 2018. Traffic was busy this morning, a sure sign we’re returning to work and doing our best to avoid the high-season tourist traffic. Here’s today’s main new stories… Thai auto industry getting behind electric cars The Thai automobile industry say they finished 2017 with sales rebounding reporting that a large number of new models helped…

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  • News‘Election all go for November’, according to the Thai Embassy in Finland

    ‘Election all go for November’, according to the Thai Embassy in Finland

    PHOTO: Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai surprised by the Thai Embassy in Finland mis-speaking about possible elections this year. Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai yesterday ordered an investigation into a Facebook post from the Thai Embassy in Finland giving advice about preparation for an election tentatively to be held in November. Don said he never ordered the embassy to do so. “I’m not…

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  • NewsDead body found floating near Koh Phi Phi

    Dead body found floating near Koh Phi Phi

    At about noon today (January 3), Koh Phi Phi police received a report about a dead body floating in the sea near Phi Phi in Lo Dalum Bay. Police say the body appears to be a western woman of about 30-35 years wearing jeans shorts and a blue bra. No trace of harassment or violence was found on the body.…

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  • FoodMichelin Star Chef Andrea Cannalire in Phuket

    Michelin Star Chef Andrea Cannalire in Phuket

    JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa is proud to present an exciting Michelin-star dining experience. International Michelin Star Chef Andrea Cannalire has taken time-out from the one-Michelin-starred Cielo’s kitchen to cook for diners at the Mai Khao resort. ‘Celebrity Chef’ Andrea Cannalire will travel from Ostuni, Italy for a four-day visit from 12 – 15 January 2018 at the Ginja…

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  • Thai LifeAlways wanted to stay in a cool tree-house? Now you can, in 5 star luxury.

    Always wanted to stay in a cool tree-house? Now you can, in 5 star luxury.

    Located on the same stretch of secluded beach as its sister hotel, Paradise Koh Yao, and only a short journey from Phuket International Airport, you will arrive to the start of your Tree House Villas experience. From the Yacht Haven Marina, you head out on a 55 minute speed boat journey soaking up the scenery through the world famous Phang…

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  • NewsPhuket ‘gangster’ arrest warrants to be issued

    Phuket ‘gangster’ arrest warrants to be issued

    A group of motorcycle ‘gangsters’ who attacked local innocent residents in Yoo Sabai Village during the New Year night will be issued with arrest warrants soon. After a post by Facebook user Techa Tubthong, releasing a 3 minute footage of a group of motorcyclists attacking their opponents and harming the villagers who tried to stop the fight, one of the…

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  • NewsDrunk female tourist refuses to pay bill at Jungceylon

    Drunk female tourist refuses to pay bill at Jungceylon

    A video has posted on a popular Phuket Facebook page that showed an altercation between a female tourist and several people outside a Fuji Japanese restaurant in Jungceylon. The video shows a woman, apparently from Europe (some say Norwegian), arguing with security as a crowd of shoppers gather. Amid claims that the tourist is drunk the poster of the footage…

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  • NewsTHAIGER TODAY Wednesday, January 3

    THAIGER TODAY Wednesday, January 3

    Changes to universal healthcare system | Super Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan | Latest death toll from Seven Dangerous Days | DSI uncovered 9 billion baht of unpaid taxes on imported cars | Governor visits Rassada Pier | Idiot arrested over random gunfire on NYE.

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  • NewsPuppies rescued from roadside

    Puppies rescued from roadside

    Two women rescued five puppies found beside their mother’s bloated dead body on a roadside in Prachuap Khiri Khan’s Hua Hin district. One of the woman, Chutima Singruang, posted on her Facebook wall on Wednesday that she and her friend spotted the puppies on the Hua Hin-Nong Plub road near the roadside Nong Sor market on Tuesday morning. Chutima said…

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  • NewsTwo suspects in custody over Trang murder case

    Two suspects in custody over Trang murder case

    Two suspects allegedly involved in the murder of Trang-based salon owner Phakin Sornnarai are in police custody. Phakin’s body was found on Monday in his car parked at a sports stadium in Muang Trang. He’d been missing since December 29. Police believe robbery was the motive because more than 160,000 baht worth of gold accessories, 80,000 baht in cash and…

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  • NewsWEDNESDAY NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes

    WEDNESDAY NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes

    Sort of back to normal today, whatever that means. The news never stops and there’s plenty of it around today. Let’s see what news stories are in our inbox this morning… PM urges big effort on final day of reporting period PM General Prayut Chan-o-cha is urging officers to strictly enforce traffic laws and provide security for people on the…

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  • NewsGovernor visits Rassada Pier to inspect improvements

    Governor visits Rassada Pier to inspect improvements

    Phuket’s Governor, Norapat Plodthong, along with a team from the Provincial offices, visited Rassada Pier this morning (January 2), to encourage the staff and promising to upgrade the security and services at the pier. Rassada Pier is one of the most important piers in Phuket, apart from Chalong Pier and Ao Po Pier, and welcomes more than a thousand passengers…

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  • NewsDAY FIVE REPORT: Phuket road accidents and casualties

    DAY FIVE REPORT: Phuket road accidents and casualties

    FILE PHOTO Total accidents on fifth day of the ‘Seven days of danger’ campaign have been announced for Phuket. The total number of accidents for the first five days of the New Year season is 31, with 31 injuries and 2 casualties. Today (January 2), at the Provincial Hall, Phuket’s Governor Plodthong chaired a meeting on road accident reduction and…

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  • NewsCorruption, graft, misconduct. And watches.

    Corruption, graft, misconduct. And watches.

    By Wasamon Audjarint While the junta continued to claim that fighting corruption was on its agenda over the past year, the state-centric approach brought into question whether junta leaders were truly serious about dealing with graft – or were instead using the issue for their own benefit or to attack particular parties, an anti-graft watchdog has said. “This especially creates…

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  • NewsTUESDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your news in 3 minutes

    TUESDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your news in 3 minutes

    Another public holiday today. The Government announced last year that they’d add an extra day to the new year holidays this year in an effort to relieve the rush of traffic as people head home and back for the new year break. Police will be out in force today checking on drunk drivers at checkpoints around the island. Government offices…

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  • NewsNew year’s eve diving tragedy in Koh Phi Phi

    New year’s eve diving tragedy in Koh Phi Phi

    FILE PHOTO A tragic accident off Koh Phi Phi yesterday (December 31) where a 25 year old Indian tourist, Alok Kumar Shukla, was attempting his first scuba dive. According to the scuba company running the tour, the incident happened during the pick up following the group’s first dive. “The customer returned to the boat already and got out of his…

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  • NewsHeading into 2018 with a BANG.

    Heading into 2018 with a BANG.

    Bullets fired into the air during New Year’s celebrations damaged many people’s property late Sunday night, although no injuries were reported as of on Monday, as the dangerous activity continued despite a campaign against the irresponsible discharging of guns during holidays. To celebrate the arrival of the New Year, many people set off fireworks while others fired guns into the…

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  • NewsDAY FOUR. Nearly 60 people dying each day during the Seven Dangerous Days.

    DAY FOUR. Nearly 60 people dying each day during the Seven Dangerous Days.

    After four days, the official death toll for the ‘Seven Dangerous Days’ reporting period is 239 with 2,500 injuries. The statistics are compiled by the Road Safety Centre. On Sunday, new year’s eve, 65 people were killed and 714 were injured in 678 separate traffic incidents. Drink driving remains the scourge of Thailand’s roads causing most of fatal accidents. This…

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  • NewsHappy new year in Old Phuket Town

    Happy new year in Old Phuket Town

    The Amazing Thailand Countdown 2018 around Old Phuket Town was hosted by Governor Norapat Plodthong together with the Phuket Mayor Somjai Suwansuppana. There family-oriented festivities included a walking street with local food, clothing, accessories, street performances and a list of entertainment on stage before the crowd count down to the new year at the intersection of the old Standard Chartered Bank.…

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  • NewsMONDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes

    MONDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes

    PHOTO: The statue of Phra Buddha Navaratchabophit out of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration headquarters yesterday. Happy New Year! Patong’s new year celebrations drew unprecedented crowds to see in 2018. From midnight to 2am there was a gridlock with zero movement of traffic along the beach road (Thaweewong Rd) as revellers streamed off the beaches and back into the town. Police…

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