Month: June 2019

  • Chiang Mai News

    Lost and found: 5.4 million meth pills and ‘ice’ discovered in Chiang Mai cave

    PHOTOS: Maesai news online 5.4 million methamphetamine pills and 185 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine have been found hidden in a cave north of Chiang Mai. A border patrol police and Army troops from the 5th Cavalry Taskforce in the Chiang Dao district found the drugs in a cave in Ban Tham Klaeb in Tambon Ping Khong yesterday while patrolling the area. The…

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  • Bangkok News

    Military escort motorcycle rider smashes into Bangkok taxi – VIDEO

    The shocking moment when a military officer on motorbike, escorting a high-ranking Army official travelling in a black Mercedes, collided into a Bangkok taxi, at 1.22pm yesterday. He was an officer with the Military Police. The Toyota taxi with Bangkok plates was making a right hand turn into the Khet Pom Prap Sattru Phai centre in central Bangkok. The injured…

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  • Business News

    Trying to find a pulse in Thailand’s economic health

    Thailand’s economy is south-east Asia’s wounded soldier as the newly elected Thai government tries to boost confidence and stimulate the economy after five years of military rule. Certainly the past 12 months have been the most challenging. GDP growth hit a four-year low of 2.8% for Q1 2019 and exports remain weak. Despite having unlimited power for half a decade,…

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  • Health

    Thailand’s prostitution laws out of step with reality

    Despite firm denials that prostitution is a ‘thing’ in Thailand and the high-level narrative that prostitution in the Land of Smiles is just an outdated type-cast, the evidence to the contrary remains obvious, in plain sight, any night of the week. A “Review of the prevention and suppression of prostitution laws project” seminar was held at the Thammasat University Tha Prachan…

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  • Thailand News

    16,467 kilograms of drugs destroyed on International Day against Drug Abuse

    PHOTOS: The Police Magazine Thailand 16,467 kilograms of drugs were destroyed on the annual International Day against Drug, valued around 20 million baht. The Police Magazine Thailand reported yesterday, the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, that drugs has been destroyed by Ministry of Public Health at Bangpa, an Industrial Estate in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya. Drugs destroyed…

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  • Pattaya News

    Beach vendor nabbed after stealing from Pattaya tourist

    PHOTOS: Pattya Message A Pattaya beach vendor has been caught by a local and foreign beach-goers after stealing from a tourist on Jomtien Beach in Pattaya. Pattaya City Police were notified of the incident yesterday on Jomtien Beach. The suspect had already been bailed up by Thai and foreign tourists at the beach. A 66 year old German female tourist…

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  • Business News

    Thai car manufacturers upbeat about sales

    PHOTO: Chevrolet’s proposed SUV ‘Blazer’ to replace the Captiva Car sales for the first five months of this year stood at 437,722 equating to a year-on-year rise of just over 9%. Sales for May alone were 88,097 units, up 3.7%. But May’s growth slowed from the double-digit rise that the sector experienced between January and April, 2019. • By brand sales…

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  • Tourism News

    Thai government announces hotel license amnesty

    by Bill Barnett, c9hotelworks.com In a significant move by Thailand’s government, a hotel licensing amnesty program has been announced on a nationwide basis. Clearly pressure by hotel owners amidst an large-scale influx of non-licensed accommodation has spurred the action. Leading international legal advisors Baker McKenzie Thailand have issued an information alert on the program which we are publishing in full,…

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  • Tourism News

    SURVEY – Do the Tourism Authority of Thailand invent their statistics?

    The internet has spoken, well The Thaiger’s Facebook page anyway, and there is a strong distrust in the statistics about tourist arrivals issued by the Tourism Authority of Thailand. 83% of people that voted said they didn’t believe the numbers quoted by the TAT. 17% believed the numbers were accurate. The reasons for people’s disbelief aren’t fully understood as their…

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  • Phuket News

    Progress on Phang Nga’s new international airport

    by Bill Barnett, c9hotelworks The AoT (Airports of Thailand) planned international airport in Phang Nga, set to be part of a triangle of international airports serving the Phuket, Phang Nga, Khao Lak and Krabi tourist zones, is poised to move past another development milestone. The mooted private airport has now been binned and the AoT-operated airport project is now forging…

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  • Northern Thailand News

    75 tonnes of marijuana and Kratom destroyed in Nakhon Phanom

    8.4 tonnes of marijuana and 67.3 tonnes of kratom leaves have been destroyed by Nakhon Phanom provincial administration officials in a ceremony to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The ceremony was held in an open field in front of the Muang district office. As part of the ceremony, officials also launched local campaigns against drug abuse.…

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  • Northern Thailand News

    Seven injured in Khon Kaen minivan and trailer crashed

    PHOTOS: Chumphae Rescue Seven passengers have been rescued after a minivan collided with a trailer in Khon Kaen, northeast of Thailand. Chumphae rescue workers were notified of the incident on Maliwan Road in Chumphae, Khon Kaen yesterday. They arrived to find the minivan slammed into the rear end of the trailer truck. The minivan’s left hand side was crushed up to…

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  • World News

    New Malaysian political sex video appears on Pornhub

    PHOTO: Haziq Abdullah Abdul Aziz, sacked and A new video clip showing Malaysia’s former deputy minister’s aide, Haziq Abdullah Abdul Aziz, and a man resembling the Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, has appeared on YouTube, while a nine-minute-plus full version has been uploaded to porn site Pornhub. As with earlier clips, the YouTube video (which may be removed…

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  • Thailand News

    Surachate scores appointment to Police committee, as a civilian

    Promoted, sacked, possibly re-instated, ditched and now appointed – the topsy turvy career of former policeman Surachate Hakparn. Thailand’s Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwon has confirmed that the former immigration chief Surachate Hakparn was appointed to a Police Commission sub-committee responsible for laws and regulations. He will be the only civilian appointed to the panel. The panel will be under the…

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  • Things To Do

    Phuket in the Top Ten list of Best Places to Visit

    Paris topped the US News list of the World’s Best Places to Visit, Phuket gets into the top 10 destinations this year. The annual rankings list the World’s Best Places to Visit, along with region-specific and niche lists. Paris, a long favourite with its world-renowned attractions, excellent cuisine and charming atmosphere, scored the top spot in the Best Place to Visit…

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  • Phuket News

    Three arrested with over 12,000 meth pills and crystal meth in Thalang, Phuket

    Three drug suspects have been arrested with a total of 12,277 methamphetamine pills and 1.8 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine (ice) in Thalang. Thalang Police raided a house in Thalang where they arrested Yuttapong Kenson. Police seized 1.8 grams of crystal methamphetamine and 10,746 methamphetamine pills. Police then raided a warehouse in Srisoonthorn where they have arrested a 17 year old male…

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  • Hua Hin News

    Neighbours demand officials get rid of noisy and smelly birds in Hua Hin

    PHOTO: Banmuang News Soldiers, police and environmentalists in central Prachuap Khiri Khan headed to a three storey property following up complaints that the building was being harvest ‘birds nests’ for Chinese restaurants. The officials couldn’t find the people involved in the premises or the harvesting for local restaurants. The local swallows, a protected species, in Thailand would be lured to…

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  • Krabi News

    17 year old dies while fishing in Krabi pond

    PHOTO: View from the Khao Ngon Nak viewpoint, Krabi A teenager has drowned while fishing with a friend at a pond in a Krabi national park. The Haad Nopparat Thara-Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park rangers recovered the body of Jessada Ngafah, a 16 year old male, at 2.30am this morning. Rangers were working at an office near the Khao…

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  • Pattaya News

    Retribution: Pattaya police chief transferred, foreign bar owners deported

    Pattaya’s police chief has been transferred, the foreign bar owners are being deported and will be blacklisted. This has been the swift retribution for local senior police and the owners of ‘Coming Bar’ for allowing prostitution and under-age sex on their premises. In addition, the Bang Lamung district police chief says the offending bar will be shut for five years…

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  • Phuket News

    83 year old goes missing during Phang Nga mangrove expedition

    FILE PHOTO A man disappeared after rowing his boat to a mangrove area along the coast of Phang Nga’s Takua Thung district yesterday. Surat Sumalee, head of Ban Sam Chong Nua village in Tambon Kalai, sent out a search party of two dozen villagers after being informed at 6.40pm that 83 year old Wanmad Tonklung didn’t return from his trip.…

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  • Politics News

    Cloud looms over 41 Thai MPs in media-shares fiasco

    PHOTO: Future Forward’s Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit The Constitutional Court is sitting today to consider whether they’ll accept petitions against 41 newly elected MPs accused by the Future Forward party of breaching media shareholding rules. There are 41 Members of Parliament accused of breaching the rules – 26 from the Palang Pracharath Party, 11 from Democrats, and one from Bhumjaithai Party, Action…

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  • Environment News

    Sea turtle rescued from sea garbage off Phuket – VIDEO

    PHOTOS: Marokus Chundee / Koh Racha Lifeguards A sea turtle has been rescued from sea garbage off the coast of Koh Racha, south of Phuket, yesterday. At about noon lifeguards on Koh Racha were helping to bring a big pile of sea garbage back to the beach. In amongst all the flotsam and jetsam they found a sea turtle stuck…

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  • Phuket News

    Tsunami evacuation drill held in Patong, Phuket

    The siren sounded, a tsunami was on the way and people had to evacuate from Phuket’s Patong Beach. Some people were so enthusiastic about the practice drill they started running from the beach before the siren was even sounded. Officials hailed the evacuation drill as a success. But some tourists were either bewildered by the 600 or so people that…

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  • South Thailand News

    Facial recognition security push in Thailand’s South

    Concerns are being raised over the move to force all mobile phone users in Thailand’s South to submit their photos for facial-recognition identification. The edict says those who fail to do so by October 31 will have their mobile phone service blocked. The Cross Cultural Foundation says the order given to Thailand’s telecom operators was ‘racial profiling’. “The use of facial-recognition…

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  • Thailand News

    SURVEY: Do you tip in Thailand?

    Yesterday we asked readers to tell us what they do when it comes to tipping in Thailand. We noted that a lot of people’s feelings about tipping was related to where they come from and the customs they had on tipping in their home country. The question was… To tip or not to tip? Whilst the custom of tipping is…

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  • Things To Do

    Top Ten tips to tipping in Thailand

    How much is appropriate in Thailand or should you tip at all? There is no rule of thumb although tipping is not common amongst Thais whilst it remains reasonably common with some westerners, but certainly not all. Americans almost tip by habit. Tipping in Thailand is not mandatory but will always be welcomed with a ‘wai’ and a smile. Our…

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  • Phuket News

    Chinese man arrested over theft and detention of another Chinese citizen in Phuket

    A Chinese man has been arrested in Phuket over theft and holding a person against their will. Details were revealed to Phuket’s media this morning. Police arrested a Chinese man named Ming Xiang following an arrest warrant from the Phuket Provincial Court over theft and detention of a Chinese woman Li Peilin. The incident happened last Sunday. Two Chinese tourists…

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  • Northern Thailand News

    Four arrested as police intercept 572 kilograms of marijuana heading south

    Four suspects have been arrested after police intercepted an attempt to smuggle 572 kilograms of marijuana from Mukdahan to Songkhla. The deputy Phatthalung police chief says that two suspects were arrested in Phatthalung in a pick-up truck carrying the drugs, along with a couple who were arrested in a car that was driving ahead to advise of any checkpoints ahead.…

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  • Krabi News

    Fire destroys restaurant on Koh Lanta, Krabi – VIDEO

    VIDEO: Krabi News PHOTOS: TNEWS Fire has damaged a restaurant on Koh Lanta in Krabi province. TNews reports that fire fighters were notified of the incident yesterday on Koh Lanta in the south of Krabi. Fire fighters and a number of fire engines arrived at the scene to find the restaurant well ablaze. It took more than two hours to…

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  • Pattaya News

    Teenager dies after motorbike collision in Chonburi – VIDEO

    VIDEO: Padung Klahran / Pattaya Message PHOTOS: Pattaya Message A teenager has died after a motorbike accident in Chonburi. Pattaya Message reports that a Facebook user, Padung Klahran, yesterday posted a video clip from a dash cam which shows the motorbike driver losing control of his bike before colliding with barriers. The accident happened in Banglamung, Chonburi on Sunday. The…

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  • Business News

    Thailand Post’s no-go list

    Twenty years ago postal services were thought to he going out of fashion as email and social media began to replace people sending letters in the post. But that’s all changed now as online retail services are making the world’s postal services busier than ever. Including Thailand Post. If you’re wishing to avoid problems with Thailand Post and would like…

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  • Pattaya News

    Counterfeit clothing seized in Pattaya raid

    PHOTOS: Pattaya Message Officers have seized counterfeit goods at shops along Pattaya Beach yesterday. Pattaya officers raided a department store near the city’s beach area. Officers have seized counterfeit goods such as hats, shirts and pants from three shops in a department store with a value around 500,000 baht. The shop owners had already fled the shop by the time officers…

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  • Crime News

    49 year old Israeli, deported after dismembering wife in Bangkok, arrested in eastern Thailand

    PHOTO: INN News The immigration chief told media yesterday that an Israeli man convicted for dismembering his wife and dumping her body parts back in 2004, has been caught in Sa Kaew’s Aranyaprathet district, near the Cambodian border, at the Rong Kleua market. 49 year old Eli Cohen was sentenced to life in prison in December 2004 for murdering his wife,…

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  • Crime News

    Police raid Soi 6 bar in Pattaya, undercover prostitution and underage sex

    Police in Pattaya have raided the Coming Bar in Soi 6. They allegedly uncovered evidence of prostitution and underage sex on the premises. Authorities noted that prostitution was available at the venue and had 18 women available to service customers, one girl was found to be 17 years old. The venue had rooms available above the bar for customers. A…

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  • Thai Life

    Surachate won’t be returning to Royal Thai Police

    Thailand’s deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwon has dissed rumours that former Immigration chief Surachate Hakparn is poised for a return to the Royal Thai Police. Read The Thaiger’s weekend story HERE. Over the weekend Thai media reported that the former high-profile policeman and eventual Immigration Chief, was set for a sensational return and was about to be appointed to a senior…

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  • Thailand News

    Banned. Thai airports cracking down what you can take on board

    Thailand’s CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) is urging airports to more strictly enforce security regulations that would prohibit a longer list of things being taken aboard. The upgraded ban covers foods, liquids and cosmetics that are now limited to containers that have a capacity of no more than 100 millilitres (a tenth of a litre). These items will be restricted and…

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  • Pattaya News

    Pedestrian and motorbike driver injured in Pattaya collision

    PHOTOS: Pattaya Law Enforcement A pedestrian and a motorbike driver both have sustained injuries after an incident near Central Festival Pattaya yesterday. Pattaya Law Enforcement reports that the male foreign pedestrian sustained injuries after being hit by a motorbike in front of Central Festival Pattaya. The motorbike driver also sustained injuries as a result of the collision. They were both…

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