Year: 2019

  • Thailand Election News

    Deputy police chief denies foreign diplomats present at Thanathorn interrogation

    The deputy national police commissioner is denying that a group of foreign diplomats were present at a questioning session when the Future Forward party leader reported to Bangkok police on Saturday morning over sedition charges. Pol General Srivara Rangsibhramanakul said the diplomats were invited to a briefing after the interrogation of Thanathorn Jungrungruengkit at Pathum Wan police station. The Future…

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  • Phuket News

    Phuket’s water supply scraping the bottom of the three dams

    The temperature hit 34 degrees today, light winds and 10% chance of rain for the rest of today (code for a slight chance of a tropical storm cell dropping its load on some small part of the island). And there’s little rain in sight until maybe Sunday. Meanwhile the remaining supply in Phuket’s three main catchments continues to evaporate today.…

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  • Pattaya News

    Death of Spanish man in Pattaya. Massuese wasn’t qualified.

    PHOTO: Sanook The Department of Public Health say they will prosecute the Pattaya massage spa where a Spanish man died while having an oil massage. Yesterday a 67 year old Spanish man telephoned a massage shop on Central Pattaya Road to say that he wanted a massage before returning to his home country for medical treatment. The shop was not…

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  • Krabi News

    Two young men killed in Krabi hit-and-run

    Police in Krabi are hunting for the driver of a pickup truck whose vehicle hit and killed two young boys riding a motorcycle. He failed to stop and drove away.The boys, 14 and 12 years old, who have not been officially identified, were killed just after midnight on Sai Khao-Klong Thom Road in the village of Ban Klong Raed, Klong…

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  • South Thailand News

    Four dead in Narathiwat minivan accident – PHOTOS

    PHOTOS: Mettatham Rescue Foundation Four people are dead after a minivan collision in Narathiwat early today. The Mettatham Rescue Foundation reports that they were notified of the accident early this morning in Bajoh, Narathiwat, in the far south of Thailand. The minivan was carrying 12 teachers from a school in Narathiwat, from Malaysia back to the border province. Four people died…

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  • Phuket News

    Chinese tour companies in Phuket being checked

    Officers have made random checks on tour companies in Phuket today after receiving complaints. Tourist Police, soldiers and officers from the Tourism Business and Guide Southern Division 2 have descended on 10 tour companies in the Wichit and Phuket Town areas, based in the Phuket Villa 3 housing estate, Panason housing estate, Phuket Villa Dawroong housing estate and Soi Poonphon. Chief…

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  • Northern Thailand News

    Northern smoke haze easing slowly

    Either by hard work, serendipity or pure luck, the smog and haze in the North has eased considerably within the seven-day timeframe set last Tuesday by the Thai PM General Prayut Chan-o-cha. The PM flew into the smoke-stricken Chiang Mai last Tuesday to meet with northern provincial governors to work out active solutions. During the visit, the premier made clear that…

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  • Hot News

    Re-enacment of Koh Si Chang rape and murder case

    A 24 year old Thai, charged over the rape and murder of a 27 year old female German backpacker on Chon Buri’s Koh Si Chang on Sunday, has re-enacted the horrific crime that has shaken public morale on the popular island. Koh Si Chang injuste north-west of Pattaya in the Gulf of Thailand. Ronnakorn Romruen, a resident of the Moo…

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  • Thailand Weather Updates

    Situation critical for Phuket’s water supply

    Phuket has an acute water shortage. But there has been no warnings or even suggestions of restrictions from the Phuket Water Authority. Instead residents are heading to the local media to vent their frustration. On February 6 the PWA foreshadowed odd/even day water restrictions for some residential areas of the island, only to rescind the action the next day saying…

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  • Krabi News

    Driver says sacred amulet saved her in Krabi collision – VIDEO

    PHOTOS: Krabi Pitak Pracha Rescue Foundation A female driver has sustained minor injuries after driving into the back of a trailer carrying a backhoe in Krabi. Emergency responders headed to the scene of the accident on Monday night in Krabi City. They arrived at the scene to find a wrecked sedan that had collided with the back of a truck which…

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  • Songkran News

    400,000 take to the skies during Songkran

    The Airports Department expects over 400,000 passengers to pass through the nation’s 25 airports during the Songkran holiday break. Ampawan Wannako, the director-general of the Airports Department, says passenger projections for the holidays was 404,778 for the period from April 11 (tomorrow) to April 17, or an average of 57,224 passengers per day. This projection is up on last year’s…

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  • Pattaya News

    Pattaya ladyboys nabbed for stealing credit cards from South Korean tourist

    A pair of ladyboys have been nabbed for allegedly stealing a wallet with three credit cards from a South Korean tourist in Pattaya. The two suspects were identified as 33 year old Sawarin Silaket and 35 year old Onkaew Homdok . Pattaya police chief Pol Colonel Prawit Chorseng said the arrest was made after 44 year old Hojun Cho filed…

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  • Phuket News

    Vachira Phuket Hospital sets new after hours fee, other public hospitals to follow

    Vachira Phuket Hospital, Phuket’s largest public hospital, will charge non-emergency patients 100 baht for after-hours treatment. The new charge kicks in on May 1. The new 100 baht fee co-incides with a change in policy by the Thai Ministry of Health that has ordered all hospitals in the country to charge fees for non-emergency patients arriving for treatment outside normal…

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  • Chiang Mai News

    Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai coach bursts into flames – VIDEO

    A tour bus has been erupted into flames in a dramatic roadside fire on a road just out of Chiang Mai. Channel 3 reports that the bus burst into flames 39 kilometres out of Chiang Mai on the Chiang Mai/Chiang Rai Road early this afternoon. The 55 year old driver noticed smoke coming from one of the rear wheels and…

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  • Bangkok News

    PM uses Article 44 powers to sack Surachate

    PHOTO: Spring News Thai media is reporting that the PM Prayut Chan-ocha used his Article 44 powers to remove Lt-Gen Surachate Hakparn from his job as Immigration chief and side-line him to office duties, pending an enquiry. Following Friday night’s transfer of the Immigration chief it has now been announced that PM Prayut placed the Lt-Gen on a list of…

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  • Thailand News

    One killed, another injured after train slams into upside-down van in Ayutthaya

    PHOTO: Matichon Online One man is dead and another severely injured after their van hit a road barrier and flipped onto railway tracks before being hit by a train in Ayutthaya, just north of Bangkok, early today. The Ayutthaya police station was alerted of the accident at the u-turn under the Ban Ma flyover on the Asia highway’s frontage in…

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  • Bangkok News

    Foreign Minister angry at foreign diplomats who attended Thanathorn’s reporting to police

    Thailand’s Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai vented his anger today at foreign diplomats who attended the reporting of Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit to police on Saturday morning in Bangkok. The diplomats were from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK and the US, as well as EU and UN human rights officials. Don says he’s considering inviting the diplomats in for…

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  • Pattaya News

    Accused took drugs before raping and killing German backpacker

    23 year old Ronnakorn Romruen, a rubbish collector, arrested for raping and murdering a German tourist over the weekend, has told police that he consumed drugs before meeting the woman on her rented motorcycle on Koh Sichang. He allegedly killed German backpacker Miriam Beelte aged 27 (some news outlets reports she was 26). According to his confession, he took her…

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  • Northern Thailand News

    Motorcyclist survives being run over at traffic light in Nakhon Nayok – VIDEO

    VIDEO: Baan Na Police A motorbike driver has survived after a truck trailer ran over him and his motorbike at traffic lights in Nakhon Nayok, just north-east of Bangkok, yesterday. Daily News reports that the motorbike driver had stopped at the traffic light, waling just in front of the truck. The truck driver apparently was unable to see the motorbike.…

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  • Northern Thailand News

    Royal approval for four light-rail train projects, including Phuket

    A Royal Decree has given final approval for electric light-rail train projects in Phuket, Phang Nga, Chiang Mai and Nakhon Ratchasima. Komchadluek reports that His Majesty the King has given the royal go-ahead for the long-touted and much-discussed projects from Phuket to Phang Nga, Chiang Mai and Nakhonn Ratchasima. The royal approval was issued on April 4, 2019 for the…

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  • Opinion

    Fox News fake news, Phuket gets a bullet

    by Bill Barnett, C9Hotelworks.com As Phuket moves slowly into low season, a story published in the international media by the US-based Fox News about how tourists could face the death penalty over taking photos at the island’s airport is a highly flaw piece of sensationalist fake news. Clearly there is no likelihood that the Thai authorities will apply a legal maximum…

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  • Northern Thailand News

    Ministry works towards ending sugarcane burning in three years

    The Ministry of Industry is proposing to the Thai Cabinet a plan to end sugarcane farmers’ annual burn-off of their plantations before harvesting. The practice is being largely blamed for the north’s smog problems. But they are recommending a three year moratorium before completely stamping out the annual agri-burning. Thai PBS reports that the plan will be incorporated into a…

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  • Thailand News

    Body of missing boy found in canal in Phetchburi

    The body of a one year old who has been missing for eight days has been found in a canal in Phetchburi today. The body was found floating face down in the klong in Phetchburi early this morning. The male toddler, just over a year old, was reported missing to police in Pakin Kidtalod eight days ago. The mother of ‘Nong…

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  • Environment News

    Hunters injured in Chiang Mai national park shoot-out

    Two ethnic Lahu hunters have been injured in a clash with Sri Lanna National Park officials in Chiang Mai over the weekend. The Lahu are one of the 56 ethnic groups officially recognised by the People’s Republic of China, where about 720,000 live in Yunnan province, mostly in Lancang Lahu Autonomous County. In Thailand, the Lahu are one of the…

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  • Hot News

    Fake news goes viral about ‘death sentence’ for Phuket airport selfies

    International media are going crazy over a completely nonsense story. But, of course, one outlet posts the fake news and the others copy/paste. “Tourists who take selfies on notorious airport beach are threatened with the death penalty by Thai officials,” trumpets the headline in Daily Mail. (‘notorious’???) “Tourists taking beach selfies while planes take-off have angered airport chiefs in Thailand…

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  • Northern Thailand News

    Tourism dries up for Songkran in north this year

    The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) says tourism levels during the Songkran break will be down by 10%, partly due to the northern haze problems. Chiang Mai is one of the country’s most popular Songkran festival locations. Meanwhile, the Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA) says the strong baht is encouraging Thais to travel overseas during this year’s Songkran festival. TAT…

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  • Phuket News

    Woman arrested after stealing 2.3 million baht cash in Phuket

    A woman has been arrested yesterday after stealing more than 2 million baht cash from her victim’s house in Phuket. She told her neighbour that she won on a lottery ticket. She also bought a new car. Anusara Kaewsopa filed a report to Chalong Police that a suspect had broken into a house in Soi Songkun, Chalong on April 4.…

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  • Business News

    Massive 11 hotel project, surf club and waterpark for Kata, Phuket

    by Bill Barnett, C9Hotelworks.com Thai developer K.W. Plaza group has unveiled plans for a large-scale mixed-use project called The Beach Plaza on 15 rai, that will have 11 three and four star hotels with a total of 1.490 rooms. The developer is already pitching the unconstructed project to global hotel interests for an imminent sale. The properties will have varying room…

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  • Bangkok News

    3 metre python hides in toilet. Bites man’s penis.

    SOURCE: Pattaya One News Before you read the story, The Thaiger notices that the video used in the Pattaya One story dated today, is dated four month’s ago. Slow news day in Pattaya? Maybe. But here’s the harrowing tale anyway about the hungry python and the unlucky Thai 45 year old. 45 year old Terdsak Kaewpangpan, went to the bathroom…

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  • Bangkok News

    Surachate has nothing to say to media in his first public appearance

    Former Immigration Bureau chief Surachate Hakparn, and confidant of Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwan, said nothing yesterday about his abrupt transfer to an inactive post at the RTP HQ in Bangkok. In his first public appearance following the transfer order from the national police chief Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda back to ‘inactive duties”, Surachate reported to work at the Royal Thai Police…

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  • Hot News

    Skinny ‘Real-life Dumbo’ filmed at Phuket Zoo performing tricks for tourists

    PHOTOS: Moving Animals The Phuket Zoo has again been exposed as a below-standard attraction where the inmates appear to be often mistreated, defying modern international standards and conventions for zoos. A skinny looking baby elephant has been filmed as it was forced to dance and perform tricks for tourists in, what the Mail Online describes as, “heart-breaking footage”. It’s not…

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  • Bangkok News

    Surachate reports to the Royal Thai Police HQ

    …but there was nothing to say from the man that’s had a lot to say in the past. Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, you know, the guy who’s been in our news almost every day for the past year, has reported to the RTP HQ today, but soon after was seen leaving the building. No talking to the media today, strange…

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  • Bangkok News

    BTS conclude their record-breaking Love Yourself world tour in Bangkok

    Seven young South Koreans came to Bangkok over the weekend to complete a sell-out world tour and the finish of a year that saw them rise from a K-Pop anomaly to a global pop sensation. BTS (Bangtan Sonyeondan – Bulletproof Boyscouts) have toured the world with their ‘Love Yourself’ tour in an eventful year that has seen them break through…

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  • Phuket News

    Man arrested with over 30K methamphetamine pills in Phuket

    A man has been arrested with 30,894 methamphetamine pills in Phuket. The Phuket City Police report that they arrested 23 year old Supot ‘Boy’ Numnuan over the matter. Police seized 30,894 of methamphetamine pills, a handmade handgun and 77 bullets. He has been charged with illegal possession of a Category 1 Drug, as well as gun and ammunition with intent to…

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  • Krabi News

    Students drowns at Krabi island during school trip

    A student from a school in Narathiwat has drowned at Koh Poda in Krabi while she was on school trip yesterday. Emergency responders were notified of the incident after girl fell unconscious while she was playing in the water at Koh Poda yesterday afternoon (Sunday). The female student was later identified as 16 year old Sutanya Narakunmongkon from Narathiwat. She…

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  • Phuket News

    500 free helmets to be handed out to motorbike drivers before Songkran

    FILE PHOTO: Patong Police Patong Development Foundation, along with Patong Police and Patong Municipality, will be handing out 500 helmets to motorbike drivers in Patong before Songkran Day under the campaign ‘Where’s your helmet’. Patong Police Chief Col Anothai Jindamanee says, “Many motorbike drivers have been injured and die in road accident. We want 100 percent of motorbike drivers and…

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  • Northern Thailand News

    Baby elephant being moved to specialised care after falling in drain

    Officials have relocated a baby elephant rescued from a drain in a Bueng Kan village on the weekend to a wildlife protection facility to receive treatment for an infection.Phu Wua Wildlife Sanctuary officials moved the young elephant from an open pen at the edge of the forest in Bung Kla district to the Kokkwang Forest protection base nearby. The base…

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