- News
Football betting house crackdown in Phuket
A house in Soi Patchanee – Bangcheelao in Rassdada Sub-District was searched by police and military officers once they discovered it was used as a football gambling den over the weekend. On the ground floor police found the area for customers to write down their bet on the printed forms and the computers used to record the bets. Police say…
- Thai Life
Thailand Event Round-Up – April
with The Sponsorship Experts – Paul Poole (South East Asia) Co. Ltd. The month of April is typically dominated by a slew of events related to Songkran, the Thai New Year, and this year is no different. One of our favourites is the Singha Songkran Night Run, which returns to Chiang Mai on 13 April. The run, which takes place…
- News
Nothing to see here… move on. Prawit opens up about wristwatches.
Up to now Deputy PM and Thai Defence Minister, Prawit Wongsuwan, has remained largely silent over ongoing allegations into the many luxury watches adorning his right arm over a series of months. And a flashy diamond ring. But today he says that the wristwatches were lent to him by Patthavart Suksriwong, a wealthy businessman who was his close former classmate at…
- News
30,000 people line up for free herbal cancer ‘cure’
People will go to any lengths in desperation to find a cure for a life-threatening disease. When it comes to cancer, fear and mis-information are a dangerous combination and can lead to people taking risks with almost anything or anyone offering a remedy to their condition. An estimated 30,000 cancer patients and their relatives showed up yesterday (Sunday) outside the…
- News
Rohingya boat people land in Thailand
By Supalak Ganjanakhundee A boat carrying 56 Rohingya landed before dawn yesterday in an area between Koh Ha and Koh Lanta in Krabi province, local officials said, adding that 19 children were onboard. The group was then held in Lanta district yesterday. Krabi’s Governor Kitibodee Pravitra confirmed that people travelling on the boat were Rohingya and that they were hoping…
- News
Border-bound train shot at by suspected militants
Gunman are reported to have opened fire at a train in Narathiwat last evening (March 31). No passengers have been reported as injured. At about 5.30 pm, the Surat Thani/Sungai Kolok train had just left Cho Airong district railway station. After approximately 500 metres from the station gunfire was heard by the driver and some passengers. The train driver didn’t…
- News
Abandoning the cap – Campaign to get rid of bottle cap seals starts today
By Pratch Rujivanarom Thai bottled water producers have responded well to a plan to stop using cap seals, which will not only decrease plastic waste but also reduce unnecessary production costs. In a campaign kicking off today, the Pollution Control Department plans to totally abandon the use of cap seals on bottled water by the end of 2019. Five giant…
- News
90 bikes and 90 motorcyclists bailed up in Bangkok
Bangkok police arrested 90 motorcyclists and a pillion rider and seized 90 bikes in an operation to prevent racing on the capital’s streets. The arrests were made by police from 10 Bangkok police stations who manned road checkpoints late on Friday night and early on Saturday. At the end of the operation, Pol Maj-General Surachet Hakpal held a press conference…
- News
82-year-old assault victim dies – Assailant faces new charges
A 21 year old motorcyclist, alleged to have assaulted an 82 year old tricycle-riding scavenger over a minor collision in Bangkok’s Huai Kwang district on March 13, has been hit with an additional charge of causing death to another person by inflicting injury without intent to cause death. The new charge was filed against Narathorn Sodetiyung, son of a Pratunam-based…
- News
THAIGER TODAY Friday, March 30
NACC non-commital on Prawit’s watches | Maya Bay closes down over monsoon season | Songkran back-flip over water throwing from pick-ups | Calls to end the duty free monopoly at Thai airports | Yingluck & Thaksin show up together in Japan | More crackdown on illegal foreign teachers at international schools. As this is the final Thaiger Today episode for…
- News
UPDATE: Tak bus disaster – 20 Burmese workers burned to death
PHOTO: Thai PBS The badly-burned bodies of 20 Burmese workers killed in a bus fire in Tak’s Muang district early on Friday will be sent about 150 kilometres to two hospitals in Phitsanulok for identification. The bodies were initially sent to the Tak provincial hospital. Due to a lack of equipment required for the disaster victim identification process, that hospital…
- News
Your Say – Closure of Maya Bay during the monsoon 2018
A decision to temporarily close Maya Bay to all tourists during the wet season from this June to September has been approved by the marine national parks chiefs. The move follows proposals from prominent academics and concerned locals to restore the coral reefs and ecosystem to allow nature to recover from the impacts of uncontrolled tourism during the rest of…
- News
Songkran back-flip
Songkran revellers are welcoming news the government will relax its ban to allow them to splash water from the beds of pickups this year – just one of a number of back-flips on previously announced prohibitions for the 2018 Thai New Year celebrations. The water festival in mid-April, the hottest month of the year, is known worldwide. One tradition sees…
- News
Closed for maintenance – Maya Bay closes for wet season
Maya Bay,on Koh Phi Phi, will be closed to all visitors for four months during this monsoon season in an effort to restore its natural ecosystem that has been damaged by excessive tourism. The decision to temporarily close Maya Bay to all tourists during the wet season from this June to September was approved at a meeting of marine national…
- News
New ferry service to link Phuket Airport to nearby provinces
File Photo The Harbour Department will build a new pier near Phuket Airport and open five ferry routes linking Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga according to the department chief today (Thursday). Jirut Wisaljit, director-general of the Harbour Department, said the new port and the “Andaman Ring Route” ferry service would reduce congestion at the Phuket airport and on roads in…
- News
Police junior officers revolting over AC contributions
A junior policeman is crying foul over his supervisors’ demand that he contribute money for the purchase of a new air-conditioner at their police station. Pol Sgt-Major 3rd Class Lersak Nonkhuntod, who works at the Phaholyothin Police Station in Bangkok, lodged a complaint with both the Metropolitan Police Bureau and the Office of Public-Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC). Due to the…
- News
Sexual harassment isn’t our fault, it’s mens’ – Sirinya “Cindy” Bishop
A well-known model has launched a social-media campaign to tackle the widespread and erroneous belief that sexual harassment stems from a woman’s choice of clothes. Sirinya “Cindy” Bishop, who is also an actress, has used social media to counter recent messages propagated by authorities that sexual harassment can be stopped by urging women not to dress in a revealing way.…
- Thai Life
Patong and Kamala Number One in Hotels.com survey
The recent Hotel Price Index from Hotels.com revealed that Kathu District, where Patong and Kamala beaches are located, is among the top five destinations for low cost 5-star accommodation among global travellers in 2017. The HPI uncovered the Top 5 most popular destinations for low cost 5-star accommodation – from resorts and high-end chains to villas and luxury boutiques: 1.…
- News
THAIGER TODAY Wednesday, March 28
Dos and Don’ts for Songran this year | Red Cross calling for blood donations leading up to the Thai New Year holiday | PM confident of the election road-map timing | 2 drown off Songkhla | Report card for Phuket Airport, and it’s not good | Charges against bus company for last week’s Nakhon Ratchasima crash | Human rights campaigner…
- News
Thai disability sailing gets a boost
In exciting news for the disabled sailing community worldwide, the S\V14 organisation are proud to announce that FarEast Yachts will produce the S\V14 at their production base in China and in a remarkable offer, will supply the first one thousand S\V14’s at a subsidized price of US$ 3,000 for the base boat ex works Shanghai. FarEast Yachts have also agreed…
- News
THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, March 27
Premchai being sued in civil case | New type of ‘start up’ visa on the way | Amorous Russians have left the country | Grab taking over Uber in South East Asia | Underwater gamblers in hot water | New Mae Hong Son flights from DMK | Arsonist lit fires on 10 vehicles in Chonburi | Road resurfacing magic in…
- News
THAIGER TODAY Monday, March 26
Driver point demerit system proposed (again) | Taxi driver found dead | Thai Government seeking exemptions over US tax tariffs | Serbian tourists fined over ‘innapropriate’ clothing at temple | Box jellyfish warning in waters off Trat | French tourist beaten up by 5 men in Pattaya | NGOs seek extension for registration of migrant workers | 35 passengers have…
- News
Krabi’s underwater gamblers in hot water
A group of four divers playing cards for money under water could be in trouble if they were really gambling under the sea in Krabi. But authorities think that it is probably just a prank filmed abroad even though Thai money is clearly visible. A video of the “card school” has been shared on Facebook. Four people with lots of ten baht…
- News
Thailand Number 14 in road accident ratings. Which is the most dangerous country on the roads?
Compiling data from the World Health Organisation, World Bank and UNESCO, here is the latest ranking for road deaths around the world. Of course the situation changes every day but Thailand is in very poor company indeed with countries having a rate of more than 30 deaths per 100,000 people from road accidents. Thailand is, today, in 14th position around…
- News
New ‘Start Up Camp’ visas on offer soon
The Thai government is to offer ‘Start-up Camp’ visas to foreign IT and tech experts, this from the PM’s Office Minister Kobsak Pootrakool. Areas affected will include Phuket, Chiang Mai, Bangkok and the Eastern Economic Corridor. The government will also revamp the tax law to encourage start-ups to stay here instead of later moving to low-tax regime countries such as…
- News
A PHAB night of Glam, Glitz and Glitter
The Phuket Hotels Association, a nonprofit group of hoteliers focused on promoting a positive image for Phuket while supporting community-based projects, is hosting a benefit gala dinner on Saturday, 28 April 2018 to raise funds for 20 plus hospitality scholarships and traineeships for local residents. The Glam, Glitz and Glitter event will take place at the Latitude Marquee, Laguna Phuket…
- News
Earth Hour saves power, lowers emissions – Bangkok
Bangkok saved 2,002 megawatts of electricity as a result of observing the 2018 Earth Hour last night (Saturday). Deputy Bangkok Governor Chakkapan Phewngam revealed the results, explaining further that the figures meant savings of 7.9 million baht and the reduction of 1,026 tonnes of carbon monoxide emissions. In the capital, the Earth Hour event was held at Central Plaza Grand…
- News
Points system for traffic offences to be considered by Thai cabinet
A national road safety committee is pushing for a new points system that can be applied to drivers licenses as part of an effort to force better standards of driving and provide a blunt reminder of the importance of road safety. Under the points system, motorists who commit traffic offences will loose points from a starting total of 12 points.…
- News
Air Asia mea culpa over bike unloading
AirAsia has apologised to cyclists whose bicycles were seen to be poorly handled by ramp staff in a viral video. As a gesture of goodwill the low-cost airline is waiving all fees to transport bicycles for April, said its CEO Riad Asmat. “As a cyclist myself, I was pretty disturbed when I saw the actions of our staff. Rest assured,…
- News
“US-China trade war will hurt Thai exports” – Economist
By Wichit Chaitrong, The Nation The Government has been urged to brace for the impact from a possible trade war between the United States and China with US President Donald Trump planning to impose tariffs on many Chinese goods and China vowing to retaliate. Sompop Manarungsan, veteran economist and president of the Panyapiwat Institute of Management, yesterday said he was…