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19 students injured in Chiang Rai van accident
A van carrying students overturned on a road in Chiang Rai province on Wednesday morning, injuring everyone on board. The accident took place on Paholyothin Road in the Mae Chan district at about 6.40am. Most students sustained minor injuries and were allowed to return home following treatment, but some remained hospitalised as of press time. The van had collision insurance…
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THAIGER TODAY Wednesday, December 27
‘Silly Season’ starts tomorrow | Government has new year ‘gifts’ | German detained over Krabi vandalism | Four hour waits for visa-on-arrival at BKK airport | Seven Dangerous Days ‘rules’ | Militants attack twice in Narathiwat.
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The ‘silly season’ is upon us
New year’s celebrations will soon begin with millions of people hitting the road and revellers gathering at festive venues. But before the celebrations begin, authorities came forward yesterday to advise the public about permitted and prohibited activities. “We will be lenient with the ban on passengers in pickup beds but drivers must be very careful, especially when applying the brakes,”…
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WEDNESDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes
There are two seven-days-of-danger on Thailand’s roads, as designated by the police – one starting tomorrow and the other during Songkran. They are the two worst periods for road deaths, by far. We don’t want you to be one of the statistics this year so we urge you to prepare ahead of any road trips to ensure that you are…
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THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, December 26
Toon crosses the finish line | Overpass links the two Central Festival buildings | 60 year old British man drowns at Similans | Free helmets being handed out to kids in Phuket Town | Tropical depression heading our way for the weekend.
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Toon crosses the finish line, exceeding the fund-raising targets and becoming a national hero
Thailand’s national hero Artiwara Kongmalai, better known as Toon Bodyslam, has completed his epic mission to raise funds for state hospitals via a run from the country’s southernmost corner to its northernmost tip. It is a job well done, exceeding targets in many aspects. Artiwara’s charity run has managed to attract more than 1.1 billion baht in donations, far above…
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TUESDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes
Boxing Day in Phuket. Where did the name Boxing Day come from? We’ve done the Googling for you. Have a read HERE. There’s another of these pesky tropical storms heading over the South China Sea at the moment, making landfall with Vietnam today then heading over the Gulf of Thailand and affecting the southern coastal provinces from tomorrow and Thursday.…
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Toon to cross the finish line tonight
Rock star runner, turned national hero, Artiwara “Toon” Kongmalai will reach his destination at the northernmost tip of Thailand night in Mae Sai district near Chiang Rai (December 25). Toon and his support team are expected to arrive at around 9pm at the border crossing at the end of Phahon Yothin Road in Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district, more than…
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MONDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes
Merry Christmas from all of us here at Phuket Gazette and The Thaiger. We urge you to be extra careful out on the roads on this day and in the days up to New Year. It’s the busiest time for tourism on the island and there are lots of people here to celebrate. Let’s see which stories are leading the…
- News
Toon ploughs on in 8 degree temperatures
Charity-run hero Artiwara “Toon” Kongmalai continued his run in Chiang Rai amid thick morning fog in chilly 8 degrees Celsius weather, determined to cover the final 60 kilometres stretch on Sunday to reach the finish line by December 25 as planned. So far, Toon – who has been voted in a Bangkok Poll survey as the most admirable person of…
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26 year old Chinese tourist drowns an hour after arriving in Phuket
A Chinese tourist drowned at Patong Beach yesterday while waiting to check into his hotel. Police say 26 year old An Huifeng drowned shortly after he and his girlfriend went into the water while they were waiting to check in. Police spoke to the man’s girlfriend and found out that the two arrived in Phuket only an hour before and…
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SUNDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes
One more sleep until Santa comes down the chimney. Not there are many chimneys in Phuket – perhaps leave the back door open instead. A final decision on the Thepa Coal Plant seems to be dragging on, a Chinese tourist drowned only an hour after arriving on the island, BKK police have seized 72 modified motorbikes and Toon’s close to…
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Ceremony to commence the removal of the Royal Crematorium replica in Saphan Hin
A worship ritual was held yesterday (December 22) to start the removal the replica of the Royal Crematorium of Late HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej Rama 9 in Saphan Hin. The ritual was chaired by Phuket’s Vice Governor Thavornwat Kongkaew, alongside a number of local authorities and local people. The ritual was conducted in front of Late HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej…
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SATURDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes
Two sleeps before Christmas and the weekend has brought a bit of Christmas cloud. Possible showers today and an 80% chance of rain forecast for Christmas Eve. Watches are back in the news, a decision to reject wiretapping, moving Rama IX’s Royal Crematorium and the ongoing search for wayward Abbot Phra Dhammachayo. Here we go with today’s briefs… ‘No’ to wiretapping…
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Is Phra Dhammachayo living abroad?
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has found a clue that Phra Dhammachayo, the ex-abbot of Pathum Thani’s Dhammakaya Temple, wanted for a high-profile money-laundering case and separate land encroachments, was hiding abroad. (Read earlier story HERE) The agency is checking the credibility of the clue before doing anything that might waste the state budget, DSI deputy chief Pol Major…
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THAIGER TODAY Friday, December 22
Prayut pushes ahead with high-speed train project | Bangkok police start a 100% helmet campaign | Laypang Beach 70% cleared | Thai tour guides protest against illegal guides, again | Pattaya tiger zoo under fire for ‘poking’ video | Less than 200 Km to go for Toon | Missing Koh Lanta boat found.
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Less than 200 Km to go – Toon reaches 2,000 Km milestone mark on Day 52
Rock star Artiwara “Toon” Kongmalai reached the 2,000km mark of his 2,191km charity run early this morning (Friday) amid chilling weather of 10 degrees Celsius. Toon and his group started the day’s first lap at 3:20am from their rest point in Ban Mae Prao village in Tambon Ban Huad in Lapang’s Ngao district when the mercury was about 10C or…
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FRIDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes
Friday. Only three more sleeps until Christmas. But we’ll be posting the latest news from around Phuket and Thailand right through the ‘silly season’. We urge you to take extra care on the roads in the traditional ‘seven dangerous days’. If you do head out to celebrate, catch a taxi or get someone sober to take you home. We want…
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40 year old kiteboarder dies off Hua Hun beach
An Irish tourist has drowned in the sea at Prachuap Khiri Khan’s Hua Hin District after a kiteboarding accident during rough seas. Pol Captain Jaruak Khongkarien, Hua Hin Police Station investigative officer, said on Wednesday that police received a report of a drowning in the sea near the beach at Soi Hua Hin 77. When they arrived, they found that…
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‘Dead’ man visits home in Si Sa Ket seven months after his own funeral
Metropolitan Police Division 1 Chief Pol Maj-General Zenith Samransamruadkit has assigned a team to investigate the misidentification of a corpse, resulting in a Si Sa Ket man being declared dead and his family holding a funeral and cremating an unknown dead male almost seven months ago. Sakhon Sacheewa, a 44 year old fisherman, returned to visit his hometown on Sunday…
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Laypang arrives at new home – Phuket Zoo
The 2.8 metre crocodile, Laypang, said to be an “alien species” that was caught around Laypang Beach several months ago, was transferred to the Phuket Zoo today (December 20). During the transfer ceremony at the Coastal Aquaculture Research and Development Regional Centre 5 in Thalang district, Phuket Zoo manager Pichai Sakulsorn signed a three year agreement with Fisheries Department representative…
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THAIGER TODAY Wednesday, December 20
Prayut backs his deputy over watch scandal | Air Asia uniforms ‘too revealing’ | Help comes to Krabi 9 year old | Baan Yamu monkeys to be shifted | National police chief vows to track down bus burners | Tanyakan family file official police complaint | Diphtheria hits young refugees in camps in Bangladesh.
- Thailand News
Malaysian MPs say AirAsia, Firefly stewardess uniforms too sexy
Two Malaysian ruling party lawmakers have chided homegrown low-cost airlines AirAsia and Firefly for dressing their stewardesses in uniforms that are “too revealing”. Senator Abdullah Mat Yasim, a division chief of the ruling Umno party, said in Parliament the fitted attire of AirAsia’s and Firefly’s female flight attendants can “arouse passengers”, the New Straits Times reported. The “eye-catching outfits” also…
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Cadet “Meay’s” family takes case to police
The family of a cadet whose death caught national attention turned up at a police station on Tuesday to “fight for justice”. Supitcha Tanyakan, the elder sister of Phakhapong “Meay” Tanyakan, said she still had faith in the country’s judicial system. She was speaking as her parents stood by her side at Muang Nakhon Nayok Police Station. The Tanyakans have…
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Expensive bling and bad-taste comments about ‘Meay’ case put pressure on Prawit
The PM General Prayut Chan-o-cha has been urged to exercise his absolute powers to suspend Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan from duty as the deputy premier remains mired in controversy. “We call on Prayut to use Article 44 to temporarily suspend Prawit from his posts as deputy premier and defence minister without pay until the investigation conclusion,” Srisuwan Janya,…
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TUESDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes
A perfect sunny day ahead for your Tuesday with moderate to fresh north-easterly winds up to 25 kph. The fresh winds are expected to continue during the week with an approaching storm arriving this weekend. In the meantime, let’s check out the stories making headlines today… ‘Business conflicts’ might be behind bus attack in Yala The Fourth Army regional commander…
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THAIGER TODAY Monday, December 18
New local football club emerges | Militants torch a bus in Yala | Crackdown on Khao Lak fakes | Brutal injury from a Muay Thai fight in Patong | 1000 ride for local sea turtles | Trang school students suspended following student extortion | Toon in Tak, 400 Km to go.
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Southern militants torch passenger bus
Militants armed with rifles yesterday torched a coach heading to Bangkok after removing the passengers in Yala’s Bannang Sata district in the latest violence in the South. Prior to the attack, the militants, who authorities said were trying to create chaos, also set up roadblocks with trees that they had cut down and set fire to villagers’ houses. Officials were…
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“Army has distorted the truth” – Phakhapong’s mother
The mother of Phakhapong “Meay” Tanyakan yesterday raised suspicions about the military investigation committee’s report into the 18 year old cadet’s death, saying it distorted the truth. Sukanya Tanyakan also pointed out in a Facebook post that the committee had slandered her son by saying that he did not respect seniority. Her comments came after the results of a military…
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SUNDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes
Sunday, Sunday. Rain, sunshine, clouds. Will the weather please make up its mind! The forecast is for some early rain clearing as the day goes. Mostly cloudy and a top of 30. Let’s check today’s main local headlines… Trang school gangs extorting students The director of a well-known private school in the southern province of Trang has admitted some students…





























