News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond.
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Krabi officials to limit the number of tourists to Maya Bay
Following thousands of tourists pouring into Maya Bay during the tourism high season and over-crowding the beach on a daily basis, the President of Krabi Industry Council, Aekawit Pinyothammanotai, said today (January 17) that the number of tourists will have to be controlled. “The number of tourists traveling to Krabi beaches keeps increasing while the resources remain the same; this…
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Future of money or a fraud? Deconstructing Bitcoin in the region.
By Asia News Network, NEW DELHI Bitcoin’s popularity in Asia has had a positive influence on other alternative cryptocurrencies such as ethereum and litecoin. Clearly there is a great demand for such digital money, even though its volatility hurts. Asia has reacted both warmly and violently to the rising interest and craze in cryptocurrencies. Asian regulators have either outrightly banned the…
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UPDATE: Boat collision off at entrance to Royal Phuket Marina channel
From yesterday… Two boats have crashed at the entrance to the Royal Phuket Marina in the channel. Boats named ‘Pimracha’ and ‘Sattakamol’ collided just off the coast resulting in six injuries including one Thai man and 5 Italian tourists. The accident happened at the entrance to the channel leading to the Royal Phuket Marina at 4:30pm. Two of the tourists…
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THAIGER TODAY Wednesday, January 17
Second boat incident in three days | Prawit’s offering to resign if found guilty of ‘wrongdoing’ | Smart Visa details | Krabi and Thepa coal plants ‘still happening’ | PM puts hold on cannabis crops | Tax breaks for Thai families having babies.
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Three nabbed over fake goods and items seized in Karon
An undocumented migrant from Myanmar and two others from Cambodia have been arrested in Karon for selling pirated goods. The arrests, in a bid to suppress copyright violations, were made by a joint operation of Interior Ministry officials, troops and naval officers led by Muang Phuket assistant district chief Danai Jaikheng yesterday (Tuesday). The three were arrested at a roadside…
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Smart visa available from February 1
The Thai Cabinet has approved a new “smart visa” to lure specialists to work in 10 targeted industries. Applications for the smart visa will begin on February 1. Kobsak Pootrakool, minister of the Prime Minister’s Office, said the targeted industries included Thai-based industries known as the First S-Curve and new industries dubbed the New S-Curve. First S-Curve industries include next-generation…
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Mercedes driver knocks out hotel security guard in Patong
A bar owner in Patong, 37 year old Chana Thammawichai, the owner of the Mercedes in the video on social media, punched a hotel security guard, 27 year old Jetsada Thong-Iad, just because the guard didn’t open the barrier for him. Khun Chana has been arrested. The 4 minute footage of the attack shows that the man driving his convertible…
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Member of a Phuket gang arrested after attempted murder
Police have arrested 18 year old Pisut ‘Jojo’ Pohthong with a gun that he possesses illegally (a hand-made ‘Pradit’) and seven .38 bullets, in a house on Srisutat Road in Rassada. This arrest follows an incident that happened on January 1 when Jojo’s gang opened fire on the rival gang at the Queen Sirikit’s 72nd Anniversary Chalerm Prakiat Park (Dragon…
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THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, January 16
The investigation starts into Sunday’s boat explosion | NACC asks posters to ‘go steady’ on Prawit’s watches | Armoured vehicle kills one, injures three in Pattani | American & Russian nabbed selling drugs on Koh Phangan | ‘Poshtels’ are the latest accommodation trend.
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Boat debris discovered and tagged off Viking Cave, Koh Phi Phi
King Poseidon 959 debris found in front of Viking Cave A team of Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park officers, Krabi Marine officers, Forensic Police and divers explored the debris of King Poseidon yesterday (January 15), which washed up on a reef in front of the Viking Cave tourist attraction. The debris was about 200 metres…
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UPDATE: Two passengers and the captain of King Poseidon remain in ICU
The Deputy Director of Krabi Nakarin International Hospital, Doctor Sunthorn Fongfung, revealed today (January 15) that the two patients remaining at the hospital’s ICU including Xu Xin and Wu Zhi An are still under close care from the medical team and will have to remain in the hospital for at least 20 days as 50% of their bodies are burnt…
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‘Poshtels’ pushing into Southeast Asia’s budget and economy hotel space
PHOTO: Agoda.com by Bill Banett, c9hotelworks.com A new market report question’s if cookie-cutter hotel groups will again fall asleep at the wheel as they did with online travel agents and Airbnb Call them ‘poshtels’, hostels or hybrid hotels, but one of the most exciting travel spaces across Asia is the emergence of socially-focused accommodation. Not only have millennials embraced the…
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UPDATE: Phi Phi boat explosion
Authorities have been visiting injured passengers and staff of ‘King Poseidon’ in Phuket and Krabi while a meeting regarding the accident will be held today (January 15) chaired by Phuket’s Governor as well as an investigation at the accident scene by Krabi authorities. The ‘King Poseidon’ was a 3-engine speed boat with 28 year old Kriengkrai Boonsri as the captain.…
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Confidence in teachers survey – Thai Teacher Day tomorrow
Many of us are involved in education, either directly or indirectly, here on the island. Many expats work with schools, many of us have children attending schools and others work in association with school activities or have partners in the local education system. Tomorrow is Thai Teacher Day and a new survey has come out reflecting what people think about…
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Jealous man arrested over murder of wife in Bangkok
By Kittipong Maneerit A man has confessed to killing his bar-worker wife last Thursday over jealousy and a money dispute. 27 year old Mingkwan Rattanapetch known as Saranya, was strangled inside her apartment in Bangkok. Her husband, 22 year old Noppadon Singhachote has told police that he got angry when Saranya quarrelled with him over money and threatened to leave…
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Boat fire off Koh Phi Phi – Chinese tourists injured
A speedboat named ‘King Poseidon’ carrying 31 passengers exploded this morning (January 14) in front of Viking Bay on Koh Phi Phi Ley. Injuries have been reported from the accident. https://www.facebook.com/phuketgazette/videos/1580631392014683/ There were 26 Chinese (23 adults and 3 children) plus 5 Thais who are the crew staff. There are five reported to be severely injured at this stage with…
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SUNDAY MORNING HEADLINES – All your local news in 3 minutes
Hope you enjoyed Children’s Day activities yesterday. Certainly a lot of activities around Phuket. If you want to check out the longer stories, click on the headlines. Looks like a mostly fine but cloudy day ahead. Here’s some of the main news stories, locally and around the region this Sunday morning… Children’s Day favourite at Government House Thailand yesterday celebrated National…
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Thai men first same-sex couple to marry in Queensland, Australia
Two Thai men were among the first same-sex couples in Queensland to get married following passage of Australia’s historic marriage equality bill. While many Australian same-sex couples chose to celebrate New Year’s 2018 by getting married, 37 year old Jarrukit Somjich from Chiang Rai and 49 year old Kiticha Srijad from Pathum Thani wed right after the bill passed in…
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Powered paraglider crashes in provincial Children’s Day celebrations
A powered paraglider fell and landed on a palm tree in Chumphon province during a show to mark National Children’s Day on Saturday morning. The accident happened at 10am behind the Tambon Haad Yai Administrative Organisation in Lang Suan district, tambon officials said. 47 year old Sathaporn Rakbamrung who was flying the paraglider, escaped without injuries. He performed a show…
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A third of Thai children are ‘disadvantaged’
More than one in three children in Thailand are in disadvantaged groups – this according to the Mental Health Department’s director-general, Dr Squadron-Leader Boonruang Triruangworawat. “Of 13.82 million children (below 18 years of age), at least 5 million are underprivileged,” Boonruang said. He said 80 per cent of underprivileged children were financially poor and about six per cent were from…
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Bangsaray. Idyllic beaches, tropical retreat. But where is it?
Ever heard of Bangsaray? It’s about 20 kilometres south of ‘Sin City’, Pattaya, and, so far has seemed to retain much of its charm. Remember Pattaya wasn’t much more than a haphazard fishing village 40 years ago (it might be argued that it’s not a fishing village any more but still haphazard). 20 kilometres appears to make a large difference…
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THAIGER TODAY Friday, January 12
Would you pay 40 baht for a small bottle of water in Thailand? | Prawit’s watch collection knows no bounds | Chalong ‘drifters’ hand themselves in | Committee set up to manage the Layan beach foreshore | Bangkok sends it’s cable underground…eventually | Dismantling begins of the Royal Crematorium in Sanam Luang.
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Marine Office sets new life vest standards
The Phuket Marine Office has issued a rule about life vest standard’s certification for each boat to ensure all vessels only use the life vest approved by the Marine Office to guarantee quality. Phuket Marine Office Chief, Surat Sirisaiyat, says that the new rule will order all boats to use life vesta approved by the Marine Office, which comprises qualifications…
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Anti-graft activist passes on 16 more watch pics to the NACC
Anti-graft activist Srisuwan Janya yesterday provided more evidence to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) about another 16 watches seen worn by Deputy PM General Prawit Wongsuwan, adding to information on three other watches he had already submitted. Srisuwan asked the NACC to ask the Customs Department to provide information on the multi-million-baht watches regarding the payment of customs duties. “This…
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Chalong drift gang makes locals furious
Members of a car racing gang in Chalong are being arrested for making noise, disturbing local people in the area as well as breaking several traffic laws. A member of the Chalong Municipality Council, Suppawatkan Kunnaluk, has revealed that he received complaints from many local Chalong people about a car race on the public road during the night of January…
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Phuket sets up committee to manage Layan & Laypang beaches
PHOTO: OrBorTor President Ma’Ann Samran showing reporters and officials where the beach is. By Salinee Prap Phuket has set up a committee to manage the 178-rai Layan and Laypang beaches in Thalang district after it was ruled as public space by the Supreme Court last year. Efforts will be made to allow common use and prevent anymore encroachments, Phuket Land…
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Dante Alighieri Phuket rolls their sleeves up for the elderly
Today (January 11), Dante Alighieri Society Phuket distributed food for elderly people at Ban Phuket Elders Public Aid in Thalang. Mrs Nonglak Khantong, president of Dante Alighieri Phuket and Mr Carlo Briola, treasurer of the Association, have declared that this is just the first of the group’s charity initiatives. Already recognised by Provincial officials, Dante Alighieri Phuket aims to promote…
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Progress on Sea Gypsy Sirinath NP fishing case
Rawai’s Mayor, Arun Solos, led a group of Rawai Sea Gypsies to file a complaint this morning (January 11), in order to call for justice for the 6 fishermen arrested in Sirinath Marine National Park. The mayor headed a delegation including Niran Yangpan, the community leader, village chief and sub-district chief with the 6 fishermen to hand the letter to…
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THAIGER TODAY Thursday, January 11
Kathu Temple being asked why it is in business with Chinese Tour Groups | Yingluck on ‘Entrepreneur’ visa in the UK | Minimum wage decision postponed | Dental Council warning us against online orthodontic promotions | BKK receives 120mm in rain over 24 hours | Thai goalie first ever for Euro football team
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Krabi Coal Power Plant to get more public hearings
The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) and its consulting company are preparing another set of public hearings about the proposed coal power plant project at Baan Klong Rua Pier after a series of protests against the project from locals and activists. “After the government suspended the project following the disagreements from locals, who commented that the EHIA (environmental health…
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