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  • Thai cabinet adds 2 more 4-day long weekends | Thaiger

    Thai cabinet adds 2 more 4-day long weekends

    A holiday-led economic recovery. That appears to be a part of the government’s agenda following yesterday’s meeting of the Thai cabinet. 2 new holiday weekends have been created, one in November, one in December, in efforts to further stimulate the economy. In both cases the extended weekends will be 4 days each, adding the Thursdays and Fridays before the weekend.…

  • Thai hotels concerned extra holidays may not benefit all | Thaiger

    Thai hotels concerned extra holidays may not benefit all

    As the Cabinet confirms two additional long weekends in November and December, the country’s hotels are concerned that not all operators will benefit. The extra holidays, running from November 19 to 22, and from December 10-13, are being introduced to further boost domestic tourism. Although they have been given a cautious welcome by hotel operators, the Thai Hotels Association points…

  • PM orders Thai police to collaborate with Interpol to bring Boss back to Thailand | Thaiger

    PM orders Thai police to collaborate with Interpol to bring Boss back to Thailand

    The Thai PM is ordering Thai police to work with Interpol, the International Criminal Police Organisation, to find Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya and bring him back to Thailand for prosecution. The Red Bull heir has been on the run since 2017 and faces charges reckless driving causing death and using cocaine, charges which date back to the incident in 2012 in…

  • Bangkok nightclub busted for underage drinking | Thaiger

    Bangkok nightclub busted for underage drinking

    A Bangkok nightclub was raided last night when police arrested numerous underage drinkers after city officials received a complaint about “unlawful assembly”. Police say many of the 50 people at the nightclub were under Thailand’s legal drinking age of 20 years old. They added that the patrons at the venue did not abide by Covid-19 prevention rules like wearing a…

  • Phuket’s governor calls for help in restoring island’s economy | Thaiger

    Phuket’s governor calls for help in restoring island’s economy

    The governor of Phuket has likened the southern province to a “patient in a coma”, as he pleads for help to restore its devastated economy. According to a report in the Bangkok Post, Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew was addressing a Public Health Association forum, where he highlighted the economic crisis caused by the ongoing ban on international tourists. The island’s…

  • 10 million baht in damages from alleged wholesale pajama scam | Thaiger

    10 million baht in damages from alleged wholesale pajama scam

    A wholesale online shopping scam allegedly tricked dozens of people who wanted to start a pajama business. People spent around a total of 10 million baht for pajamas that were never shipped out. A large group of victims filed complaints together against a Facebook page advertising wholesale packs of pajamas at the Ministry of Justice. They wore matching white shirts…

  • Heightened security at Thai parliament ahead of Thursday’s pro-democracy protest | Thaiger

    Heightened security at Thai parliament ahead of Thursday’s pro-democracy protest

    Security is being tightened to the highest level around Thailand’s new parliament building, in advance of Thursday’s planned anti-government protest. The protest was announced on Sunday as the weekend’s anti-government rally came to an end around Sunday lunchtime. Additional measures to beef up security include the readying of an evacuation helicopter, in the event that officials need to “take flight”.…

  • Protest leaders face charges for violating Thailand’s lèse majesté law and for installing the plaque | Thaiger

    Protest leaders face charges for violating Thailand’s lèse majesté law and for installing the plaque

    Leaders of the weekend’s pro-democracy protest in Bangkok are facing charges for violating Thailand’s lèse majesté laws and installing a symbolic plaque at a “registered historical site”. Police filed complaints against 10 to possibly more than 16 protesters. It’s unclear how many protesters will be charged, but the Royal Thai Police spokesperson Piya Uthayo says charges will be pressed against…

  • Police officer allegedly shot and killed a woman at a Bangkok temple | Thaiger

    Police officer allegedly shot and killed a woman at a Bangkok temple

    A police officer allegedly shot and killed a woman making merit at a Bangkok temple yesterday. The 35 year old police officer, Siriwan Sumredsilpa, turned herself in to police. Siriwan allegedly approached the 39 year old woman from behind and shot her 4 times in the head. She was making merit that morning at the Nimmanoradee Temple in Bangkok around 7am…

  • Thai beauty queen victim of racist slurs for siding with anti-government protesters | Thaiger

    Thai beauty queen victim of racist slurs for siding with anti-government protesters

    The winner of the 2020 Miss Grand Thailand competition has become the target of racist online attacks after declaring her support for the ongoing anti-government protest movement. Nation Thailand reports that Pacharaporn Chantarapadit, aka, “Nam”, took the title of Miss Grand Thailand on Sunday evening, in a televised competition shown nationwide. While being interviewed on stage on Saturday, the same…

  • MP files complaint against 3 opposition MPs for allegedly joining the protest | Thaiger

    MP files complaint against 3 opposition MPs for allegedly joining the protest

    A member of parliament filed a complaint against 3 opposition MPs for allegedly joining the weekend’s pro-democracy protest where activists demanded reform of the Thai Monarchy. He’s also putting together a legal team aimed at dissolving the members’ 3 opposition parties. Palang Pracharat MP Sira Jenjakha says he has a photo of the 3 members raising their hands in a…

  • 4 people drown after SUV careers into canal in Chon Buri | Thaiger

    4 people drown after SUV careers into canal in Chon Buri

    4 people died after a driver allegedly hit a curb and lost control of her Toyota Fortuner SUV, running it off the road and into a Chon Buri canal. The driver, 38 year old Sukanya from Bangkok, survived and told police she was driving 6 friends from Bangkok to Rai Lak Thong, a subdistrict in Chon Buri. She says the…

  • Thailand Post to upcycle parcel boxes into furniture for Border Patrol Police School | Thaiger

    Thailand Post to upcycle parcel boxes into furniture for Border Patrol Police School

    The Thailand Post is going to turn its parcel cardboard boxes and paper envelopes into tables and chairs for students at the Border Patrol Police School. The postal service says they’ve already received 10,000 kilograms of used boxes and envelopes for the upcycling project. People can send used parcel boxes and envelopes back to Thailand Post to be collected for…

  • Woman shot and killed at Bangkok temple | Thaiger

    Woman shot and killed at Bangkok temple

    A woman was shot and killed at a Bangkok temple today. Police say 39 year old Linlada Phattanphan was found inside the temple, covered in blood. Her head had been shot at 4 times. Linlada went to the temple this morning to make merit, according to her maid, 52 year old Maneerat Srithornrat. The maid told police that the 2 of…

  • Protesters’ plaque damaged historical site – Thai Fine Arts Department | Thaiger

    Protesters’ plaque damaged historical site – Thai Fine Arts Department

    The Thai Fine Arts Department claim the pro-democracy protesters, who installed a symbolic brass plaque in an area next to the Grand Palace yesterday morning, broke the law. The department filed a complaint saying the installation of the plaque damaged a historic site, a violation of the Archaeological Site Act. Protesters cemented the plaque in the perimeter of the Royal Field,…

  • Alcohol banned at national parks after complaints of trash and drunk tourists | Thaiger

    Alcohol banned at national parks after complaints of trash and drunk tourists

    Alcohol is now banned at national parks after tourists allegedly got drunk at a waterfall and others left a load of trash by their campsite. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has updated other park rules to make sure parks are kept clean and the wildlife isn’t disturbed. Just last week, trash left at a campsite at…

  • Protesters’ symbolic brass plaque ripped out of the concrete this morning | Thaiger

    Protesters’ symbolic brass plaque ripped out of the concrete this morning

    Now you see it. Now you don’t. Although the replacement commemorative brass plaque was certain to be removed, even the protesters thought it might have stayed in place a bit longer than 24 hours. All that remains this morning is a space where the plaque had been laid yesterday morning – the concrete sealing it in place had barely dried.…

  • Thai police seize 45,000 books and arrest students who were about to distribute them | Thaiger

    Thai police seize 45,000 books and arrest students who were about to distribute them

    Police were holding a group of Thammasat University students after seizing around 45,000 booklets about reform of the Thai Monarchy and politics, which were about to be distributed to demonstrators at Sanam Luang last night. The red-covered book, entitled “Stunning Phenomenon – August 10”, is a compendium of articles about the Thai Monarchy, written by human rights lawyer Anond Nampa,…

  • Protesters place plaque declaring Thailand “belongs to the people” | Thaiger

    Protesters place plaque declaring Thailand “belongs to the people”

    Protesters today have placed a plaque, in the area next to the Grand Palace, declaring Thailand “belongs to the people”. The declaration comes after anti-government sentiment has risen prompting rallies to take place in the capital hoping to oust the government and demand constituional changes. The plaque was cemented in the perimeter of the Royal Field, known locally as Sanam…

  • Thailand details new visa strategy to welcome rich tourists | Thaiger

    Thailand details new visa strategy to welcome rich tourists

    The Thai government has revealed their detailed strategy to bring back “rich” tourists while keeping Covid numbers low. The plan, to be rolled out next month, has been touted by officials as a way to help recover Thailand’s hard hit tourist economy, but some say the government needs a reality check. The Tourism and Sports Authority Minister claims the plan…

  • Bangkok protest rally wraps up after a letter of demand is presented to officials | Thaiger

    Bangkok protest rally wraps up after a letter of demand is presented to officials

    As yesterday and this morning’s major rally wraps up, protest organisers have already announced the next rally for October 14, the anniversary of the 1973 student uprising. Another gathering has been announced for this Thursday outside the Thai parliament. The growing tide of support for the student protesters, who government supporters are accusing of being puppets for “dark” opposition voices,…

  • Bangkok SkyTrain offers free rides on Car Free Day for bike riders | Thaiger

    Bangkok SkyTrain offers free rides on Car Free Day for bike riders

    Peddle your way to a free BTS train ride on Tuesday. Bangkok’s SkyTrain (BTS) is offering free rides to those who bring along a bicycle to celebrate Bangkok Car Free Day on September 22. The Bangkok Mass Transit System CEO says the cyclists can carry their bicycles into the Silom and Sukhumvit lines free of charge during the time periods of…

  • Anti-government rally a victory for progressive Thais | Thaiger

    Anti-government rally a victory for progressive Thais

    An important figure in Thailand’s Progressive Movement says the anti-government rally this weekend is a victory for Thais pushing for democracy in the Kingdom. Yesterday’s rally, the largest yet in the anti-government demonstrations that started in July, attracted up to 30,000 people although Thai security officials put the number around 18,000. Either figure makes the protest the biggest so far…

  • Anti-government protest rally attracts massive crowd, continues today | Thaiger

    Anti-government protest rally attracts massive crowd, continues today

    And there it was, in full sight of the Grand Palace and shouted out across the royal parade grounds of Sanam Luang, a call to reform Thailand’s monarchy and the powers of the monarch. The protests, which started yesterday in the grounds of Thammasat University’s Tha Prachan Campus, will continue today with a number of symbolic gestures to claim a…

  • Protesters flood Thammasat University for major anti-government rally | Thaiger

    Protesters flood Thammasat University for major anti-government rally

    Today, Thammasat University’s Tha Prachan campus in Bangkok is seeing thousands of protesters flood its campus in what they say is the biggest rally yet against the Prayut-led Thai government. After unsuccessfully trying to gain permission from university officials, the protesters broke through the gates of the history-laden university and are now gathering for the schedule of anti-government speeches. Earlier…

  • US accuses Chinese companies of exploitation along the Mekong River | Thaiger

    US accuses Chinese companies of exploitation along the Mekong River

    The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is accusing Chinese companies of “exploitative practices” in the Mekong River region after a new partnership has been launched to combat “transnational crimes”. Pompeo named the China Communications Construction Company as one of the big offenders and says the Chinese Communist Party is responsible for the increase in human, wildlife and drug trafficking…

  • Prosecutors officially indict Boss over 8 year old hit-and-run case | Thaiger

    Prosecutors officially indict Boss over 8 year old hit-and-run case

    Prosecutors in Thailand have seemingly taken an about face as they have officially indicted Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya, the heir of the Red Bull empire, on “reckless driving causing death” and drugs charges. The latest moves in the cases follow intense public backlash after the cases was being dropped altogether 2 months ago by the deputy attorney general. The indictment comes…

  • Phuket residents going hungry after local government assistance runs out | Thaiger

    Phuket residents going hungry after local government assistance runs out

    Residents in Phuket, particularly those living in and around the west coast townships, are reportedly going hungry as the government’s municipal budget to provide food has been depleted. Despite efforts to revive tourism in the area, thousands of people are still in need of donated food to survive and continue to queue up for donated food every day. A public…

  • Travellers from Thailand can enter United Kingdom without quarantine | Thaiger

    Travellers from Thailand can enter United Kingdom without quarantine

    No more quarantine for those travelling from Thailand and entering the United Kingdom. Thailand and Singapore will be added to the UK’s so called “travel corridor” list starting tomorrow. The Thailand Foreign Ministry deputy spokesperson Natapanu Nopakun says this is “good news, adding that Thailand’s Covid-19 prevention methods have been recognised by other nations. He says several countries have removed…

  • Russian in Pattaya offers 100,000 baht reward for missing cat | Thaiger

    Russian in Pattaya offers 100,000 baht reward for missing cat

    A Russian resident in Pattaya is offering a hefty reward for anyone who finds her missing 9 month old cat. The woman, 46 year old Oksana Kobzar met with Associated Pattaya Press today to send out the message of the reward for finding her beloved white Main Coon furry friend. Kobzar says her treasured pussy left her house in Bang…