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  • Light at the end of the tunnel – Koh Samui’s mystery mountain tunnel | Thaiger

    Light at the end of the tunnel – Koh Samui’s mystery mountain tunnel

    Officers have closed off access to the ‘mysterious’ tunnel on Koh Samui linking two sides of a small hill. They say they’re waiting for the company which owns the land, linked by the tunnel, to front up with a permit to build it. A tourist trekking in the Ban Tai area last week stumbled on the 84 metre long tunnel.…

  • American man and Thai woman arrested in Chiang Mai cannabis factory raids | Thaiger

    American man and Thai woman arrested in Chiang Mai cannabis factory raids

    PHOTOS: The Nation Narcotics police in Chiang Mai have arrested a 44 year old American man and a 37 year old Thai woman in separate raids on two houses in Mae Rim district. Police alleged the houses were used as cannabis production facilities. Police allegedly found cannabis in multiple forms – dried, liquid, tablets as well as plants. Inside one…

  • Future Forward leader Thanathorn spared detention, for now | Thaiger

    Future Forward leader Thanathorn spared detention, for now

    The leader of a pro-democracy party, Future Forward leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, and two of his colleagues were spared detention in a case involving criticism of the junta on TV last week. Dashing earlier speculation that the trio would be held in custody, the attorney-general ordered them freed for now, saying they had voluntarily turned themselves in. Bail bond was also…

  • Constitutional court to rule Thai Raksa Chart’s fate next week | Thaiger

    Constitutional court to rule Thai Raksa Chart’s fate next week

    by Kas Chanwanpen Thai Raksa Chart Party will know its fate next week after the Constitutional Court yesterday scheduled March 7 to read its verdict on whether the party should be dissolved following a petition from the Election Commission (EC). The final judgement next week will be made based on the evidence submitted to the court earlier and there will…

  • Using religion in your election campaign is OK: Election Commission | Thaiger

    Using religion in your election campaign is OK: Election Commission

    The Election Commission (EC) has ruled that it is acceptable to use religion and religious symbolism while campaigning for the upcoming general election. EC secretary-general Jarungwit Phumma said this decision was made in response to a petition from a Buddhist coordination centre, which questioned a candidate’s use of the Lord Buddha in his campaign banner. “Using religion is not against…

  • Air quality for Thailand – February 27 | Thaiger

    Air quality for Thailand – February 27

    Central Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Northern Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. Southern Thailand It is a great day to be active…

  • PM disses debates “I just don’t see the necessity to take part” | Thaiger

    PM disses debates “I just don’t see the necessity to take part”

    by Kas Chanwanpen A prime ministerial candidate is refusing to take part in any of the televised political debates in the lead up to the election on March 24. Dismissing growing calls to join the up-coming round of debates, NCPO chief General Prayut Chan-o-cha has affirmed that he attached no importance to the calls for him to outline his vision,…

  • Southern ranger killed, two injured in Yala bomb ambush | Thaiger

    Southern ranger killed, two injured in Yala bomb ambush

    PHOTOS: The Nation Southern insurgents have detonated a home-made bomb in a roadside ambush of a patrol unit of rangers in Yala’s Bannang Sata district. The fatal incident happened this morning, killing one ranger and injuring another. Yala provincial police were informed of the blast at 9.25am. It occurred on the main road in Tambon Bacho’s Ban Ubae village. 33…

  • British Airways flight buffeted by strong winds – VIDEO | Thaiger

    British Airways flight buffeted by strong winds – VIDEO

    British Airways flight was forced to divert from its planned course after encountering strong gusts off the coast of southern Europe yesterday. Flight BA492 was scheduled to take off from London Heathrow airport at 8:25 a.m. and land in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar at 12:20 p.m. But it eventually touched down at 12:41 p.m. in the southern Spanish…

  • Air quality for Thailand – February 25 | Thaiger

    Air quality for Thailand – February 25

    Central Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Northern Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to…

  • “New drug laws don’t legalise unlicensed marijuana cultivation” | Thaiger

    “New drug laws don’t legalise unlicensed marijuana cultivation”

    Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has rushed to clarify that the new narcotics law does not legalise the unrestricted planting of marijuana in an apparent response to the Bhumjai Thai political party’s manifesto pledge to legalise marijuana cultivation. The party trotted out the election platform last week during their campaigning. FDA secretary-general Dr. Tharet Kratnairaveewong has clarified that the…

  • American backpacker refuses to pay for girl he brought back to hostel, punches staff | Thaiger

    American backpacker refuses to pay for girl he brought back to hostel, punches staff

    An American backpacker tourist, visiting Chiang Mai, had to be restrained after getting into a squabble with hostel staff after being asked to leave the premises. The video of the altercation was shared on Reddit by ‘EatPrayFart’. Following a night out, the backpacker brought a girl back to the mixed dorm room that he shared with nine other people. The report…

  • PM visits Finnish boy attacked by dogs in Krabi | Thaiger

    PM visits Finnish boy attacked by dogs in Krabi

    Thailand PM Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday paid a visit to a five year old Finnish boy who was attacked by stray dogs at Ao Nong beach on Wednesday late afternoon. Read more about the attack HERE. The young Finnish boy, savaged by a pack of dogs living on the beach, continues to recover at the Krabi Nakarin International Hospital. Krabi’s Governor visited…

  • Air quality for Thailand – February 22 | Thaiger

    Air quality for Thailand – February 22

    Central Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Northern Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. Southern Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants…

  • Army chief’s intervention in election campaign backfires | Thaiger

    Army chief’s intervention in election campaign backfires

    by Jitraporn Sennawong and Nattaphat Phromkaew The Thai Army chief’s attempt to scare politicians from discussing the Army’s budget and reform by indirectly calling them “enemies of the state” has backfired. Many Thais have emerged with additional proposals for reforms of the military, and others are protesting the chief’s invocation of the jingoistic military anthem. Political critics and social media…

  • Air quality for Thailand – February 21 | Thaiger

    Air quality for Thailand – February 21

    Central Thailand It is a great day to be active outside.   Northern Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected.   Southern Thailand It is a great day to be active outside.

  • Air quality for Thailand – February 20 | Thaiger

    Air quality for Thailand – February 20

    Central Thailand It is a great day to be active outside. Northern Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. Southern Thailand It is a great day to be active outside.

  • Army Chief spits the dummy and orders the playing of military song | Thaiger

    Army Chief spits the dummy and orders the playing of military song

    Contributors Jitraporn Sennawong and Kas Chanwanpen – The Nation If you’re the Thai Army Chief, and a bit miffed that some political parties are including scaling back military spending in their election policies, what do you do? Why of course you order Army radio stations in the Kingdom to play a jingoistic, and offensive to many, military-themed song, “Nak Phaendin”. Angry…

  • Air quality for Thailand – February 18 | Thaiger

    Air quality for Thailand – February 18

    Central Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Northern Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. Southern Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants…

  • Amnesty for possession of cannabis in Thailand? | Thaiger

    Amnesty for possession of cannabis in Thailand?

    The Government is looking at a plan to grant amnesty to those who have been using, or have, cannabis in their possession, But only if they report to authorities within a given time frame. The Drug Committee approved three draft legislations for amnesty yesterday. If the drafts become law even possessors of cannabis, who are not patients or research units,…

  • Voters like Prayut as PM but prefer Pheu Thai as the party they will vote for | Thaiger

    Voters like Prayut as PM but prefer Pheu Thai as the party they will vote for

    With the election campaign now digging into its first week on the hustings, the polls are starting to indicate where the early poll sentiments are leaning. Thai PM Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha is the favourite for the prime minster’s position following the election, but Pheu Thai is the party people want to see lead the formation of the new government, according…

  • Thailand’s Constitutional Court accepts case to dissolve Thai Raksa Chart | Thaiger

    Thailand’s Constitutional Court accepts case to dissolve Thai Raksa Chart

    Thailand’s Constitutional Court has voted unanimously to accept the Election Commission’s ruling that the Thai Raksa Chart party be disbanded over its nomination of Princess Ubolratana as its prime ministerial candidate last Friday. The party will be given seven days to present its defence in writing before the Court deliberates on the party’s future. Meanwhile electioneering is continuing for the…

  • Air quality for Thailand – February 15 | Thaiger

    Air quality for Thailand – February 15

    Central Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Northern Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. Southern Thailand It is a great day to be active…

  • Constitutional Court meets today to rule on future of Thai Raksa Chart | Thaiger

    Constitutional Court meets today to rule on future of Thai Raksa Chart

    PHOTO: Thai Raksa Chart party leader Preechaphol Pongpanit awaits the decision of the Constitutional Court today whether to proceed with the case to disband the party The Constitutional Court is meeting today to decide whether or not to consider the request of the Election Commission to have the Thai Raksa Chart Party dissolved for breaching the political parties act. The…

  • Air quality for Thailand – February 14 | Thaiger

    Air quality for Thailand – February 14

    Central Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Northern Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to…

  • New electric ferries to ply the ‘Venice of the East’ in Bangkok | Thaiger

    New electric ferries to ply the ‘Venice of the East’ in Bangkok

    by Kwanchai Rungfapaisarn A 1 billion baht project is under consideration to transform Bangkok into the “Venice of the East” (again?) and help ease the city’s air pollution problems. The project for electric-powered ferries to ply the Chao Phraya is backed by Energy Absolute, a Thai alternative energy technology provider, which yesterday said it will work with the Marine Department…

  • The day that shook Thai politics | Thaiger

    The day that shook Thai politics

    OPINION It was just another Friday except that it was also the final day that political parties were able to nominate MPs for the March 24 elections. And their proposed candidates for the role of the a Prime Minister following the election. PM Prayuth Chan-ocha would announce his candidacy sometime during the morning, the worst kept secret in Thai politics.…

  • Chiang Mai and Bangkok blanketed under Wednesday air pollution and smog | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai and Bangkok blanketed under Wednesday air pollution and smog

    Chiang Mai, and other north Thailand regions, are getting blanketed in dangerous smoke, haze and smog again today. For the capital, the poor air quality that ignited public response for January, has returned. The Pollution Control Department is urging people, including schoolchildren, to refrain from outdoor activities and to wear facemasks outside, while small children and the elderly, pregnant and…

  • Chiang Mai: Third worst air-pollution in the world | Thaiger

    Chiang Mai: Third worst air-pollution in the world

    Chiang Mai scored an unwanted podium position yesterday when it was ranked third on the global list of cities with the worst air pollution. Chiang Mai’s AQI (Air Quality Index) score stood at 194 a level considered “unhealthy” yesterday. Any figure beyond 200 is ‘very unhealthy’. On Saturday, Khon Kaen reached 210 on the AQI scale. Chiang Mai’s severe air…

  • Air quality for Thailand – February 13 | Thaiger

    Air quality for Thailand – February 13

    Central Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. Northern Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. Southern Thailand It is a great day to be active outside.