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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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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Accolade for Samui resort at the World Luxury Hotel Awards 2017
Thai boutique collection, Manathai Hotels and Resorts proudly announced that its Manathai Koh Samui was voted Best Luxury Island Resort at the World Luxury Hotel Awards 2017. The prestigious accolade was given during a gala dinner event hosted at the Kulm Hotel in St. Moritz, Switzerland. Khun Chatri Rattanarangsri, the resort’s Executive Assistant Manager says, “This recognition confirms what we…
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Local tour guides protest over illegal Chinese tour guides
A group of local tour guides, who lead Chinese tours, protested today (December 21) at Promthep Cape against workers, they claim, are illegal Chinese tour guides taking their jobs in tour companies. https://www.facebook.com/phuketgazette/videos/1557310141013475/ The protest started yesterday (December 20) but continued again at the same place today. The group is calling for help from local authorities, saying that the tour…
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Krabi supporters of the coal power plant voice their support
More than 400 Krabi residents gathered in front of Klong Nua District Office to support the coal power plant today (December 21). The group of villagers, led by Baan Pakasai Moo 3 Village Chief, Kijja Thongthtip, says the group under the name ‘Representative of Krabi people network’, filed a letter to the district officials to pass to PM Prayut Chan-Ocha…
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Amazing Thailand Countdown 2017 @ Phuket
Phuket is ready for an Amazing Thailand Countdown 2018 @ Phuket on December 30-31, expecting to generate at least 200 million Baht. Last night (December 20), at Blue Elephant, Deputy Governor of Domestic Marketing, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Noppadon Pakprot, alongside Phuket Governor Norapat Plodthong and the President of Phuket Old Town Community, Don Limnantapisit, held a press conference announcing…
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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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THURSDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFS – All your local news in 3 minutes
We welcome Thursday and are enjoying the continuing good weather but know there’s a bit of possible rain on the way with a weakening tropical depression. From the TMD… “During 22-24 December, it is forecast as a tropical depression moving near Malaysia and the lower South of Thailand.” Let’s check today’s main news stories… Protesters threaten to go to BKK…
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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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How can Thailand curb its appalling road fatality rate?
It’s a question asked by an article nearly a year ago. Tim Newton ponders if much has changed in the last 12 months…. “In the worst of the incidents, 25 people died on Monday in Chonburi province after a pick-up truck and a minivan collided and burst into flames. In all, 426 people died on Thailand’s road between Dec 29…
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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.
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Pick-up truck loses control killing Khon Kaen driver
Kathu police received a report at 1.35am this morning (December 20) about a car crash in Phra Phuket Kaew Road. The officers and Kusoltham Phuket Foundation rushed to the scene and found a bronze pick-up truck wrapped around a lamp post in the middle of the road, near the coconut plantation curve heading east towards the Samkong Underpass intersection. Inside,…
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Help pours in to assist the 9 year old boy from Krabi
After the news regarding 9 year old Poramet Duangchan was reported yesterday (Poramet was hit by a car, suffered head trauma, and now has to live in a cage as his father, who works full-time, finds it difficult to control him and stop him from running away), Krabi Office of Social Development and Human Security, along with Krabi officials and…
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Paklok monkeys to be sterilised and moved away
After a second public hearing gathering about 50 locals of Baan Yamu in Paklok, who have all had problems with monkeys destroying their valuables, the Chief of Khao Phra Theao non-hunting area, Pongchat Chuahom, says the monkeys will be sterilised, receive a health checkup and then moved to a new home. The meeting chaired by Paklok’s Mayor, Punya Sampaorat, agreed…
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WEDNESDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFS – All your local news in 3 minutes
More sunshine with a few clouds, more cool evenings and more fresh north-easterly winds. It’s the middle of the week in Phuket. There’s been a great reaction to our story about the young 9 year old Krabi boy who’s been having to spend much of his days in a cage. More about that in today’s daily briefs… Suspects being questioned…
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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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Phuket Governor follows up on flood solutions for Route 402
File photo During today’s morning meeting (December 19) at Provincial Hall, the Governor, along with relevant Phuket authorities, discussed updates on the ongoing flooding issues that hit Route 402, and urged everyone to put it on the top of the agenda for Phuket. The designated areas are located in Srisunthorn sub-district, in Thalang, and include the front of Home Pro…
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Krabi kid fenced at home after tragic accident
A Krabi man, Chamnan Duangchan, the father 9 year old Poramet Duangchan, is crying out for help after his son was hit by a car and become so worried that he feels he has to keep his son in a cage while working away from home. The 9 year old Poramet was hit by a car 5 years ago while…
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Hi-lo gambling crackdown in Koh Kaew
Police have arrested ten gamblers at a construction camp today (December 19) in Koh Kaew, east of Phuket Town. The six men and four women were found with several pieces of gambling paraphernalia – such as 12 dice, a scoreboard, one set of Hi-Lo gamble equipment, 18,000 baht in cash and some other valuables. The ten gamblers have been sent…
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THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, December 19
9 year old in a cage in Krabi | Reprieve for Thai fishing industry | Police suspect ‘business’ behind Sunday’s bus torching | Alcohol Control Board goes after beer gardens | English proficiency on the improve in Thailand | Bad weather on the way this weekend.
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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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Chalong Circle construction update
Chao Fah West road, approaching the underpass construction works at the Chalong Circle, heading south towards Rawai, is being reduced to one lane. People travelling north from Rawai to the middle of the island are advised to use Chaofa East Road instead to help reduce congestion on Chao Fah West (outside Home Pro/Villa Market). Chao Fah West, approaching the Chalong…
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Satellite imagery shows new destruction in Rakhine State
Analysis of satellite imagery reveals new destruction of Rohingya villages during October and November 2017 in the northern Rakhine State in Burma. This latest report, along with their evidence, has been released by Human Rights Watch today. Human Rights Watch have identified 40 villages with building destruction occurring in October and November, increasing the total to 354 villages that have…
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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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Phuket City getting ready to join the Euro Cake League T3
Following the winding up of the former Phuket Football Club last month (story HERE), we now have a new team in town. And they’ve been auditioning players under the watchful eye of their new coach. The new football team for the island, Phuket City, welcomes its new head coach, Sarit Wuttichuay, from Bangkok while more than 100 football players attended…
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Khao Lak crackdown – more than 300 counterfeit items seized
The Economic Crime Police together with the Department of Intellectual Property Officials have arrested counterfeit retailers in Khao Lak, Phang Nga, yesterday (December 17) after the retailers had been in business for 10 years. Officials from more than 20 government departments are also alleged to be involved in bribery. At the scene, an alien worker who was offering products to…
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Cyclists gather to release 80 sea turtles
1000 cyclists rode around the southern part of Phuket yesterday (Sunday, December 17) to raise awareness about the island’s sea turtle population and release 80 young turtles at Cape Panwa. Rawai Municipality, along with the Andaman Rotary Club and Royal Thai Navy Area 3, hosted the “Cycling for Sea Turtle Preservation”. Former Phuket member of parliament, Rewat Areerob, hosted the…
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Targeting rubber encroachments in our forests
Amid the plunging price of rubber latex to below 50 baht per kilogram, concerned officials are now eyeing the potential for eliminating the encroachment of rubber trees in forests. As well as returning forests back to nature, the move would help reduce the volume of latex and thus push up prices. The Rubber Authority of Thailand recently contacted Natural Resources…
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