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. The Thaiger delivers the latest national news that matters.
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Yingluck granted 10 year UK visa – BBC Thai website
The UK is reported to have granted a ten-year visa to former Thailand prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who has been ruled in absentia to a five-year prison term back home for her role in her government’s rice-pledging scandal. The BBC Thai website has quoted a close aide as saying that Yingluck is now free to travel in and out of…
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Chiang Mai hoteliers say the licensing laws are ‘unjust’.
PHOTO: www.delannahotel.com A few weeks ago a Hua Hin condo lost a court case when the judge ruled that the condominium was not allowed to rent out its rooms on a daily or weekly basis. This has big ramifications for websites and business models like AirBnB. Now the crackdowns are happening in Chiang Mai but local hoteliers believe the registration…
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Property report tips Phuket property boom
According to Knight Frank Thailand’s research, the Phuket condo market is expected to perform better in line with the brighter economic situation and the growing population of the island. Increasing supply and higher selling prices will be the key drivers, while demand is forecast to improve slightly. The number of launches in Phuket is predicted to increase and Thai developers…
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Man rescued after jumping off Thepkrasattri Bridge in Phuket
Tha Chatchai Police were notified of a suspected suicide incident in Mai Khao this afternoon (May 27). Police arrived at the far north of the island to find 47 year old Sutat Jitpromsri had already been brought from water by a passing fishing boat. A mobile phone charging cable was found loose around his wrists. He was rushed to Thalang…
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Man arrested for raping his neighbour
A re-enactment of an alleged rape was held at a worker’s house in Soi Baan Klang, Chalong last Friday (May 25) led by Chalong Police Chief Col Pakayot Tanongsak. The suspect in the re-enacment was 26 year old Jakkapan ‘Pom’ Chanyut. Col Pakayot says that last Wednesday night (May 23) a 51 year old woman name ‘Chuan’ reported to Chalong…
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Two Nigerians arrested in Pattaya over alleged romance scam
Pattaya police have arrested two Nigerians alleged to be members of a romance scam preying on Thai women. 28 year old Ositadima Ibeh and 30 year old Chinedu Calistus Ndubuisi were accused of being members of gangs conducting romance scams and skimming cards, said Pattaya police chief Pol Colonel Wichai Krobphet at a press conference on Monday. Police seized forging…
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Two arrested with meth pills and ‘ice’ at Phuket Town hotel
Yesterday (May 27) a team of Phuket City Police led by Capt Teerasak Narasri arrested a 22 year old woman Chenuya ‘Kim’ Thepsing from Lampang and 26 year old Naruebet ‘Net’ Paparnsit from Trang at a hotel room on Patipat Road in Phuket Town in relation to possession of drugs. Police seized 227 methamphetamine pills and 6.63 grams of crystal…
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Crackdown on illegal motorbike racing
A team of officers from the 5th Infantry Division of the Royal Thai Army, the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command and the Phuket City Police on Friday night (May 25) conducted a crackdown on illegal, noisy, disruptive and modified motorbikes at Saphan Hin, Phuket Town – a popular place for motorbike racers to gather. Officers arrested 70 motorbike drivers and 47 passengers. Police also seized…
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Future Forward’s Thanathorn vows to dump 2017 charter
Thanathorn Juangroongru-angkit was predictably chosen yesterday to be the leader of the Future Forward Party, which he co-founded with the agenda of not only becoming the prime minister but also dumping the current, junta-written 2017 Constitution. The scion of the Thai Summit Group won 473 votes with one abstention during the party’s first official meeting, attended by more than 700…
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Drug dealer arrested in Phuket parcel drugs and dress delivery
Chalong Police have arrested 39 year old Wiwat ‘Wat’ Choosong at a tattoo shop in Saiyuan, Rawai. Police seized 51.5 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 998 methamphetamine pills, Kerry Express parcel boxes and a white dress. Wiwat was taken to Chalong Police Station where he was charged with possession of Category 1 drug with intent to sell. The arrest came after…
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Tuesday, public holiday for Visakha Bucha Day
It was a long weekend, interrupted by a day of work on Monday. Tuesday, May 29, in Visakha Bucha Day and will be commemorated as a public holiday around Thailand. There are a quite a number of important Buddhist holidays throughout the year, but the most significant is Visakha Bucha Day. This day commemorates three defining events in the life…
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Coral bleaching report, “widespread but minor”.
By Pratch Rujivanarom Coral reefs in Thailand are currently facing the onset of widespread but mild coral bleaching, as some reefs in both the Andaman Sea and Gulf of Thailand show symptoms of heat stress. Tourists are meanwhile being encouraged to observe signs of coral bleaching and report them to authorities. Despite around 5 to 10 per cent of corals…
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New Greater Phuket Airport to create tourism Golden Triangle
By Bill Barnett of c9hotelworks.com An announcement by the Airports of Thailand (AoT) about approval of a plan for a new second Greater Phuket airport has created quite a stir in the tourism sector in one of Southeast Asia’s leading resort markets. Located just over the Sarasin Bridge in Phang Nga’s Khok Kloi area, work is reportedly set to start…
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Murderer surrenders after Rassada stabbing
On Saturday (May 26) at 9.50pm, 25 year old Watchara ‘Wat’ Plipon surrendered himself at the Phuket City Police Station. He also brought a knife along with him. On the same day at 5pm, Phuket City Police were notified that a man had been stabbed at a house in Rassada, east of Phuket Town. Police arrived at the scene to…
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Airport expansion plans, exactly a decade ago
In the wake of this week’s AoT announcement about the two new airports – one for Phuket and Chiang Mai – it’s only ten years ago, exactly, that funding was announced for the expansion of Phuket International Airport. Digging into the archives the article from May 23, 2008, says that in 2009 the AoT was expecting 6 million passengers to…
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Chonburi sting nets suspects and drugs
A police sting operation led to the arrest of three young male suspects and the seizure of 218,000 methamphetamine pills, 4,150 grams of crystal methamphetamine or “ice” and 700 Ecstasy pills in Chon Buri province’s Sri Racha district. Police Region 2 chief Pol Lt-General Jitti Rodbangyang told a press conference on Sunday that the suspect, 22 year old Saran Silarak,…
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Swede, 24 found hanged on Patong Hill, Phuket
A 24 year old Swedish man has been found hanged on Patong Hill. Patong Police were notified of the incident at behind the tiger shrine (Pun Tuao Kong Chinese Shrine) on Phra Baramee Road, at the top of Patong Hill, yesterday (May 26). Police and Kusoldharm rescue workers arrived at the scene to find the body of foreign man, later identified as…
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New airports in Phuket and Chiang Mai will ‘ease congestion’.
There’s been mainly positive response to the news that the AoT have approved the construction of two new airports – one in Phuket and one in Chiang Mai. The Director of the Thai tourism department says the decision is an important part of the support needed for ever-growing tourist arrivals. Yuthasak Supasorn, says it is a good sign for the industry,…
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Ten boys set to face gang rape charges after attack on 15 year old
Ten boys are facing charges of rape after a 15 year old school girl was attacked in Ratchaburi. The story received wide coverage after it was featured on Amarin TV. Following the TV show, Bang Pong police spoke to the victim and her family. Now armed with evidence they are set to charge ten boys with rape, abduction, illegal detention and obscenity.…
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Mass protest planned after toxic agro-chemicals not banned
PHOTO: cnchemicals.com A mass protest at Government House is being organised to protest a decision by the government’s Hazardous Substance Committee on Wednesday not to ban reportedly dangerous agricultural chemicals paraquat, glyphosate and chlorpyrifos in Thailand. Agro-chemical opposition networks, led by BioThai Foundation and Thailand Pesticide Alert Network (Thai-PAN), yesterday called on citizens to mark the upcoming World Environment Day.…
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Wanted gunman arrested in Satun over triple shooting in Phuket
A Phuket family of three was shot on April 9 resulting in injuries after their neighbour got angry over their dog’s barking. Gunman, 36 year old Panpakorn ‘Aon’ Suwannarit, fled with the gun. Arrest warrant weren issued on April 10 for Panpakorn who was accused of intentionally trying to kill plus illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, and carrying gun in…
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Miss Grand Thailand 2018 heading to Phuket to raise charity funds
Miss Grand Thailand contest is heading to Phuket at the end of next month. This year’s charity event will be working with local Phuket students and buying new bike helmets to promote bike safety for the island’s young riders. Miss Grand Thailand contestants from 77 provinces around the nation will be in Phuket for charity activities from June 30 –…
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New airports approved for Phuket and Chiang Mai
After four years of false starts and rumours it looks like Phuket will now get a much-needed second airport to feed the island and the surrounding region. Yesterday’s announcement by AoT (Airports of Thailand) comes after extensive studies to examine the extension of the current Phuket airport runway which is hemmed in by Thepkasattri Road at one end and the…
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Phuket City of Gastronomy event June 1-5, 2018
The Phuket City of Gastronomy event is back for the fourth year and will be held in the first week of June in Phuket Town. A press conference was held yesterday (May 24) at Novotel Phuket Phokeethra Hotel in Phuket Town and hosted by the Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO) Chief, Dr Jirapan Taepan. Dr Jirapan says, “the event has been…
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Whale shark search continues around Phang Nga Bay
PHOTO: Searching Phang Nga Bay on Tuesday. Officials from the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources and the Marine Endangered Species Unit at the Phuket Marine Biological Centre continued looking for for the whale shark which was spotted caught in a fishing net a week ago. There were strong winds and waves up to one metre high hampering the search. Distance…
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Koh Sirey locals want to keep the monkeys as a tourist attraction
“This area is a local attraction for both Thai and foreign tourists. Monkeys haven’t interrupted locals. Only the government office near the monkey viewing point was damaged.” A public hearing was held yesterday between the Sirey community, led by Pongchart Chouehorm, Director of the Natural and Wildlife Education Centre at Khao Phra Thaew Non-Hunting Area in Thalang and Prarob Hanchang,…
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Asian boat shows merge
The local boating industry’s been calling for it for years – a single boat show to showcase the best of Phuket and Thailand’s boating opportunities, destinations and marine lifestyle. In a joint statement issued today by Andy Treadwell, CEO of Verventia, owner of the Singapore and Thailand Yacht Shows, and Gael and Olivier Burlot, owners of Asia RendezVous, organisers of…
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Chiang Mai wakes up to floods this morning
PHOTO: Chiang Mai Citylife Downtown Chiang Mai has hit by flash floods this morning (Thursday) following heavy rains on Wednesday night. Residents reported several roads with up to 20 to 40 centimetres of water, forcing kerbside shops to move their businesses to higher ground. Local authorities said the flooding started at 3am this morning. Most of it came from Doi…
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E-Cigarette/Vaping shop raided in Wichit. Owner arrested.
A team of officers from the 5th Infantry Division of the Royal Thai Army and the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command have raided ‘JP Adventure’ shop in Wichit. Officers arrested a 37 year old woman, Sonklin Janmamuang. Officers seized 47 electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and 193 bottles of e-cigarette liquids. Officers also seized 6 cans of ‘baraku’. Each can contained 50grams. Sonklin was taken to Wichit…
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Damage found in the Ao Kung mangroves
Watcharin Thinthalang, Director of the Phuket Marine and Coastal Management Division of the Phuket Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) says, “Ao Kung mangrove forest is under the protection of local laws. Any digging, dredging or other actions for a marina or other development can only be done through proper legal processes and current laws protecting mangrove forest areas.” Today’s…
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