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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Sponsored 5 ways retirees in Thailand lose money (and how to stop it)
Retiring in Thailand can be affordable and enjoyable, but many retirees lose money due to common mistakes. High living costs, scams, and unexpected expenses can quickly drain savings. There are five ways that retirees in Thailand can lose money and...
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National complaints filed against the TOT managing director
A complaint has been filed at the Damrongdhama Centre in the Phuket Provincial Hall today (May 24). About 10 staff members of TOT Public Company Limited Phuket Office, led by Adireak Tipmongkol, filed a letter to the Thai prime minister. The letter requests the dismissal of Monchai Noosong, managing director of the TOT, from his position. TOT is one of Thailand’s…
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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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Chinese delegation discuss Phuket safety issues
A meeting held yesterday (May 23) at the Pearl Hotel in Phuket Town, hosted by Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong. The meeting was to discuss the growth of Chinese tourism on the island and ways to ensure better safety whilst they’re visiting. Joining the Governor were the Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Songkhla Mr Zhou Haicheng, the Director…
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Singapore is the most ‘peaceful’ country in Asia. Who ranks at the bottom?
Thailand is the 69th most ‘peaceful country in the world’. Pakistan ranks the lowest of any Asian country in the list at 113th most peaceful. While Singapore is seen as the most peaceful country in the world, India, Bangladesh, Philippines and Pakistan rank lowest, according to recently released World Justice Project (WJR) report. Japan, South Korea, China and Mongolia fill up the top…
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No ban on controversial toxic agriculture chemicals
By Pratch Rujivanarom A verdict on the use of herbicides and pesticides paraquat, glyphosate and chlorpyrifos has been handed down following a long debate between farmers, officials and environmentalists. This, despite opposition groups pointing out connections between some of the Committee members making the decision and the Agri-chemical companies. The use of the controversial farming chemicals will continue to be…
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Special Report: Saving Maya Bay
By Pattarawadee Saengmanee The island, Koh Phi Phi Ley, made famous by the movie “The Beach”, is due to get a complete makeover as part of a new project designed to protect the environment and the ocean. As I step out of the boat on the shore of Maya Bay, my brain goes into overdrive. Where, I ask myself, is…
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Officials call for help in the search for the whale shark
A team of officials, led by director of the Phuket Marine and Coastal Management Division of the Phuket Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) Watcharin Thinthalang, have been following the issue of the whale shark caught off Phuket last Friday. “Before, the search for the whale shark covered an area 24 kilometres from the original position it was spotted. Now the…
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Phuket officials urged to push ahead with ‘Smart Beach’ project
Pracha Asawateera, manager of the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) Southern Branch says, “Phuket is now in the process of upgrading beach safety by using technology called the ‘Smart Beach’ project. CCTV cameras will be used as part of the safety efforts. More people are enjoying Phuket’s beaches but we don’t have enough lifeguards to look after them all the time.”…
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Saving the Lifesavers
Phuket’s lifeguards, the ones who protected our coast for many years and now out of work, want to get back to work. They fear we’re about to have a very bad monsoon season ahead.
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change.org calls for a ban on ‘otter trawling’
An online petition campaigning for a ban on a form of fishing was launched yesterday after an endangered whale shark was caught by a trawler in the waters off Phuket last Friday. Piya Thedyam, creator of the campaign on Change.org for ending the use of so-called otter trawls, emphasised that the marine ecosystem, biodiversity and seafood sustainability of Thai seas…
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Phuket Governor inspects Chalong Circle in preparation for new traffic routing
Yesterday (May 22) the Phuket Governor, Norraphat Plodthong, with a team of officials in tow, headed down to Chalong Circle to inspect the progress (or lack thereof). Governor Norraphat says, “the Chalong Underpass is now 45% complete. Workers are now working to dig a tunnel under the actual Chalong Circle roundabout. So the roundabout will have to be closed and…
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12 million meth pills seized in Chiang Rai
Police in Chiang Rai, far north Thailand, say they’ve seized a huge cache of 12 million methamphetamine pills from an abandoned vehicle. National police adviser Pol General Thanitsak Thirasawat said that the pickup truck was found on the Chiang Rai-Wiang Chai road in Wiang Chai district loaded with 57 sacks of narcotics weighing 1,425 kilograms. The truck’s licence plate number…
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Urgent measures ordered to protect marine animals
The Provincial Government are pressing all the right buttons and saying all the right things in the wake of the whale shark fiasco. A whale shark was caught in a fishing net last Friday. Video of the whale shark being lifted from the water and the fishermen trying to free it from the net by hauling the shark up on…
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10 good news stats from today’s economic forecast
The first four months of 2018 have seen the Thai economy surge ahead, Some key numbers were released today about the good news in the country’s financial report card. The value of exports rose 12.3% in April, year-on-year. • This month’s rise in exports is the 14th consecutive month of growth. In April Thailand shipped out 120,000 tonnes of durian,…
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Locals in Rassada agree with monkey birth control and moving to nearby islands
Today (May 22) a public hearing was held with the Tha Chin community in Rassada led by Director of the Natural and Wildlife Education Centre at Khao Phra Thaew Non-Hunting Area in Thalang Pongchart Chouehorm. More than 180 locals joined in the public hearing to discuss the monkey problem in the area. Five suitable islands off the coast of Phuket…
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Romeo, Romeo. What can you do for Ride4Kids?
What does it take to make the hair on your arms stand up? The goose bump moments; with all the hair standing at attention inspired with passion and hope. Meet Romeo, a 13 year old boy, who is a living breathing testament to living a life of hope and passion. The term ‘boy’ is draped rather loosely. Do not confuse his…
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Officials inspect alleged land encroachment in Kamala and Rawai
Officials from the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), led by deputy secretary-general Lt Col Korntip Daroj, have inspected two alleged land encroachments – one in Kamala and one in Rawai. Officials first inspected the Pak Bang public animal agistment reserve in Kamala which is claimed to be rented by foreigners for their own use. “The northern boundary borders with a coconut tree…
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One man, three boys arrested with crystal meth and hundred of methamphetamine pills
A team of the Phuket City Police led by Capt Teerasak Narasri have arrested 29 year old Anucha ‘X’ Damyang. Police sized 0.39 grams of crystal methamphetamine. He was charged with possession of Category 1 drug. The arrest came after police saw Anucha sitting on the side of the road in Soi Rassada Ramluek in Rassada. He looked suspicious. Police…
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NCPO Four Year anniversary – Has Prayut brought happiness back to Thailand?
COMMENT Today is the fourth anniversary of the NCPO (National Committee of Peace and Order) coup which overthrew the elected Yingluck Shinawatra government in 2014. At the time it was claimed that the coup was necessary to stop Thai protesters harming each other and ‘to bring happiness back to the people’. General Prayut rode into the capital, Army in tow,…
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Captains to face more charges in whale shark incident
The captain of the ‘Sang Samut 3’ fishing boat, Somsamai Meejom (the fishing vessel at the centre of last Friday’s whale shark catch) says, “We did not realise that the whale shark was caught in fishing net. Boat crews pulled the fishing net up and could feel that it was very heavy. We thought that we had caught a log.”…
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Open letter: Phuket Lifeguard Crisis – from The International Surf Lifesaving Association
Heading into this year’s monsoon, the issue of safety along Phuket’s west coast comes sharply into focus. The role of lifeguards on our beaches has been pivotel to saving lives and providing a safer environment for foreign swimmers who are not in tune with the wave conditions and rips (many of them can’t even swim!). The negotiation games played each…
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20 baht fake gun bank robber arrested in Krabi
A lone 45 year old robber, Attasit Sriwattana, who robbed a Bangkok Bank brach at the Big C in Muang Krabi on May 18 and escaped with 119,781 baht in cash, was doing a reenactment last Saturday (May 19). On May 18 Attasit robbed the bank at 6.41pm. Attasit used a fake gun to point at a teller forcing her…
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Whale shark search starts off Phuket
Yesterday (May 20) a team of officials led by Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) Director-General Jatuporn Burutpat went in search of the whale shark that fisherman claim was alive after they freed it from their fishing nets. The searching covered 40 kilometres between Koh Lon, Koh Hey and Koh Bon. Binoculars, drones and echo sounding devices have been used…
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Four more drug suspects arrested in Phuket
A team from Phuket’s Provincial Police have arrested four suspects. Police first arrested 27 year old Adisak ‘Kae’ Boonsawang at an apartment in Soi Luk Kaew in Rassada. Police seized 25 of methamphetamine pills. He was taken to the Phuket City Police Station to face charges with possession of Category 1 drug with intend to sell. Police then arrested 50…
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DMCR officials inspect the coral areas in Paklok
Last week locals spoke out against the establishment of a new marina near Koh Hei in the Ao Kung area of Paklok (in between Ao Po and Boat Haven marinas). Conservationists and locals are worried that there will be damage to the coral if construction of a marina is started along with the dredging of a channel for boats to…
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Phuket community supporting Ride 4 Kids V2.0
Ride 4 Kids V2.0 for 2018 is in full swing. The event will run from from June 11 – 16. 20 riders and crew will be jumping in the saddle and riding 700 kms all in the name of charity – Phuket-Phang Nga-Krabi-Surat Thani-Khao Sok-Khao Lak-Phuket. Three charities will once again be supported this year, The Good Shepherd, Phuket Has Been…
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Motorbike thief arrested in Cherng Talay
Cherng Talay Police arrested 39 year old Tookta Prapaimuang at a house in Soi Layan Hill Estate in Srisoonthorn last Wednesday night. Police seized a brown-black Honda Wave motorbike from her. The arrest came after a 29 year old Surasak Saksri filed a report to police that his motorbike, with a Nakhon Sri Thamarat registered license plate, parked in front…
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More bombs rock the South – three injured
Three people have been injured following suspected insurgent attacks in the South yesterday. Explosives were placed in or near to ATM machines and bank branches in 14 locations in Yala, Songkhla, Pattani and Narathiwat. At this stage, as with most attacks in the deep south, there has been no claim of responsibility. The fasting month of Ramadan started last week. Video…
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Thai Airways profits up nearly 50% for Q1
Thai Airways International and its subsidiaries have been able to notch up an operating profit of 3,836 million baht for the first quarter of 2018. This represents a 49.4% improvement over the same period last year, despite rising fuel costs. That cashes out as a net profit of 2,737 million baht, still 432 million baht (13.6%) short of last year’s Q1…
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