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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THAIGER TODAY Friday, February 9
Thai tourists fined for selfies sitting on coral | Social media has its say about Premchai | The cause of Central Thailand’s serious pollution | 20 prison guards sacked | Thai artifacts being called home from overseas museums | 7-11 sausage with aluminum sprinkles.
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Drugs and weapon nabbed at Thachatchai checkpoint
Thachatchai police have arrested a Nakhon Si Thammarat man, 21 year old Chakrit Petcharat, with 1,564 amphetamine pills worth about 300,000 Baht. Last night (February 8), Thachatchai police at the Phuket Gateway checkpoint stopped a bus traveling from Nakhon Si Thammarat. While checking, police noticed Chakrit seemed suspicious so they searched him and found the drugs in his luggage on…
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Update on Koh Phi Phi fire
The Chief of Krabi Office of Tourism and Sports, Kirada Lamkorat, says that the tourist centre has received reports from 27 foreign tourists who have lost possessions in the fire, mainly important documents, and they have been brought to make a police report at the Koh Phi Phi Police Station to claim with their insurance companies and start the process…
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Thai tourist’s mermaid pose ends up with a 1,500 Baht fine
By Somchai Samart, Pratch Rujivanrom Three Thai tourists have been fined 1,500 Baht each for sitting on a mountain coral at Mu Koh Surin National Park in Phang Nga. After pictures of two women posing picturesquely while sitting on a large ‘mountain coral’ – apparently in Ao Mae Yai Bay in the Surin Islands – went viral on social media, Mu…
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Lost tusk in pachyderm punch-up
Officials at Khao Yai National Park are standing by with medical gear in case more elephant bulls engage in combat over grazing rights – or over a female, as happened on Wednesday morning. Male elephants Plai Duan and Plai Sa-ard were duelling over a female from 7am Wednesday into the afternoon in the Pong Thung Kwang area. Plai Duan sustained…
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Thachatchai police announced stricter enforcement against ghost riders
Cyclists in Thachatchai area who like to ride against traffic flow are being warned by local traffic police that the law enforcement on ‘ghost riding’ will be stricter from now on. Following a large number of cyclists being spotted riding against the traffic flow, Thachatchai traffic police announced that they will enforce the traffic law section 43 (8) for ‘careless…
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Love online costs 1 million baht
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, police are rounding up members of a gang of foreigners accused of running a “romance scam”. Accomplices are being sought after two Nigerians were arrested on Wednesday. Tourist Police Deputy Commissioner Pol Maj-General Surachet Hakpal said 31 year old Emeka Celestine Eze was apprehended at a condominium in Bangkok’s Bang Na area on Wednesday…
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THAIGER TODAY Thursday, February 8
Premchai house raids reveal weapons and ivory / infamous Tiger Temple to re-open / Krabi Governor says Phi Phi completely unprepared for fires / National police chief orders changes following shooting of on-duty policeman / UN will sit next week to discuss Roningya crisis.
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One-stop service centre set up on Phi Phi for fire victims
A one-stop service centre has been set by the Krabi Governor, gathering all the departments involved to assist victims of last night’s fire. Fire trucks have also been brought to the location and fire extinguishing drills has been taught to the locals as an additional measure for the future. After an investigation forensic police have confirmed that the cause of…
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THAIGER TODAY Wednesday, February 7
Big fire on Phi Phi injures nine / 111 year old ‘fit and well’ in Krabi / head of Ital-Thai arrested for poaching / 11 year old girl dies after running race at school / Two youth arrested over murder at correctional facility / Police nab Hells Angel Damon Wait.
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Records broken at windy 2018 The Bay Regatta
A strong line-up of 33 boats and almost 300 sailors from around the world competed in 21st edition of The Bay Regatta from January 31 to February 4, 2018. A travelling regatta that sails through three of Thailand’s most beautiful provinces – Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi – and stays at different anchorages each night, participants came from far and…
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More than a thousand herons and egrets visit Krabi during winter
More than a 1,000 herons and egrets were found in the palm garden at the backyard of a Krabi citizen, 80 year old Jarat Jaihan, in Prudinna sub-district, during their annual escape from the northern winter. Jarat said for the past 3-4 months at the same time of the day, 5.30 pm – 6.30 pm, the birds would stay in…
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Nine injured in Koh Phi Phi guesthouse inferno
A fire broke out at a row of shophouses on Ko Phi-Phi around 9.30 last night, prompting evacuation of local residents and tourists. The fire is believed to have started at a small hotel, the October Guesthouse, in Soi Slinky and quickly spread out to about 25 adjoining shophouses and restaurants. National Park officials, Navy officers and rescue workers rushed…
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Limiting tourists on the most popular islands
Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) held a meeting today (February 6) to discuss the excessive numbers of tourists visiting famous islands at the Pearl Hotel. The Chief of National Park Office, DNP, Songtham Suksawang, who chaired the meeting, said that the amount of tourists in the marine national parks is directly affecting the environment. “Those national parks,…
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Two charged with murder over Surat Thani Detention Centre murder
The case of a 17-year-old juvenile found strangled to death in a Surat Thani juvenile detention centre today (Tuesday) stemmed from a pre-existing dispute between two rivals, according to Sahakan Phetnarin, director general of the Juvenile Observation and Protection Department. The two teenage rivals, whose names have been withheld due to their age, have already been charged with the juvenile’s…
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Krabi granny still going strong at 111 years old
Krabi Governor, Pol Lt Col ML Kitibodhi Prawit, along with Krabi authorities and Krabi Red Cross, visited a local resident, Pliew Petchpuang who is 111 years old, to greet and grant her with New Year gifts today (February 6). The Chief of Krabi Office of Social Development and Human Security, Kitti Intarakul, who also went to visit the old lady,…
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THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, February 6
Chinese year brings 18% rise in tourists year-on-year | A new ban from the ‘fun police’ | Tokyo Stock Market opens down 4% today | Smog a problem for Central and Northern Thailand | Woman survives awful crash in north-east | Van and pick-up crash in Krabi kills one, injures 10.
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Four houses destroyed, one badly damaged, in Phuket Town fire
A fire consumed four Phuket houses and partially damaged another on Monday morning, police said. The Muang Phuket police station was alerted of the fire in Tambon Talad Mai at 6.45am. The crew from four fire engines took about an hour to put out the blaze, which burned down four connected houses and damaged a fifth. Police said no one…
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Going Green: Mövenpick Resort & Spa Karon achieves Gold Green Globe status
Guests enjoying the resort’s electric tuk-tuk Mövenpick Resort & Spa Karon Beach Phuket has become a certified Green Globe Gold member in 2017 having recently received the coveted eco-sustainable certification for the sixth consecutive year, achieving some of the best rankings in Southeast Asia. “We are very proud of our achievements in sustainable operations at the resort and of our…
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Facebook page reveals soldiers were ordered to distort online poll
The Junta could have shot itself in the foot after an online information operation targeting websites and social media has been revealed. Analysts say “this casts the Government’s credibility in a bad light, which could eventually lead the public to lose trust in the military government”. The military has been thoroughly embarrassed in its attempt to distort a poll held…
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Property boom – firms acquire land worth nearly 100 billion baht
Twelve listed property firms have announced investment budgets worth between 98.04 and 99.04 billion baht to acquire land to develop residential projects worth between 385.15 billion and 385.64 billion baht during 2018, according to a survey by The Nation. Over half of the investment budget from the firms will come from their initial cash while others will issue debentures worth…
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THAIGER TODAY Monday, February 5
Thammasat and Chulalongkhorn University students mock Thai politics | 24 year old Ukranian stabbed by boat crew | Strong winds ravage Songkhla coastal communities | Unidentified body found floating in BKK along | US Labour department puts Thai fishing industry on notice | Thepa and Krabi power plants put on hold.
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Saucy coffee shop PR stunt backfires
Police are considering pressing charges against the owner of a coffee shop in Chon Buri’s Sattahip district, who posted a video clip and photos of two models wearing not much more than a barista apron and underwear while serving coffee to customers. The photos and video clip, meant as an advertisement to attract more visitors to the coffee shop, have…
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Four houses on fire in Phuket Town
This morning (February 5), Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, Phuket Municipality received a report about a blaze in Soi Hub Aek, Phuket Town, that quickly spread to another three houses. The estimated value of the losses is at least 400,000 Baht. At the scene, the 6 fire trucks couldn’t get into the street as it was too narrow. With the…
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Boat crew arrested after slashing tourist
Phuket Tourist Police and Thalang Police arrested a boat crew, 24 year old Thanakorn Sechana from Sakon Nakhon province, after he slashed a Ukrainian passenger with a knife yesterday (February 3). The passenger, 24 year old Vitalii Kuzmichov, was traveling back from Phi Phi Island with a Best Travel Club tour boat and got slashed near his left elbow by…
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Introducing Thaiger Property – 8,000+ listings for Phuket
Phuket Gazette/The Thaiger are proud to launch our new ThaigerProperty.com website. In Phuket, alone, there are more than 8,000 properties for sale on the website and, around Thailand, nearly 40,000 listings – by far the largest selection available. Some of the properties are exclusive, some are ‘motivated sellers’ and there’s also rental listings as well, making it a very comprehensive…
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Coal power plants shelved for at least three years
The Thai Ministry of Energy has decided to put on hold two coal-fired power plant projects in Krabi and Thepa district of Songkhla for three years pending additional environmental and health impacts assessments and environmental impact studies. Energy Minister Siri Chirapongphan says the ministry would inform the cabinet its decision to put off the two controversial projects and, at the…
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Students satirise Thai politics in annual pre-game parade
Chulalongkorn and Thammasat University students took the opportunity at the traditional football match between the country’s two oldest universities this afternoon (Saturday) to mock prominent political figures. The students used the pre-game parade to satirise the luxury watch scandal involving Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan. They also targetted what they saw as double standards in the judicial system and the…
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‘Big drug dealer’ arrested in Rawai
Phuket police have held a press conference to reveal a drug network which included the arrest of one man and seizure of 1.39 kilograms of methamphetamine, worth 5 million Baht. Police allege the drugs belong to a ‘big drug dealer’, 26 year old Nakarin Chaweewongprateep. The police initially arrested 49 year old Suth Saekang in Rawai with 307 amphetamine pills…
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‘No can find’ – police investigate an alleged sex show in Soi Bangla
Pol Col Akanit Danpitaksat has revealed recent checks in Soi Bangla after receiving a report about a sex show at an entertainment venue. However, police couldn’t find any evidence of a sex show despite checking the venues for a few nights. He explained that the Anti-human trafficking Police went to check the place and it was open normally with tourists…
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