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 Monday, November 6
Layan Beach restaurants poised for eviction following loss of Supreme Court battle | No selfies with ‘Toon’ please | 65 year old woman finds a partner after posting an ad on her gate | Hua Hun-Pattaya ferry service suspended today | Local tour boat capsizes with 16 on board.
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Fake land deeds in Krabi
UPDATE on the fake land deeds in Krabi… The Village Chief, Sucha Wansuk, said that after checking, the land deeds were indeed fake with the name of dead people and fake signatures on them. “One of the title deeds for 7 rai has the name of the owner as Malem Pankwan, who passed away at least 10 years ago,” said…
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Tourist boat capsizes off Phuket
A tour boat carrying 16 Chinese tourists and several Thais sunk off Phang Nga Bay on Sunday morning, as a mechanical issue was being repaired and large waves capsized the vessel, said Ao Phang Nga National Park chief Sarayuth Tansathien. A 29 year old Chinese tourist sustained bruises on her chest and arms while the rest of the passengers were…
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AoT airports increase traffic 6% in past 12 months
A total of just over 129 million passengers travelled through the six airports operated by the Airports of Thailand in 2017, a 7.73% increase from the previous year (September 2016 – September 2017). The six airports operated by the AoT are Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai and Mae Fah Luand in Chiang Rai. From September 2016 to…
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Supreme Court says Layan beachfront is ‘public land’
PHOTO: y Travel Blog Today the Phuket Gazette visited Layan Beach following the verdict in the Thai Supreme Court that confirmed that the land, where six beach restaurants and businesses continue to operate, was public land. The land in question spans the an entire 3 kilometre frontage including stretches of Layan and Laypang beaches and covering some 178 rai of…
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Loy Krathong attracts big crowds around Phuket and Thailand.
Around the country, provinces attracted crowds watching parades of giant floats representing government and private agencies, beauty pageant contests, and stage performances, while many sent off krathong floats onto rivers, lakes and ponds as an apologetic gesture to the Goddess of River. In Phuket all the major waterways had a big turnout with the predicted bad weather holding off. The…
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Phuket strengthens security measures at croc farms
Following the rains in Phuket which resulted in some areas being flooded, Phuket Fisheries Officers visited crocodile farms to ensure the security for locals and tourists preventing the farms’ reptiles from escaping to outside waters. There are 4 businesses with about 500 crocodiles in Muang Phuket and Thalang District and one personally owned crocodile in Thalang District. The team of…
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Phuket Smart Bus to launch start of 2018
Phuket Smart Bus, as a part of Phuket City Development (PKCD), is launching the first ten smart buses, thanks to an investment of 40 million Baht, aiming to develop Phuket public transportation. The route will be from Phuket International Airport straight to Phuket Town. “Phuket Smart Bus is one of the twelve Smart Growth projects we created for Phuket. The…
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90 flights cancelled over Loy Krathong
Several airlines have cancelled a total of 90 flights to and from Chiang Mai during the Loy Krathong Festivities today and tomorrow out of safety concerns. Authorities say the cancellation of flights is a precaution against possible air accidents from the release of hot-air, smoke and lantern during the festival. Two years ago in 2015, 27,000 lanterns were released but the…
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Prayut praises Toon for Charity Run
Bodyslam’s ‘Toon’ collects 47 Million Baht in the first day of his national run. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has extended moral support to rock star Artiwara “Toon” Kongmalai, who started a 2,191 kilometre charity run yesterday (Wednesday). “I’m giving encouragement and blessing for Toon to achieve his goal and to be safe while running throughout the long journey,” government…
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Governor visits flooded areas and discovers clogged drains
After a flash flood occurred on October 31 following just an hour of rain, Phuket Governor with his team visited the concerned areas and found that the drains were clogged by trash (again!). A budget of 220 million Baht is being set aside as part of the solution. A team consisting several departments at the Provincial office visited Thepkasattri Road…
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Sun Sea Sand Colour! Patong Parade kicks off the 2017 Festival.
The Patong Parade kicked off the Patong Festival for 2017 under the banner ‘Sea Sun Sand’. The annual parade has never looked better with local businesses going to a lot of trouble. And the crowds certainly reacted with record turn-out of both locals and tourists (who probably had little idea the event was on). There were the usual delays as…
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Royal Crematorium open for public tours
Public tours of the Royal Crematorium at Sanam Luang in Bangkok begin today following yesterday’s trial run. Deputy Prime Minister Tanasak Patimapakorn said Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn would officially open the grounds to the public at 7am, with tours beginning shortly thereafter. As many as 100,000 people are expected to visit the exhibition each day, with the…
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Travelling to Thailand? Check your travel insurance.
A cautionary tale… 30 year old Australian Stacey Liddle is still holed up at Vachira Hospital after a traumatic road accident in Chalong caused a lot of damage to her leg which doctors are now trying to save. Whilst she had travel insurance her insurance didn’t cover this accident due to fine print in the contract. Speaking to news.com.au from…
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‘Toon’ takes off on epic run for hospitals
Rock star Artiwara “Toon” Kongmalai started the first leg of his 2,191-kilometre run under the banner the “Kao Kon La Kao”, or “Take One Step Each”, campaign from his starting point in Yala’s Betong district on Wednesday morning. As he and other participants started running at 6.09am from the mouth of Betong Mongkolrit Tunnel with many members of the public…
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Bike crash kills a Chinese tourist instantly
At about 2 am this morning (November 1), Phuket police got a report of a bike crash on Chaofa East Road, just before the Dowroong Wittaya School intersection, where an Asian woman died instantly. At the scene, police found the damaged motorbike on the street with the rider, 31 year old Zhang Qimei, a tourist from China who appears to…
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Phuket ready to host Foremost IRONMAN 70.3 Thailand
Having hosted triathlons for more than 20 years, Phuket is in an enviable position as the leading triathlon destination in South East Asia and the island is set to bolster its sports tourism credentials further when it hosts the 2017 Foremost IRONMAN 70.3 Thailand, Sunrise Sprint and Foremost IRONKIDS Thailand on 25 and 26 November, 2017. “IRONMAN is a global…
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AirAsia introduces Phuket-Khon Kaen route
Esan here we come AirAsia is strengthening its Phuket base with a new route from Phuket to Khon Kaen, designed to stimulate local regional tourism. Mr. Arun Lilapantisitti, AirAsia’s Station Head for Phuket, said that Phuket is one of AirAsia’s main airport hubs as it offers a variety of routes both domestic and international and has continued to grow steadily.…
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When Thai Tinder doesn’t work, try this
A 65 year old woman in Ubon Ratchathani’s Pibul Mangsahan district has put up a sign on her house’s gate seeking a good, pensioner boyfriend. Sompong Chomphupraphet said she is advertising in this way because she has become lonely after divorcing her German husband. “Woman 65, needs boyfriend between 60-70 years old, pensioner, who is good and sincere and has…
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THAIGER TODAY Wednesday, November 1
Patong Parade tonight | Yingluck won’t get asylum status in the UK | HRH Princess Sirindhorn to visit Phuket | 210,000 fake sunglasses confiscated | Tropical depression still approaching Phuket.
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Happy Loy Krathong. Here are your kratong launching locations in Phuket.
Happy Loy Krathong. That one day of the year where you can celebrate with fireworks, sky lanterns and sparklers. But this year authorities are saying ‘only floating Krathongs thanks’, and preferably no polystyrene or steel pins. Bangkok’s Governor Aswin Kwanmuang is quoted as saying that only “polite celebrations” should be organised for this year’s festivities. He alluded to the timing…
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210,000 fake sunglasses found in raids in BKK
The Department of Special Investigation has arrested a Chinese national and seized about 210,000 pairs of counterfeit eyeglasses of various name brand names in raids on three warehouses in Bangkok. The DSI say the raids on the warehouses in Khlong Thom and Khlong San were conducted after learning from investigations that a large quantity of untaxed sunglasses and general eyewear…
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‘A Prayer Before Dawn’. About to HIT our screens.
‘A Prayer Before Dawn’ is a 2017 British-French drama film directed by Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire. It was shown in the Midnight Screenings section at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival and stars Joe Cole as Billy Moore. Bar girls, drugs, a young farang in Thailand to have a good time… what could possibly go wrong?! The film’s screenplay has been adapted from…
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Phuket prepares for heavy rains, expected later this week
Following the weather forecasts predicting downpours and strong waves from today (October 31) until the end of the week (November 3), Phuket Governor Plodthong chaired a meeting today involving all departments to get ready for possible flooding, especially in the areas prone to regular flooding when there’s heavy rain. Phuket Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office Chief, Prapan Khanprasaeng, assured the…
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Stab-and-run assailant arrested at the Thachatchai check point
Early today (October 31), just after midnight, police received a report of a man from Nonthaburi province, Ananchai ‘Good’ Yim-On, who was stabbed to death in front of his rented house in Kathu by Tunya ‘Toom’ Jinda, from Trang province, after a brief fight. Ananchai was stabbed in three places around his body and was sent to Patong Hopital but…
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THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, October 31
New King, new coins | Thai PM issues ‘thanks’ to flood victims | Qatar Airways introduces new direct flights to Pattaya | The world’s most ‘stressed’ cities | Phuket drugged-up bus driver to lose license.
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An autopsy will be performed on South Korean actor Kim Joo-hyuk
An autopsy will be performed on actor Kim Joo-hyuk who passed away after a car crash Monday afternoon in Seoul. Gangnam Police station said Tuesday morning that it has asked the National Forensic Service to conduct an autopsy on Kim in order to verify the exact cause of his death. Police also said a court order for the autopsy was…
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Residences on the rise
Bill Barnett from c9hotelworks.com reports on the rise and rise of the residential living properties with hotel branding and management…. Property developers across Thailand are experiencing a magnetic attraction for hotel branded residences in order to spur price premium points and buyer demand. Currently there are 29 new hotel residence projects countrywide with nearly 90% of these located in resort…
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Qatar adds Pattaya to its flights to Thailand
Qatar Airways out of Doha says they’re responding to increased customer demand for services to Thailand by launching direct flights to Pattaya, the airline’s fifth route to the country. The new four-times-a-week service, which kicks off next January is in addition to the airline’s existing direct flights to Bangkok, Krabi, Phuket and soon to be launched, Chiang Mai. The service…
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The Grand Palace, Temple of the Emerald Buddha reopen for visitors
Tourists are flocking back to Bangkok’s most popular tourist attractions Tourists flocked to visit the jewels in the crown of the capital’s tourist attractions, the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, after their reopening to visitors on Monday. The Royal Household Bureau last month announced that both would be closed to all tourists from October 1-29 as…
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