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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‘Phoenix’ to be recovered by August 12
The law suit relating to the Phoenix boat sinking is expected to be filed at the end of this month while authorities are waiting for the boat to be salvaged, hopefully by the end of this week. Phuket’s Provincial Police commander Maj Gen Teerapol Thipjaroen says, “the process of questioning witnesses and gathering evidence about the ‘Phoenix’ case is almost done.”…
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Two drug gangs busted
Two big drug hauls today in different parts of the country. Firstly, police arrested six suspects including the alleged drug-trafficking gang leader Phusinthorn Jomtharak, along with over 68,000 methamphetamine pills in Chaiyaphum province. 24 year old Phusinthorn, a Nong Bua Dang district native, was nabbed yesterday (Tuesday) while visiting a drug inmate friend at Chaiyaphum Prison. Police say that Phusinthorn…
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Special welcomes for Chinese tourists at Krabi Airport
The Krabi Immigration Office at Krabi Airport has provided special warm welcomes for Krabi Chinese tourists including more exclusive Visa checkpoint lanes. Krabi Immigration Office Chief Col Suparueak Pankomon led the warm welcome for 138 Chinese tourists who were arriving with a charter flight on Uron Airlines from China. It’s all part of the recent ‘charm offensive’ to encourage Chinese…
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Invacio Research Analytics: Pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence and embracing cryptocurrencies
Newly established in Phuket, Invacio Research Analytics, a group subsidiary of Invacio founded by William J D West and led by Linleeya West (Thai/Swiss educated), are bringing Artificial Intelligence to Thailand and also bridging the gap between established currencies and the emerging world of cryptocurrencies. Through a sister subsidiary company, Invacio AAP Holdings (Seychelles), under the Invacio umbrella are all…
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Laos government inspecting all dams, shelving new hydro projects
PHOTO: EJAtlas The Laos government is announcing a full examination of safety standards applied to the construction of hydropower dams across the country. This follows the avoidable deadly disaster when a dam in the southern Attapeu province breached spilling millions of cubic litres of deadly floodwater downstream. Vientiane Times is reporting that the Laos cabinet made the announcement shortly after…
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‘If in doubt, don’t go out” – ISLA warnings
The International Surf Lifesaving Association (ISLA) is recommending that Phuket’s exposed west coast beaches be closed to swimmers, until current conditions subside. The following warnings are in effect: • High surf • Dangerous shorebreak • Severe rip currents in some locations • High winds • Sudden squalls • Rapid beach erosion in some areas A warning means these conditions are…
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‘Serenata’ captain and company manager charged
A law suit has been filed against the Serenata’s boat captain and the Chinese marketing manager of the company that owns the yacht. The Serenata was found to be of alleged ‘defective maintenance’. Serenata sank on the same day as Phoenix, July 5, but didn’t suffer any casualties with all passengers saved. Phuket’s Provincial Police commander Maj Gen Teerapol Thipjaroen says… “for…
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PM says mandatory conscription still required in Thailand
PHOTOS: The Nation Thailand’s PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has reaffirmed the importance of retaining mandatory conscription for Thai men “as soldiers form an indispensable force in time of crisis or emergency”. Thai PBS is reporting that the PM was speaking at a press conference after the weekly Cabinet meeting in response to criticism that mandatory conscription should be scrapped as there…
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Update: Phetchaburi dam overflows reach town
Downstream communities in Phetchaburi’s main business and residential districts are expected to be flooded for about two weeks after run-off from the overflowing Kaeng Krachan Dam hit the area last night “Although we must discharge water from the dam, we are trying to reduce the volume that will go into the river by diverting some 55 cubic metres of runoff…
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Man arrested with drugs (not very well) hidden in his underwear
Police have arrested a man with 4,000 methamphetamine pills hidden inside his underwear at Phuket checkpoint this week. A team of police at the Phuket Checkpoint in Mai Khao arrested 22 year old Kriengkrai Jongrak from Krabi after found the 4,000 methamphetamine pills. Kriengkrai was taken to the Tha Chatchai Police Station where he was charged with illegal possession of…
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Father seriously injured after being stabbed by son in Krabi
A father has sustained serious injuries after being stabbed by his drug-addicted son yesterday (August 6) in Krabi. Klongtom Police in Krabi were notified of the incident at a house in Pru Nadin at about noon. Police arrived at the house where the injured man, later identified as 53 year old Suwan Jansongsang, had already been taken to Klongtom Hospital.…
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Good news from dams in the north-east
Whilst provinces bordering the Mekong River, and areas in Phetchaburi downstream of the hillside dams, are all under threat from flooding at the moment, the situation is a lot better in the lower north-east provinces. The Irrigation department has issued assurances today about the water situation covering some 77 dams in the region. The Nation reports that 77 reservoirs in…
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Cambodian tour guides cry foul over new tour guide audio Apps
Digital technology is disrupting many older technologies – travel bookings, buying real estate, booking flights, media, dating – and now tour guides are getting the digital make-over with new Apps taking their jobs. Tour guides at Cambodia’s historical sites are voicing concern over a new audio tour App they say is threatening their careers. Developed by local company Angkor Audio,…
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ATMs not filled after money trucks crash – Koh Tao
ATM machines on Koh Tao will have to make do with cash on hand after two security trucks crashed on their way to deliver more refill banknotes early today (Tuesday). The Ban Nai Hood police station in Chumphon’s Lang Suan district was alerted to the accident on the Asia highway No 41 at 5.55am, with the trucks headed to Koh…
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Hotel badminton teams raise funds for Phuket school
Over 150 hoteliers from 20 resorts in the Phuket area came together to participate in the Outrigger Charity Badminton Tournament, held August 4 at the PK Arena Badminton Club in Thalang, central Phuket. Funds raised are going towards the Baan Kok Wat Mai School where Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort has undertaken several long-term projects, such as library renovation, school…
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Online romance scam gang busted
Nigerian nationals are again being rounded up in a concerted effort to get rid of some of the Nigerian-based scams operating inside Thailand. In the latest sting, 8 Nigerians and 6 Thai suspects have been arrested for alleged collusion in an online romance scam, swindling nearly 2 million baht from Thai women in Ratchaburi, Samut Sakhon, Phitsanulok, Chon Buri and…
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Rescuers try to free people trapped in collapsed mosque – Lombok
PHOTO: Basarnas National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) spokesperson Sutopo Purwo Nugroho says that on Monday at 3pm heavy equipment arrived in the Lading-lading village, Tanjung district, Lombok, to assist with the search for people thought to be buried under the debris from a collapsed mosque. Local devotees were busy with their evening prayers when the quake hit. At 7pm last…
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“No mafia in Patong” – Patong businessman
The Patong Police Chief and a famous Patong businessman claim that there is no mafia in Patong. The comments come, unprompted, after arrest warrants were issued for three suspects last week in connection to the double, execution-style, murders in Sattaphip, near Pattaya on July 29. One of them is well-known local Patong businessman, known as ‘Sia Auan’ aka. 39 year old…
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Jet-skis and parasail rides banned until August 9
The Acting chief of the Phuket Marine Office has announced a ban for jet-skis and parasail ride operators using Phuket’s west coast beaches, including today (August 7). Phuket Marine Office Acting Chief, Wiwat Chitcherdwong says, “according to the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) Office, heavy rain and high waves, up to three metres are still affecting the Andaman Sea until Thursday…
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Thaiger Radio News – Tuesday
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British tourist freaks out after being told she’d overstayed her visa by 160 days
An ‘aggrieved’ tourist by the name of Auj-e Taqaddas, holding a British passport, assaulted a patient and calm immigration officer in Bali, Indonesia after being told she’d overstayed her Indonesian visa. A British tourist has been caught on camera screaming and slapping an immigration officer at Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport today (Saturday) after being told that she had to…
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Fire destroys Phuket tour boat
A fire has burnt out a large tour boat under maintenance in Rassada, east of Phuket Town, this afternoon (August 6). The damage bill is said to be more than 5 million baht. The Phuket City Police were notified of the fire at 1.30pm near the Phuket Fish Market Organisation. Police and fire fighters arrived at the scene to find…
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Hua Hin gets funding to expand airport
The AoT director-general says they will spend 3.5 billion baht to upgrade Hua Hin’s International Airport over the next five years. Darun Saengchai says the upgrade was part of the “Riviera Thailand” and Southern Economic Corridor projects. Work at the airport would take up to five years and include enlarging the passenger terminal and building a second one. The number of…
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Earthquake toll rises to 91, state of emergency announced
PHOTO: Jakarta Post The death toll from the powerful earthquake to hit Lombok and Bali on Sunday evening has climbed to 91. The latest figures announced this afternoon by the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) in Jakarta. North Lombok island suffered the largest number of fatalities with 72 people killed, while Bali has so far recorded two fatalities. Most victims…
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Man arrested over Phuket FamilyMart armed robbery
Police yesterday (August 5) have arrested a man who robbed a FamilyMart convenience store last Thursday (August 2) in Phuket Town. On Thursday the Phuket City Police were notified that a suspect used a gun to rob a FamilyMart on Maeluan Road in Phuket Town at 3.40am. The suspect threatened a staff member with a BB gun to hand over…
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Phuket hotels group aims to step up environmental education
By Sirivish Toomgum All members of the Phuket Hotels Association have jointly committed to eliminate plastic water bottles and drinking straws from rooms by 2019 as part of an effort to ensure a sustainable future for Phuket, said association president Anthony Lark. The association has also provided information to its hotel members about companies that provide alternatives to plastics for…
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132 aftershocks recorded in aftermath of 7-magnitude earthquake on Lombok
Around 132 aftershocks have shaken up Lombok Island following the 7-magnitude earthquake that left 82 people dead and hundreds of others injured when it hit the Indonesian holiday island last evening. The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reports that the quake was centered in the slopes of Mount Rinjani. This is in a similar area as the shocks that hit Lombok on…
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Chinese media invited to Phuket to check on marine safety updates
Deputy Commander of the Tourist Police Bureau based in Bangkok, Maj Gen Surachete Hakparn, was in Phuket over the weekend (twice) and yesterday (Sunday) led Chinese media to follow up on marine safety measures on the island. A team of officers led 24 Chinese journalists from 12 Chinese media outlets were invited to Phuket to follow up on marine safety measures…
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Phoenix owner fails to meet deadline to salvage the boat
PHOTO: Director General of the Marine Department Jirut Wisanjit The owner of Phoenix has failed to recover their boat, after it sank on July 5 killing 47 Chinese tourists. The boat company will now be sued for salvage expenses estimated to be around 10 million baht. Director General of the Marine Department Jirut Wisanjit flew down to Phuket from Bangkok…
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