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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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THAIGER TODAY Monday, October 23
Junior world Badminton Champ | Van plows into ByPass Road pole | Rama 9s Grand-Daughter leads final rehearsal for this week’s Royal Funeral | Surprise visitor on Pattaya Beach | Jellyfish invasion long Gulf beach | Vets ‘apologies’ for not being able to save young elephant.
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Woman shot whilst filming her father shooting her husband
Two people are dead after a Thai man shot his son-in-law and then his daughter after an argument at a party in Lopburi, 150 kilometres north-east of Bangkok. The man was reportedly released from jail just 12 months ago after serving time for another murder. Police arrived at the scene and found the two victims dead next to a Toyota van at…
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Late King’s granddaughter at final dress rehearsal
HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, granddaughter of the late King and daughter of King Rama X, led the 77-horse cavalry in the sixth procession at the final dress rehearsal for enshrining the Royal Ashes in two temples last night. The final procession sees the Royal Ashes transferred in a royal car from the Phra Sri Rattana Chedi at the Temple of…
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Tour company van crashes into electric pole
A van from a tour company hit an electric pole on the Bypass Road, opposite McDonalds on the way to towards the Samkong Underpass intersection. The driver, who was only named “Pu” or “Fu” sustained injuries to his left leg and some scratches. He was stuck in the van before an ambulance from Siriroj Hospital was able to rescue him…
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Free share-bike extended to the end of the year
The operators of the Ofo and Obike share-bike scheme have agreed to extend the free service from the end of this month to the end of the year to provide more time for Phuketians and tourists to get used to the share-bike system. The extension was announced during a press conference yesterday (October 20) to explain about the public share-bike…
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HRH Princess Sirindhorn joins the final rehearsal
A huge crowd turned out around Sanam Luang on Saturday to watch the final dress rehearsal of the historic Royal Cremation Ceremony for His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Many of them had arrived at 9pm on Friday and camped out to reserve vantage viewing positions for the dress rehearsal of the royal processions for the Royal Cremation Ceremony.…
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French man arrested in BKK after posting nude photos of ex-Thai girlfriend
File Photo A French tourist was arrested in Bangkok on Friday for allegedly posting nude photos of his Thai girlfriend to her Facebook wall without her permission. Police said 34 year old Vincent Anthony Jean Marie LeGrand was arrested at 6.25 am on Thursday upon arrival at the Suvarnabhumi Airport on Flight QR826 of Qatar Airways. Immigration police at the…
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Scandal over new toilets at the royal Rajabhakti Park in Hua Hin
The Army on Thursday is defending construction of 15 billion Baht toilets and shops in the royal Rajabhakti Park, claiming that it is worth the investment and the process was sufficiently transparent to stand up to close scrutiny. “They won’t be typical toilets you can see everywhere,” said Army spokesperson Colonel Winthai Suvaree. “We believe that our donators wish everything…
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Colour returns to Thai TV screens
On October 1 all TV stations ‘toned down’ their programming under orders from the National Broadcasting Telecommunications Commission (NBTC). Programming was toned down both in content and the actual colours. The same was applied to most websites as the colour and saturation were ’toned down’ out of respect for the anniversary of the passing of King Bhumibol and the Royal…
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2017 Phuket Vegetarian Festival Calendar
October 20 Official start of the Vegetarian Festival Every day from October 23 – 28 There’s a ritual paying respects to Chinese guardian angels (Ko Gun) at Bangniew Shrine and from October 22, the ceremonies can be seen at Jui Tui Tao Bo Keng Shrine and Ta Rua Shrine as well. October 23 A ritual to pay respect to ancestors…
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THAIGER TODAY Friday, October 20
Vegetarian Festival launched in Phuket | On-again, off-again, maybe on-again with Facebook meeting | Training in full swing for new lifesavers | Forecast looking good in BKK for October 26 | ‘Tara’ the elephant saved from canal.
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‘Tara’ given a 50-50 chance of surviving
A 15 year old male elephant rescued from a muddy canal in Phitsanulok province yesterday was lifted using two big backhoes, placed in a truck and taken to an elephant hospital in Lampang province where it is now receiving treatment. A veterinarian said the elephant had a 50-50 chance of survival due to its broken legs. Teams of rescuers, villagers and…
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DSI claim ‘powerful people’ interfering in Krabi land-deed corruption case
Krabi Forest – File Photo The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has said local powerful people are behind a delay in revoking an illegal land deed involving forest lands in Krabi. Saengrawee Bongkotmas filed a complaint with DSI on Thursday calling on the body to investigate delays in revoking an illegal land-deed registration for a forested area. She said that…
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UPDATE: Got a drone in Thailand? Here’s what you need to know.
The days of you flying your drone carefree in the skies above Thailand are over. Last week, the Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) announced that all drones in Thailand need to be registered. The NBTC said the move came after only 350 drones out of an estimated 50,000 had previously been registered in Thailand. Owners have until January…
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Minesweeper relic taken to Phang Nga
The minesweeper found just offshore at Nai Yang Beach two weeks ago is said to be safe and has been taken to Phang Nga. The EOD team checked the suspected minesweeper device for explosive powder and found that the inside of it is empty and safe. After identifying the mystery object – which was found submerged at low tide 30…
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Phuket’s OrBorJor arranging training courses for lifeguards while tourists drown on beaches
Following two drownings and up to ten ‘near misses’ on Phuket’s beaches over the past week, the first class of 30 volunteer lifeguards joined the training course organised by the OrBorJor at the Cherngtalay sports centre yesterday (October 18). Phuket’s Vice Governor, Saint Srivihok, paid a visit to the training session. During the training, there was also an officer from…
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Another Russian tourist drowns at Karon Beach
Another Russian tourist has drowned in the seas off Karon Beach today (October 18), while swimming in a red flag zone. This time the man was swimming at the far southern end of Karon Beach. 53 years old Evgenii Erdlei was rescued from the sea by local beach vendors and officers from the Marine Safety Unit of the Royal Thai…
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Guns, loan contracts seized in Phang Nga raid
A large amount of weapons and some loan contracts were seized during a raid by police, army and administrative officials on a snooker club in Phang Nga’s Muang district today (October 18). Provincial police chief Pol Maj General Boonthawee Toraksa led the team to search the club in Tambon Tham Nam Phud, which belonged to 35 year old Piyawat Khanpakdee.…
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Landslide in Thailand’s north kills one
A Karen resident sustained fatal injuries after a downpour-triggered landslide hit a shophouse on the Mae Ramat-Ban Tak road in Tak’s Mae Ramat district on Wednesday morning. Following a 2am report of a landslide in Ban Nong Luang, police rushed to inspect the scene. They found that the shophouse and a pickup truck were buried under the landslide They found…
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Three vehicles in a crash in Thalang kills one, injures another
At the scene, a car, motorcycle and truck had collided. The motorcyclist died in the collision. Police presume that the cause of accident that killed the motorcyclist, 32 year old Thongmai Chairat, and injured his passenger, Natthawut Chaikham, was that they were trying to pass through the traffic jam by riding in the middle of two lanes when they hit…
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Half a tonne of crystal methamphetamine seized – street value 1 Billion Baht
A 30 year old Nakhon Phanom man has been arrested in Nakhon Ratchasima in possession of 508 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine or “ice”, with a reported street value of 1 billion Baht, national police chief Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda said on Tuesday. Thinnakorn Khomsing was spotted walking suspiciously with another man near a temple in Bua Yai district, where they…
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Installation of nine-tiered umbrella atop Royal Crematorium to be broadcast live
Members of the public will be able to watch a live telecast of the upcoming installation of the grand nine-tiered umbrella at the top of the Royal Crematorium for His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. On Wednesday, His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn will graciously preside over the royal cremation ground at Sanam Luang in the raising of the Nine-Tiered…
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Facebook founder heading to BKK for talks with Thai PM
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is heading to Thailand at the end of October to meet with PM Prayuth Chan-ocha. ‘Like’ that! Or maybe a ‘thumbs up’. Deputy PM Somkid Jatusripitak says Mark Zuckerberg intends to arrive in Bangkok on October 30 to discuss e-commerce and related Facebook issues withe the Thai PM. The Deputy PM also added that an executive…
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New management contract for Hollywood nightclub
The Hollywood nightclub management contract has been revoked after a shooting in the club last week while new management has been put in place. Preechawut “Prab” Keesin, owner of the venue and the head of the Pisona Group of companies, revealed that he has cancelled the management contract of the Hollywood nightclub for ‘damaging the reputation of the business’ as…
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Young dolphin washes up on Kamala Beach
Officers from the Rare Sea Animal Division of the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) have revealed today (October 17) that the dead dolphin found on Kamala Beach washed up ashore yesterday was a young Fraser’s Dolphin, which is rare in the Andaman Sea. The body is 2 metres long and weighs approximately 70 kilograms. The body was still fresh when…
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King to mark completion of Royal Crematorium
After Sunday’s rehearsals, Princess Sirindhorn suggested adjustments of music played during processions. Meanwhile, HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn will tomorrow install the grand nine-tiered umbrella at the top of the elaborate Royal Crematorium for his late father. The umbrella will be placed at the apex of the Royal Crematorium’s principal pavilion. Following the installation of the nine-tiered umbrella, all scaffolding will…
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Thinking of coming to Thailand at the end of October?
COMMENTARY: Tim Newton Don’t come to Thailand at the end of October if you expect things to be the same same. For all the right reasons, it will be very different indeed. Not for Thais or those expats that fully appreciate and understand what’s going on, but for tourists. It’s likely that nothing much will be open on October 26…
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Northern rains – house walls crack and roads open up
Days of heavy rain have caused cracks in the land and pieces of earth have broken away in Lampang’s Mae Mo district affecting eight homes located within an eight-rai (1.3 hectares) radius early on Monday morning. Tambon Mae Mo mayor Chucheep Boonnak led disaster prevention and mitigation officials as well as local bodies and police to inspect the scene on…
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THAIGER TODAY Monday, October 16
A drowning and near-misses at Phuket beaches | Royal rehearsals in Bangkok | Crocodiles escape in Petchabun floods | Myanmar Army about to release a report about alleged atrocities.
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Three locals arrested for drugs and gun’s in Chalong.
Yesterday afternoon (October 15), Chalong police arrested Panya Chidchiew and Kwanjai Kaewbamrung in Soi Chalermprakiet 6 with 351 amphetamine pills and 6 grams of meth amphetamine. Police found that they are connected to another bigger drug dealer who lives in Soi Koktanod in the same area and, after an investigation, police arrested Nopporn Rawanghet on the same day with a…
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