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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Personal grudge behind killing of rubber tapper in South – Police
An elderly rubber tapper was shot dead early on Sunday morning in a rubber plantation in Narathiwat’s Yi Ngor district. Police suspect the fatal shooting might stem from a personal conflict, although they have not ruled out issues related to the deep South’s unrest and national security as a possible motive. Following a 6.20am report of a homicide, police went…
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Time to make her move
By Somroutai Sapsomboon It has been almost six months since former PM Yingluck Shinawatra fled the country, just before a court verdict in a criminal case that stemmed from her government’s corruption-plagued rice-pledging scheme. She has lived in seclusion overseas for months until, shortly before the New Year, she was spotted in public in London. Just last week, Yingluck was…
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Ao Po Grand Marina gets dragged into Premchai investigations
PHOTO: aopograndmarina.com Italian-Thai Development president Premchai Karnasuta is subject to another encroachment investigation as a firm in which he is major shareholder is accused of encroaching on mangrove forests and the public sea in Phuket. Jatuporn Buruphat, director general of the Marine and Coastal Resources Department, said on Friday that he had instructed officials to conduct a probe against Ao…
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Machete attack in Chalong
A jealous husband has slashed his wife and step son with a machete, resulting in severe injuries for both. Chalong Police have revealed that on Friday night they received a report that there had been an attack on two people – 47 year old Yaowapa Kowai and her son, 22 year old Songpon Thongsai. Yaowapa was slashed on her head,…
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Anupas announces farewell to Honda cars in Phuket
Anupas Vividhkarn announced it will end its four-branch Honda car sale representative offices and showrooms across Phuket and Pang Nga today (February 17) after 32 years in business. The Managing Director, Montri Hongyok, chaired the press conference today (February 17) at Novotel Phuket Phokeetra Hotel along with the Deputy Managing Director, Montawee Hongyok. “All shops will stop operations from March…
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Dirty water stains our beaches. And our reputation.
Comment by Tim Newton Waste water, drainage, ‘dirty water’, organic sewerage, run off… call it what you want. It’s an ongoing blight on Phuket’s best assets – it’s beautiful stretches of beaches. In the past week, alone, black, sludgy run-off has been reported at Patong, Kamala, Surin and Karon. Officials have been getting their photo-opportunities, pointing at the dirty drainage,…
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Tourist visa extension mobile service for Krabi
Krabi Immigration has launched a mobile van service for visa extensions targeting foreign tourists staying in Ao Nang. Krabi Privincial Immigration Office Superintendent, Pol Col Suparuek Pankosol, along with immigration officers, launched the mobile van and services at Ao Nang Beach yesterday (February 16). The new service will allow tourists to report their extension (other than 90 day reporting) without…
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Senior DSI official faces probe over alleged rape, extortion
A disciplinary investigation is to begin next week into claims that a Department of Special Investigations official took a video of him raping a 38 year old Pattaya businesswoman at gunpoint in May 2015 and then used the tape to blackmail and extort 2 million baht from the woman. Justice Ministry deputy permanent secretary Thawatchai Thaikhiew said yesterday that the…
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Kalasin rape, shooting suspect turns himself in
The 29 year old suspect, who allegedly shot a male third-year university student in the cheek in Kalasin’s Na Mon district early on Tuesday morning before abducting and raping a female sophomore student, has surrendered to police this afternoon (February 16). Rubber tapper Thisanu Phonarat, surrendered to Kam Moung police officers at a gas station belonging to his elder sister.…
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An Xin tour bus crashes in Phang Nga killing the driver, injuring 19
A Chinese tour bus of An Xin Tour Company has crashed into an electric pole on Phetchakasem Road in Phang Nga today (February 16) killing the driver while injuring Chinese passengers. The tourists booked with CNR Travel were heading to the Ban Tha Noon Pier. At the scene of the accident on the Phang Nga – Takuatung route in Krasom…
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More drug dealers arrested at Phuket Gateway
Five busts in two weeks. Three more people have now been arrested at Thachatchai checkpoint at the Phuket Gateway with 16.6 grams of methamphetamine and 542 amphetamine pills at just after midnight (February 16). The two men and one woman include 34 year old Anuchit Buathong from Phuket, 31 year old Mana Changnam from Krabi and 29 year old Nattaya…
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THAIGER TODAY Friday, February 16
Gong Xi Fah Cai! | Bangkok’s pollution moves further north | New 50 kph speed zones in the capital | Alleged Kalasin rapist/shooter on the loose | Premchai’s gone missing | Authorities NOT going to close Maya Bay | Cambodian parliament introduces new laws restricting free speech | 74 year old Brit found on deserted island off Chumpon.
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National manhunt after rape, shooting suspect evades police
An arrest warrant has been issued for a 29-year-old suspect accused of shooting a male third-year university student in the cheek in Kalasin’s Na Mon district and abducting and raping a female sophomore student. The female student was later released in a Phuphan forest early Tuesday morning. Thisanu Thonarat was described as armed and dangerous, Kalasin police chief Pol Maj-General…
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Police suspect illegal abortion clinic in Hua Hin
Prachuap Khiri Khan police are gathering evidence to apply for a court’s permission to search a clinic suspected of providing illegal abortion services in Muang Hua Hin municipality, following Tuesday’s discovery of four foetuses in garbage bins near a convenience store in Soi Hua Hin 68. Hua Hin superintendent Pol Colonel Sitthichai Srisopacharoenrat said police were tracking a male suspect…
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Mystery woman drowns off Phang Nga beach
PHOTO: komchadluek.net A woman, over the age of 60 in a black swimsuit, drowned on a beach north of Phuket on Tuesday. When emergency responders arrived at Khuk Khak Beach in Takuapa district, Phang Nga, the woman was already deceased. A security guard at the hotel fronting beach the woman was swimming tried to apply CPR before rescuers arrived, but…
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1,000 baht for 841 Km. 400 baht for 6 Km. Let’s do the maths.
PHOTO: File photo Posting from ‘Bewildered’ in a Facebook post this morning… (Edited) “I arrived in Phuket 7am this morning after taking the overnight bus from Bangkok. It’s been a loooong time since I’ve done that, and I was impressed. I travelled on the VIP bus for just under 1,000 baht. Big seats, lots of leg room and decent drivers.…
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Muslim paramilitary soldiers injured in Yala bomb attack
Two Muslim paramilitary soldiers were severely injured in a bomb attack while they were escorting a group of teachers to a school in Yala province on Thursday morning, police said. Police said Muslim insurgents had detonated an IED hidden along the main road in Bannang Sareng village in Muang district at 7.30am. A team of seven paramilitary soldiers on four…
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Phi Phi’s Maya Bay to be closed this June. Or maybe not…
According to AFP, Maya Bay is going to be closed in June this year. “The once-pristine Thai bay which became a tourist magnet after the 2000 movie “The Beach” will be closed to boats for several months to prevent further damage to its coral, an official said Wednesday. Hordes of tourists flock daily to Maya Bay on Koh Phi Phi…
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Brush fire destroys old worker’s camp in Kathu
An old worker’s camp on fire just behind the Shell petrol station in Phra Phuket Kaew Road, adjacent to the Anupas car service centre. No one was in the dwelling at the time. The fire spread quickly to adjoining bush land but two fire crews attended quickly and brouht the blaze under control within 20 minutes. Police believe there was…
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THAIGER TODAY Thursday, February 15
‘Heavy traffic is causing pollution in BKK’ – Genius! | Thaksin and Yingluck now in HK | Witness of Australian ‘manslaughter’ in Pattaya speaks up | Changes to the collection of immigration data | UK Foreign Secretary jokes about Thailand’s sex tourism | Thailand mums are wanting smaller families | Encoached buildings on Koh Phi Phi being demolished.
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Yingluck lobbying for a chat with Japanese PM
National Legislative Assembly whip Somchai Sawangkarn has revealed that a diplomatic source in Japan told him Yingluck Shinawatra has been trying to meet Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The source also told Somchai that the fugitive former premier was also seeking to meet old business and political connections in Japan and planned to call a press conference in late February…
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Six buildings demolished for encroaching national park land on Phi Phi
A hundred officers from Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, police, military and Office of Forestry demolished houses and shops located next to the national park booth. The team expect the full demolition to take 3 days. “It started in 2014 when the officers discovered the land encroachment. The man who claims to own the land, Aran Rothakan,…
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Valentine’s marriage registration at Phuket District Office
The Phuket District Office welcomed couples that came to register their marriage during the ‘day of love’. The Vice Governor Sanit Srivihok chaired the opening ceremony and was the witness for the registration of this year’s marrying couples. The first couple of this year was the Wichit sub-district chief, Chusak Ayupong, and his wife. “We expect at least 100 couples…
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THAIGER TODAY Wednesday, February 14
Another Chinese tour bus crash on the notorious Patong Hill | Pollution levels starting to fall in BKK | UN Refugee Chief speaks out about repatriation of Rohingya | Thai Education Minister apologises to Prawit | British government questions Thailand over prison conditions | Three white tiger cubs get their first public outing | And where do all the Valentine’s…
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Fourth drug courier arrested at Phuket Gateway
A 24 year old from Nakhon Si Thammarat, Jakrit Paipong, was arrested yesterday (February 13) at the Phuket Gateway Thachatchai checkpoint while carrying drugs to be distributed in Phuket. The van driving from Nakhon Si Thammarat to Phuket was stopped for a search and a military officer found Jakrit acting ‘suspiciously’. The officer looked into his bag and found 167…
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Six drug dealers arrested in major Krabi sting
Krabi police, along with Police Region 8 officers, have arrested six drug dealers from one of the biggest networks in the south and seized their assets, worth approximately 26.5 million Baht. The drug dealers arrested include 40 year old Kriangsak Rangsiyangkul from Bangkok, Nan Saung Kham from Myanmar, 34 year old Pornsawan Dindaeng, 22 year old Pitchsinee Patimin, 26 year…
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Another Chinese tour bus crash on notorious Patong Hill
A Chinese tour bus has collided with a car and a motorcycle then ended up slamming into the barrier walls at the bottom of the hill, on the final turn before reaching the temple at the bottom. Just before midnight last night (February 13), Patong Police received an accident report, the cause allegedly to brake failure, resulting in 5 injured.…
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Going Gold – Thai/US Cobra Gold military exercises kick off
FILE PHOTO: Cobra Gold The biggest U.S. force in years has joined thel military exercise in Thailand on Tuesday despite controversy over the Thai junta’s invitation to neighboring Myanmar’s army – the Tatmadaw army has been accused of ethnic cleansing in the Rhakine state of Myanmar. The US scaled back attendance at Cobra Gold, Asia’s largest multilateral military exercise, after…
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83 year old man accused of raping four year old
An 83 year old man was arrested in Nakhon Si Thammarat’s Muang district this morning over an accusation that he allegedly raped the four year old daughter of an in-law niece on February 2. The girl sustained such serious injuries from the alleged rape that she had to be treated at Maharat Nakhon Si Thammarat Hospital, and was only discharged…
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Thaksin and Yingluck in Japan – Deputy PM
Deputy PM, Defence Minister and luxury watch enthusiast, General Prawit Wongsuwan, says that former PMs Thaksin and Yingluck Shinawatra are currently in Japan. Without further elaboration, Prawit added that he has ordered responsible agencies to look into the matter. He was speaking in Vientianne during his official visit to the country at the invitation of Lao government. Photos of Thaksin…
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