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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Bangkok smog to hit Thailand in the tourism pocket
Bangkok’s air pollution problems will take a hefty toll on the Thai economy unless authorities can effectively clear the city’s air and find some long-term solutions to smog. A Kasikorn Research Centre analysis says the smog could cost Thailand 6.6 billion baht in losses for the healthcare and tourism sectors due to the impact of air pollution. The analysis says…
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Weather for January 16
Bangkok Morning clouds followed by afternoon sun. High 33ºC. Winds NE at 10 to 15 km/h. Chiang Mai Generally clear. High 30ºC. Winds ESE and variable. Phuket Afternoon showers. High 31ºC. Winds NNE and variable. Chance of rain 40%. Ko Samui Thundershowers. High 25ºC. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 km/h. Chance of rain 40%. Pattaya Partly cloudy. High 32ºC.…
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Thai ‘hijacking’ elephants get GPS collar trackers
PHOTO: WWF A new project has been launched in the restricted forest areas of eastern Thailand where wildlife officials are putting tracking collars on elephants to help mitigate potential conflict with farmers and local villagers. The first three collars were placed on three elephants in Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary. The collars were imported from South Africa with aid…
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Smog settles in as a chronic Bangkok problem
Air pollution? What air pollution!? Bangkok residents will have to put up with smog until early March, as high levels of PM2.5 particles settle over the capital for many more weeks, or months. Though pollution has become a cause of grave concern to citizens, relevant authorities are yet to introduce significant measures – let alone declare the capital a pollution-control…
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The big ‘fake’ Indian wedding
A police crackdown had led to the arrest of 28 people involved in a marriage scam for Indian nationals who seek to stay in Thailand long term. The suspects include a 53 year old Thai-Indian man who acted as a marriage broker and prepared the documents needed, while the other 27 are Thai women who were allegedly paid 8,000-10,000 baht…
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Kamala lifeguard dies in motorbike accident in Cherng Talay
PHOTO: Kusoldharm Foundation A man, a Kamala lifeguard, has died in a motorbike accident in Cherng Talay this afternoon. The Cherng Talay Police were notified of the incident in front of a beauty salon near Baan Bang Tao School in Thalang at 1.35pm. Police and rescue workers arrived at the scene to find a damaged Honda PCX. Nearby they found…
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Australian woman sends desperate messages from Thai immigration detention
PHOTOS: Facebook – Claire Johnson – founder and MD of Cosmetic Holidays International Claire Johnson was due back in Sydney on January 8, but sent frantic text messages from a Thailand detention centre. She claims she wouldn’t be going home because ‘serious stuff went down’. She sent texts to a friend saying she was ‘so scared… get media involved’. A story…
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Man arrested after killing five family members in Uttaradit
PHOTO: Khaosod A man who shot his pregnant wife, parents-in-law and two other relatives to death, is now in custody. Khaosod is reporting that 37 year old Teeraphol Pin-amon, who allegedly shot five people to death in their home in Uttaradit province last Sunday, has now been apprehended while he was hiding in a forest in Ranong today. Uttaradit is…
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Thai woman arrested for killing German husband in 10 million baht insurance scam
A Thai woman has been arrested by the Crime Suppression Division for allegedly having planned and murdered her husband with the aid of her Thai lover, to get their hands on a 10 million baht insurance compensation claim back in 2006, 13 years ago. CSD Commander Pol Maj-General Jirapol Phuridej said Angkhana Moshammer (not official spelling) was arrested in front…
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What’s the use of number plates if you can’t read them?
by DW (anonymously sent to The Thaiger) Hiding in plain sight, and rarely noted—at least by anyone I’ve spoken with—are thousands of cars, vans, buses, trucks, and even motorcycles. Most are commercial vehicles … you know, the ones with green and yellow plates. Now when I say they’re “hiding in plain sight”, I mean to say that yes, you can plainly…
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Thailand advance to knockout stage of Asian Cup *Thaiger Bites
Last night saw Thailand finish with a 1-1 draw with the UAE (United Arab Emirates) to ensure their place in the knockout stages of the Asian Cup, managing to finish second in the group after a rocky start. Thailand’s equaliser goal came late in the first half, scored by midfielder Thitiphan Puangjan. Following a their first Asian Cup game where…
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Air quality for Thailand – January 15
Northern Thailand Mostly air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Central Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. Southern Thailand Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air…
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Police not accepting the new smartphone driving licence yet
Great. Don’t have to carry my physical Driver’s Licence anymore! But hang on, news today from the Royal Thai Police that they won’t recognise your snazzy new App which displays your digital driver’s licence on your smart phone. Net yet anyway. Police are now saying they won’t recognise the new digital driver’s licenses until a legal amendment is in place.…
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Cloud seeding: Making fake rain in Bangkok
In an effort to tackle the serious air pollution problem in Bangkok, the Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation plans to deploy rainmaking planes to seed clouds and create ‘fake’ rain (it’s actually real rain but induced artificially). “Cloud seeding is a type of weather modification that aims to change the amount or type of precipitation that falls from clouds by dispersing substances into the air that…
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Weather for January 15
Bangkok Phuket Chiang Mai Ko Samui Songkhla Pattaya
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More sharks found displayed at seafood restaurant in Phuket
PHOTO: Go-Eco Phuket More sharks been discovered hanging in front of a seafood restaurant in Karon in “Thailand famous tourism city” (translated). A Facebook page ‘Go-Eco Phuket,’ principally a diving and environmental site, yesterday posted a photo of the shark being displayed out the front of a restaurant with a message reading… “This is at the number one tourism city…
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FOUND: Cockpit Voice Recorder from crashed Lion Air flight
PHOTO: A Boeing 737 MAX, identical to the crashed jet “It’s broken into two pieces so hopefully it’s still useful.” Just as hopes of finding the second black box of the crashed Lion Air Boeing 737 MAX began to fade, investigators say they finally found the voice cockpit recorder (CVR) of the doomed flight. Data retrieved from the device could…
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Thai Electronic Driving License on smart phone App from today
From today a new App can be used where motorists will be able to show their license credentials to any law enforcement officer in Thailand. This means you no longer have to carry your physical licence. The police will be able to scan a QR code and check all details including bans or outstanding fines, on the spot. The driver’s…
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Bike ride to the top of Mt Everest – Raising money for Phuket Has Been Good To Us
The Ride4Ever is an epic to ride a bike to the top of Mt Everest, this Saturday. Well, sort of. On January 19 our goal will be to raise 300,000 baht to sponsor one class and ten students at the Phuket Has Been Good To Us Foundation. How are we going to do this? Pretty simple, we will RIDE4EVER and ride…
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World Health Organisation: More people killed by air pollution than by AIDS, malaria
by Pratch Rujivanarom Authorities are launching all-out efforts to battle persistent smog in Bangkok, as dust particles continued to blanket the capital. Meanwhile a WHO (World Health Organisation) report says air pollution kills more people than AIDS and malaria combined. Authorities have been including cleaning roads more often, spraying water into the sky, trying to produce artificial rain and enforcing…
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BKK authorities short on solutions to smog *Thaiger Bites
By Jintamas Saksornchai Khaosod English is reporting today that authorities were scrambling to respond to worsening smog in the capital city. A government spokesman said junta leader Prayuth Chan-ocha has ordered related agencies to inform people of the danger of ultrafine particles after Bangkok’s air quality this past weekend again fell to “unhealthy” levels. As of Monday morning, the international Air…
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A reduction of 100 million+ plastic bags at 7-eleven stores in one month
More than 100 million plastic bags have not bee used at Thailand’s 7-eleven stores in the past month, valued at more than 20 million baht. CP All Public Company, the sole operator of 7-Eleven convenience stores in Thailand, announced its intention to reduce and, eventually, to eliminate the use of single-use plastic bags at all their stores throughout the country.…
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Face mask fashion as Bangkok batters poor air quality and smog
by Kunlaphun Siripimamporn. PHOTOS: The Nation Thick morning winter fog and some heavy smog has forced many Bangkokians into wearing facemasks, even the cheap ones that will nothing to protect them from the fine particulate matter mixed into the air. People wearing masks became a common sight in inner city areas today. The pollution continued to remain at harmful levels…
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Air quality for Thailand – January 14
Northern Thailand Mostly air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Central Thailand Everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. Southern Thailand Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air…
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Big leatherback sea turtle rescued after getting stuck in fishing net – VIDEO
PHOTOS/VIDEO: ReReef / กรมอุทยานแห่งชาติ สัตว์ป่าและพันธุ์พืช / เฟสบุ๊คไต๋มิ ธนากร A big leatherback sea turtle has been rescued by fishermen after getting stuck in fishing nets in Phang Nga last night. A Phang Nga fishermen rescued the big leatherback sea turtle that was stuck in fishing netting off Phang Nga coast near Khao Na Yak in the Khao Lampi-Hat Thai Mueang Nation…
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Business class bird stowaway in Singapore Airlines flight
by The Straits Times – Asia News Network A Singapore Airlines flight headed to London’s Heathrow Airport found it had an unintended passenger – a mynah bird. Business-class passengers found themselves greeted by the stowaway about 12 hours into the flight. A typical Singapore-London flight takes about 14 hours. In a statement yesterday, a Singapore Airlines spokesman confirmed that a bird…
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23 Filipino tourists escape serious injury in Bangkok – Phuket bus accident in Chumphon
PHOTOS: หน่วยกู้ภัยมูลนิธิชุมพร //บางหมาก 02 / MulnithiChumphrKarKuslSngKheaaH 23 Filipino tourists have escaped serious injury in a tour bus crash in Chumphon early this morning. The bus was travelling from Bangkok to Phuket. Chumphon rescue workers were notified of the incident on Phetkasem Road, southbound, at 4.30am this morning. Rescue workers arrived at the scene to find the Bangkok – Phuket tour bus in…
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Future teaching graduates don’t need good ‘English’ levels to pass
The committee in charge of preparing a teacher qualifications framework has decided to lower the level of English needed for its graduates following pressure from its stakeholders. The committee’s chair Rathakorn Kidkan mentioned serious concerns that students may not be able to graduate if the English level was set too high. Using the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for…
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170K meth pills and 2 kg crystal meth seized in Hat Yai
PHOTOS: Hat Yai Police A man has been arrested with 170,000 methamphetamine pills and two kilograms of crystal methamphetamine in Hat Yai, Songkhla. A team from Hat Yai Police last week arrested 31 year old Watcharaphon ‘Pom’ Srinuanput at a rented room in Hat Yai. He was found with 170,000 methamphetamine pills and two kilograms of crystal methamphetamine inside his…
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Weather for January 14
Bangkok Partly cloudy. High 34C. Winds light and variable. Chiang Mai Partly cloudy. High 32C. Winds light and variable. Phuket Partly cloudy early followed by scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. High 31C. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 km/h. Chance of rain 50%. Udon Thani Partly cloudy. High 33C. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 km/h. Songkhla Mostly sunny. High near…
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