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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Sponsored What do you need before moving from the US to Thailand?
The Thaiger key takeaways The most common medical emergencies for expats in Thailand include motorcycle accidents, tropical diseases, and food or water-borne illnesses. Air pollution and heat-related conditions like heatstroke also pose serious seasonal health risks, especially in northern and...
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Rang Hill locals want to keep the monkeys as a tourist attraction
A public hearing was held on Monday (May 28) at Khao Rang Samakkee Temple (Wat Khao Rang) with local residents of Rang Hill in Phuket Town. The meeting was led by Director of the Natural and Wildlife Education Centre at Khao Phra Thaew Non-Hunting Area in Thalang Pongchart Chouehorm. The plan to develop new and remote monkey colonies has emerged…
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Long-tail boats at Koh Phi Phi damaged by storm
Yesterday (May 29) Nitipat Mongkolpradit, director of Krabi Tourist Assistance Centre was notified that strong wind waves had damaged eight long tail boats which were parked along Ton Tai Beach on Koh Phi Phi. Some equipment on the boats has also been damaged. Mr Nitipat says, “the incident happened yesterday (May 29) at 6 am. Strong winds swept in and…
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Nipah Virus. What is it?
What is the Nipah virus and why do we need to know more about it? Whilst there are no recorded cases of the virus in Thailand but an outbreak in India has experts concerned. Thailand is not safe from a Nipah virus outbreak, as fruit bats in Thailand are a natural host for the deadly infection that can cause encephalitis…
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Forensic police investigate Phuket market fire
Forensic police have been investigating the ‘Trunk’ market fire last Sunday night (just off Phang Nga Road, Phuket Town), while an executive of the Jatujak Phuket Company, Wannakorn Pattarapakorn, was visiting shop-holders to discuss options. Fire fighters at the Phuket City Municipality were notified of an incident on Phang Nga Road on Sunday night (May 27). Read more HERE. Mr…
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Boracay. Maya Bay. Phuket?
Bangkok, July 30, 2018 Today the Thai Government has announced a six month closure of the island of Phuket. The shutdown will commence on May 1, 2019 and reopen on October 31, 2019. PM Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha spoke to a meeting of Thailand’s peak tourism and business groups saying the drastic closure is necessary to ‘get Phuket’s house in order’…
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‘Drugged’ Thai student rescued from clutches of Poi Pet casino loan-sharks
A 20 year old Thai student has been rescued from a group alleged to have lured her to gamble at a casino in the Cambodian border town of Poi Pet early this month before detaining her over a high-interest gambling debt. The Korean loan-shark gang released the victim after negotiating with officials at the Thai-Cambodia Border Coordination Office and Tambon…
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Be a part of the Paws Squad. Join Soi Dog’s Saturday opening.
This Saturday morning, Soi Dog Foundation will open as usual but is adding some freebies and fun activities for everyone this week. At the Gill Dalley’s Sanctuary, we have recently extended the opening hours to half a day on Saturday from 9 am – midday. This Saturday, the first five visitors will receive a cool Soi Dog ‘freebies’ set, including…
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Taxi trouble in Hua Hin – Threats, assaults and arrests
In a story that could be played out anywhere around Thailand, the taxi wars in Hua Hin are heating up with the arrival of the ride-sharing App ‘Grab’ in the coastal town. A taxi driver has assaulted a female hotel employee just hours after posting online threats against all Grab taxi drivers working in Hua Hin. A local taxi driver,…
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Why we wear seatbelts!
https://www.facebook.com/tengkumohammedhanafijerungadindaherbs/videos/1512877415488547/ The child who was thrown out of a vehicle in an incident which occurred at the Road Transport Department traffic light junction here last night in Terengganu (May 28), was probably not secured with a seat belt, said Terengganu police chief Aidi Ismail. Terengganu is the Sultanate on the northern east coast of Malaysia. “If the seat belt had been…
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Phuket student seriously injured in crash with tour bus
Chalong Police were notified about an accident at Soi Yod Sanae in Chalong this morning (May 29). Chalong Police and emergency responders arrived at the scene to find a tour bus on the side of the road. At the front right wheel of the bus they found a male student who was later identified as 14 year old Tornrakorn Sommart…
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Illegal hostel crackdown in Krabi
Administrative officers, soldiers, police and land officers in Krabi have conducted another raid in efforts to crackdown on illegal hotels and hostels. They measured the boundaries of some hostels after receiving complaints that public areas have been encroached. Officers found that a few of the hostels checked were using traffic cones to block public areas such as car park areas…
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Phuket celebrates Visakha Bucha Day
A Buddhism ceremony was held this morning (May 29) at Wichit Sangkaram Temple (Wat Kwuan) in Phuket Town led by Phuket’s Governor Norraphat Plodthong and Phuket Provincial Police commander Maj Gen Teerapol Thipjaroen. The Phuket Office of Buddhism conducted the ceremony to encourage people, especially students, to learn more about one of the most important international Buddhism holidays. Today’s activities included offering food to monks,…
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Yingluck granted 10 year UK visa – BBC Thai website
The UK is reported to have granted a ten-year visa to former Thailand prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who has been ruled in absentia to a five-year prison term back home for her role in her government’s rice-pledging scandal. The BBC Thai website has quoted a close aide as saying that Yingluck is now free to travel in and out of…
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Chiang Mai hoteliers say the licensing laws are ‘unjust’.
PHOTO: www.delannahotel.com A few weeks ago a Hua Hin condo lost a court case when the judge ruled that the condominium was not allowed to rent out its rooms on a daily or weekly basis. This has big ramifications for websites and business models like AirBnB. Now the crackdowns are happening in Chiang Mai but local hoteliers believe the registration…
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Property report tips Phuket property boom
According to Knight Frank Thailand’s research, the Phuket condo market is expected to perform better in line with the brighter economic situation and the growing population of the island. Increasing supply and higher selling prices will be the key drivers, while demand is forecast to improve slightly. The number of launches in Phuket is predicted to increase and Thai developers…
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Man rescued after jumping off Thepkrasattri Bridge in Phuket
Tha Chatchai Police were notified of a suspected suicide incident in Mai Khao this afternoon (May 27). Police arrived at the far north of the island to find 47 year old Sutat Jitpromsri had already been brought from water by a passing fishing boat. A mobile phone charging cable was found loose around his wrists. He was rushed to Thalang…
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Man arrested for raping his neighbour
A re-enactment of an alleged rape was held at a worker’s house in Soi Baan Klang, Chalong last Friday (May 25) led by Chalong Police Chief Col Pakayot Tanongsak. The suspect in the re-enacment was 26 year old Jakkapan ‘Pom’ Chanyut. Col Pakayot says that last Wednesday night (May 23) a 51 year old woman name ‘Chuan’ reported to Chalong…
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Two Nigerians arrested in Pattaya over alleged romance scam
Pattaya police have arrested two Nigerians alleged to be members of a romance scam preying on Thai women. 28 year old Ositadima Ibeh and 30 year old Chinedu Calistus Ndubuisi were accused of being members of gangs conducting romance scams and skimming cards, said Pattaya police chief Pol Colonel Wichai Krobphet at a press conference on Monday. Police seized forging…
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Two arrested with meth pills and ‘ice’ at Phuket Town hotel
Yesterday (May 27) a team of Phuket City Police led by Capt Teerasak Narasri arrested a 22 year old woman Chenuya ‘Kim’ Thepsing from Lampang and 26 year old Naruebet ‘Net’ Paparnsit from Trang at a hotel room on Patipat Road in Phuket Town in relation to possession of drugs. Police seized 227 methamphetamine pills and 6.63 grams of crystal…
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Crackdown on illegal motorbike racing
A team of officers from the 5th Infantry Division of the Royal Thai Army, the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command and the Phuket City Police on Friday night (May 25) conducted a crackdown on illegal, noisy, disruptive and modified motorbikes at Saphan Hin, Phuket Town – a popular place for motorbike racers to gather. Officers arrested 70 motorbike drivers and 47 passengers. Police also seized…
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Future Forward’s Thanathorn vows to dump 2017 charter
Thanathorn Juangroongru-angkit was predictably chosen yesterday to be the leader of the Future Forward Party, which he co-founded with the agenda of not only becoming the prime minister but also dumping the current, junta-written 2017 Constitution. The scion of the Thai Summit Group won 473 votes with one abstention during the party’s first official meeting, attended by more than 700…
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Drug dealer arrested in Phuket parcel drugs and dress delivery
Chalong Police have arrested 39 year old Wiwat ‘Wat’ Choosong at a tattoo shop in Saiyuan, Rawai. Police seized 51.5 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 998 methamphetamine pills, Kerry Express parcel boxes and a white dress. Wiwat was taken to Chalong Police Station where he was charged with possession of Category 1 drug with intent to sell. The arrest came after…
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Tuesday, public holiday for Visakha Bucha Day
It was a long weekend, interrupted by a day of work on Monday. Tuesday, May 29, in Visakha Bucha Day and will be commemorated as a public holiday around Thailand. There are a quite a number of important Buddhist holidays throughout the year, but the most significant is Visakha Bucha Day. This day commemorates three defining events in the life…
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Coral bleaching report, “widespread but minor”.
By Pratch Rujivanarom Coral reefs in Thailand are currently facing the onset of widespread but mild coral bleaching, as some reefs in both the Andaman Sea and Gulf of Thailand show symptoms of heat stress. Tourists are meanwhile being encouraged to observe signs of coral bleaching and report them to authorities. Despite around 5 to 10 per cent of corals…
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New Greater Phuket Airport to create tourism Golden Triangle
By Bill Barnett of c9hotelworks.com An announcement by the Airports of Thailand (AoT) about approval of a plan for a new second Greater Phuket airport has created quite a stir in the tourism sector in one of Southeast Asia’s leading resort markets. Located just over the Sarasin Bridge in Phang Nga’s Khok Kloi area, work is reportedly set to start…
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Murderer surrenders after Rassada stabbing
On Saturday (May 26) at 9.50pm, 25 year old Watchara ‘Wat’ Plipon surrendered himself at the Phuket City Police Station. He also brought a knife along with him. On the same day at 5pm, Phuket City Police were notified that a man had been stabbed at a house in Rassada, east of Phuket Town. Police arrived at the scene to…
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Airport expansion plans, exactly a decade ago
In the wake of this week’s AoT announcement about the two new airports – one for Phuket and Chiang Mai – it’s only ten years ago, exactly, that funding was announced for the expansion of Phuket International Airport. Digging into the archives the article from May 23, 2008, says that in 2009 the AoT was expecting 6 million passengers to…
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Chonburi sting nets suspects and drugs
A police sting operation led to the arrest of three young male suspects and the seizure of 218,000 methamphetamine pills, 4,150 grams of crystal methamphetamine or “ice” and 700 Ecstasy pills in Chon Buri province’s Sri Racha district. Police Region 2 chief Pol Lt-General Jitti Rodbangyang told a press conference on Sunday that the suspect, 22 year old Saran Silarak,…
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Swede, 24 found hanged on Patong Hill, Phuket
A 24 year old Swedish man has been found hanged on Patong Hill. Patong Police were notified of the incident at behind the tiger shrine (Pun Tuao Kong Chinese Shrine) on Phra Baramee Road, at the top of Patong Hill, yesterday (May 26). Police and Kusoldharm rescue workers arrived at the scene to find the body of foreign man, later identified as…
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New airports in Phuket and Chiang Mai will ‘ease congestion’.
There’s been mainly positive response to the news that the AoT have approved the construction of two new airports – one in Phuket and one in Chiang Mai. The Director of the Thai tourism department says the decision is an important part of the support needed for ever-growing tourist arrivals. Yuthasak Supasorn, says it is a good sign for the industry,…
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