Thailand News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, and lifestyle—get breaking updates from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. Stay informed on Thai society, economy, tourism, and expat life with The Thaiger.
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Fly cheap to Oz with AIS on QANTAS
Use AIS mobile. You could be flying to Australia with a discount. QANTAS is offering AIS mobile phone users in the capital an 8% discount on airfares on all routes from Bangkok to Australia, or New Zealand, until 31 July. The offer is valid on routes Bangkok to Australia (Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, and Melbourne) and Bangkok to New Zealand (Auckland,…
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4-month breathing space – DNP officially closes down Maya Bay
Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) has officially announced that Maya Bay in Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park will not allow visitors during a much-needed four-month rejuvenation period from June 1 to September 30 this year. The DNP announced at a press conference held on May 15 that access to Maya Bay will…
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April tourist arrivals in Thailand up nearly 10%
Thailand’s tourism racks up 13,701,411 visitors arriving in the first four months of 2018 – a 14% increase, year on year. For the same four months last year the passenger arrivals increased 3.35%. In April alone arrivals were 3,092,725. This is up 9.38% year on year according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports Permanent Secretary, Pongpanu Svetarundra. The top ten…
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73% of Thais are buying online – Experian
Three quarters of Thai consumers are making online purchases, with Beauty and Fashion, and Electronics being the top categories. However, as consumers continue to look towards convenience, fraud exposure will likely increase – these are the findings of the Digital Consumer Insights 2018 by the world’s leading information services company Experian, co-authored with leading ICT market research and advisory firm…
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French cybercrime suspect arrested in police raid – Samui
PHOTOS: Samui Police Frenchman Jonathan Verron, an alleged leader of a hacker group that stole data from a British financial institution and demanded a ransom to keep it secure, has been arrested on Koh Samui this morning (Friday). Crime Suppression Division Fifth Command and Technology Crime Suppression Division police had French embassy staff on hand when they raided a house…
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EU maintains yellow card over Thai fishing
Continuing systemic flaws in the protection of the rights of workers and sustainable fishing policies has kept Thailand on the European Union’s “yellow flag” watch list for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. A source at the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry revealed that the EU has decided to maintain Thaialnd’s yellow flag for on IUU fishing. Activists from the Civil…
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Army denies orders to shoot down drones in South
The fourth Army Region is denying there is a standing order for aerial drones to be shot down in the southern border provinces but it pointed out there were rules governing drone flights. Colonel Pramote Prom-in, spokesman for the forward command at Internal Security Operations Command Region 4, said drones could not be flown in aviation zones or near military…
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The Andaman’s first artificial seaweed installation in Khao Lak
An installation of ‘artificial seaweed’ took place at Bang Neang Beach in Takua Pa, led by Phang Nga Vice Governor Pakpoom Intarasuwan yesterday (May 16). There were 25 volunteer conservationists across different occupations such as teachers, doctors, soldiers, police, local politicians and foreigners joining in the installation which is happening over four days. Diving instructor Songwut Kwongming, who is the…
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Seven pit bull dogs attack Monk
A 68 year old Buddhist monk has had a lucky escape after being mauled by sevenpit bulls while on a morning alms round in Samut Songkhram province. This information from a local police Facebook page. The photos of Phakhru Samutkhanisorn Panyawichuro’s 50 bitemarks, including several wounds that required up to 20 stitches were circulated in Thai social media. The Nation…
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Companies like AirBnB ‘illegal’ for daily and weekly rentals in Thailand
PHOTO: Wan Vayla Condos in Khao Tao A court ruling handed down in Hua Hin effectively confirms that people who rent out their rooms via companies like AirBnB on a daily and weekly basis are acting illegally. A letter has been sent to the Wan Vayla condos in Khao Tao from the local authorities outlining the court’s decision in two…
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Access to Maya Bay, from the front, permanently closed
The closure of Maya Bay has come about after profound changes by chiefs of Thailand’s marine national parks. It’s been revealed that, far from being a knee-jerk reaction, the plan to close the famous tourist magnet is just the start of an entire new approach to marine conservation. The closure is seen as an entry point for new tourism management…
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COMMENT: What does it take to change driving habits?
Yesterday we had to report the sad news of 12 year old Chinnarat Kajatroka who fell off the motorbike he was driving whilst his 12 year old passenger had to watch in horror as his friend’s head was crushed by a tour bus which was following behind. On his own admission the two were travelling very fast, apparently racing another…
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Cryptocurrency-tax ‘will hit economy’
New tax measures aimed at curbing the Thai initial crypto-coin offering (ICO) market will adversely affect the economy as the measures could drive investors and entrepreneurs overseas, according to experts. The Royal Gazette this week announced a new set of laws related to digital asset businesses, an amendment of the Revenue Code to regulate and impose high taxes on transactions.…
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Three houses flattened in Nakhon Ratchasima by storms
A total of 209 houses in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Muang Yang district have been damaged by thunderstorms. Surveying the scene yesterday, authorities found 209 houses in seven villages in Tambon None Udom were damaged. Three houses in Ban None Sa-ard village and Ban Muang Chak village were completely flattened by the storms, said Siwasek Sinthorum, assistant district chief of the district.…
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Some psychiatric medications, plus too much water, can be deadly in summer heat
Health officials are warning people taking medication for psychiatric problems, particularly schizophrenia, to limit their water intake in the summer heat. Mental Health experts are advising that the thirst resulting as a side effect of commonly prescribed medications could prompt people to drink too much water and leave them at risk of contracting potentially deadly hyponatremia. There are 2.6 million…
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Will Thailand pass the Life Partnership Bill?
PHOTO: World Nomads As Thai legislators mull the passing of a Life Partnership Bill, allowing LGBT people to not-quite-get-married but have a legally-binding civil partnership, the attitudes of what Thai people really think about the issue remains unclear. Like much Thai-thinking, the issue has nuances that non-Thais would find difficult to fathom. Unlike other countries there hasn’t been a lot of…
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Royal Ploughing Day – Annual ceremony at Sanam Luang
Thailand will have ample water and food this year and citizens will enjoy convenience in transportation according to the types of food preferred by the oxen involved in the annual Royal Ploughing Ceremony held on Monday morning. His Majesty the King presided at the traditional rite that began at 8.29am at Sanam Luang. Agriculture Ministry permanent secretary Lertviroj Kowatana, acting…
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Speaker-equipped drone repels wild elephants
Phetchaburi Rajabhat University academics have used, on a trial basis, a drone equipped with speakers blaring a recording of bee sounds to drive away wild elephants from the La Au forest in Hua Hin district, Kaeng Krachan National Park official Mana Phermpoon said on Sunday. The test at the Phu Sai-Sai En area and some farmland around Anant School in…
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Descendants gather for Siamese Twins Chang & Eng Bunker’s 207th birthday
By Phatarawadee Phataranawik PHOTOS: Chalinee Thirasupa If “Siamese twins” Chang and Eng Bunker, Thailand’s most famous twin entertainers, were alive today, they would no doubt be impressed to see their descendants making their first official visit to the Kingdom to celebrate their 207th birthday on Friday in Samut Songkhram province, the birthplace of the twins. “This [birthday celebration] is so…
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Alleged cop killer gunned down in Kalisan
Police chased down and then shot dead a drug suspect in Kalasin province yesterday just hours after a “shoot to kill” order was given following the recovery of the body of a police officer allegedly killed by the suspect. Police say drug suspect, Saurian Lekphet, was shot and killed at 1.30am on Ban Promlee Road in Moo 12 village in…
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10 million meth pills, 398 kg of ‘ice’ seized in Bangkok. Six arrested.
Bangkok police have arrested six suspects and seized a large drug haul of 10 million made-in-Myanmar methamphetamine pills and 398 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine or “ice”. A haul that size led the national police chief, Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda, to hold a press conference this morning (Friday) at the Royal Thai Police headquarters to announce the seizure. Chakthip said police…
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Chang and Eng’s descendants arrive for birthday celebrations
by Phatarawadee Phataranawik Chang and Eng Bunker (May 11, 1811 – January 17, 1874) were Thai-American conjoined twin brothers whose condition and birthplace became the basis for the term “Siamese twins”. Dozens of descendants of Chang and Eng Bunker yesterday arrived in the hometown of the famous Siamese conjoined twins to celebrate the anniversary of their birth today in Samut…
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Kanchanaburi man arrested in 25 million baht crayfish scam
Beautiful crayfish. Imported fresh. Pay now, delivered soon. Sounds good, but it was all a scam. A 25 million baht scam. A Kanchanaburi man has been arrested for disguising himself as a Singaporean to deceive people into handing over some 25 million baht in exchange for beautiful crayfish that never arrived. Pol Colonel Thongchai Yuket, commander of the Crime Suppression…
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ASEAN addresses ‘fake news’
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has acknowledged that “fake news” is one of the new challenges its member-countries must grapple with now that digital media are citizens’ primary sources of information. False and misleading news was among the chief topics at the 14th meeting of the Asean Ministers Responsible for Information today (Thursday). The ministers issued a Declaration…
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Investors continue buying up Phuket development projects, land prices increasing
President of Phuket Real Estate Association (P-REA), Boon Yongsakul says, “Real estate investment in Phuket is continuing to grow. We are sure that this year’s investment is growing more than last year.” “Phuket has a very beautiful natural environment and Phuket local people are very nice. More foreign tourists continue to visit Phuket. Investors, both Thai and foreigners, are continuing…
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Rain expected in many provinces in Thailand up to the weekend
PHOTO: Colin Gallagher All regions in Thailand are expecting increased rainfall from now until the weekend while officials in many provinces are mopping up the damage left behind by recent storms. TMD has issued weather warnings for thunderstorms and heavy rain up to May 13 as a high-pressure trough from China extends across the upper part of Thailand while southeasterly…
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Stunning Malaysian election result ousts Barisan Nasional
FILE PHOTO Malaysia’s Pakatan Harapan (PH) opposition coalition has crossed the minimum threshold of 112 seats needed to form government in Malaysia. The Election Commission continue to count a few remaining votes this morning but have confirmed the win of the Pakatan Harapan party and coalition members. The result brings to an end the rule of Barisan Nasional (BN) and…
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CamGO adding more ‘autorickshaws’ to its Cambodian fleet
CamGO, the company behind the local ride-hailing app, have announced a partnership agreement with Indian motorcycle company TVS Motor that would provide TVS’s King model autorickshaws for use in the Kingdom. In the agreement, TVS will supply the three-wheeled vehicles to CamGO using local firm Three Wheel Motor Service Provider as a front for their services. Ouk Chipsourn, CEO of…
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Choking driver smashes into roadside shop in Chumpon
A driver who claims he was choking on a pill, lost control of his pickup truck which smashed a phad thai shop on a popular food street in Chumphon, severely injuring the food vendor. Police report that the accident happened at 6pm last night, a busy time on the so-called “food street” in the heart of the Lang Suan downtown…
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Maybe this idea might get off the ground – Uber takes to the skies
Uber has held its second annual “flying taxi” conference in LA showcasing its prototype future taxi service and promising to revolutionise the way we get around busy urban areas.. Embraer and Pipistrel Aircraft, two aircraft manufacturers that are working with Uber, released new concept images of aircraft they plan to build for the ride-hailing company’s ambitious project. Karem, also based…
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