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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At least 17 children killed, five injured in boarding-house fire
CHIANG RAI: A schoolgirl boarding-house in Chiang Rai burned down late last night, killing 17 girls between the ages of five and 12. Five others were injured and two were still unaccounted for, police said. The fire broke out at the facility of the Pithakkiart Witthaya School in Wiengpapao district at 11pm, police said. After the blaze started, officials could…
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DNA test results of human remains found in Udon Thani ready
THE DNA test results of human remains found at one of 23 spots in the degraded forest of Udon Thani’s Ban Phue district have been released and are pending comparison with the 31 relatives of missing persons, deputy police spokesman Pol Colonel Krissana Pattanacharoen said yesterday. The move followed the discovery in April of skeletons – many with signs of…
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No respite from heat; rains may be delayed
THAILAND: The country continues to suffer scorching temperatures this month and the rainy season may be further delayed due to the lack of moisture in the air, meteorologists have warned. Wattana Kanbua, senior meteorologist and Marine Meteorological Centre director, revealed yesterday that Thailand may start getting some rain from May 14 onward, as the moisture-bearing southwestern wind from the Indian…
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Thailand Optimist National Championships to launch in Pattaya
PATTAYA: The next generation of Olympic sailors from Thailand and around Asia are heading to Ocean Marina Yacht Club this weekend to compete in the Thailand Optimist National Championships. Now in its 41st year, the Thailand Optimist National Championships is the country’s second oldest sailing trophy and the pinnacle of competitive youth sailing in Thailand. The Thailand Optimist National Championships…
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Police seize 30kg of heroin smuggled on Taiwanese boat
BANGKOK: Police have detained at least three Taiwanese suspects for allegedly smuggling more than 30 kilograms of heroin into Thailand. An informed source said the suspects were nabbed at about 1:45am yesterday at Terminal 1 at Bangkok Port in Klong Toei district. They were aboard the Taiwanese-registered cargo ship Yang Ming, the source said. Police were looking for the captain…
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PM boosts security in south after attacks
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community PM boosts security in south after attacks Phuket Gazette / Reuters NARATHIWAT: Prime Minister Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha told the army on Monday to increase security in the southern provinces following attacks over the weekend. Seven soldiers were injured following multiple gun and bomb attacks in Narathiwat,…
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Eight killed, seven injured at SCB head office in Bangkok
BANGKOK: At least eight people were killed and seven injured in a freak accident at the Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) head office in Bangkok last night. The incident, which was initially thought to be a fire or gas cylinder explosion, was announced to be a fault in the fire extinguishing system in an emergency press statement released by the bank…
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Deal offered to mafia who mend their ways
BANGKOK: Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan has offered to conditionally let off mafia-style figures with ‘dark influence’ in cases where evidence is weak. However, he warned that they will have to mend their ways. Hundreds of police and military officers are on the lists of ‘dark’, influential figures who are being targeted in the government’s ongoing crackdown. “If there is…
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Student loan debt to be deducted from salaries
BANGKOK: This year, some 2 million overdue student-loan debtors will face deductions from their salaries to pay off outstanding debt, as the new Student Loan Bill comes into effect, the Student Loan Office disclosed on Tuesday. The Cabinet approved the Student Loan Bill, which makes it binding on business owners to collect student-loan debts for the Student Loan Office in…
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Cambodians admit to raping French tourists in Thailand – foreign ministry
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Cambodians admit to raping French tourists in Thailand – foreign ministry Phuket Gazette / Reuters BANGKOK: March 1, Five Cambodian fisherman have confessed to raping and assaulting French tourists on an isolated Thai beach, Cambodia’s foreign ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. Thai police said…
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Raid leaves one pangolin smuggler dead, two arrested
NONG KHAI: One pangolin smuggler is dead and two others arrested following a bungled attempt to smuggle live pangolins across the Mekong River from Nong Khai Province to Laos on January 23. A 27-year-old Laos resident, named only as Mr Iaan, was loading sacks of live pangolins onto a boat when joint forces stormed the mooring point. Two of the…
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MERS patient being treated in Bangkok
BANGKOK: Thailand believes it can contain the dreaded Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus after the country’s second case involving an elderly Omani was confirmed. “After receiving treatment for one week in his homeland without his condition improving, he refused to wait for lab results and immediately left for Thailand,” Public Health Minister Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn said yesterday. The 71-year-old man…
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Thailand offers condolences after Jakarta bombings
PHUKET: Thailand has expressed regret and sadness over yesterday’s bombings in Jakarta that resulted in the loss of several lives and left many injured. Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said in a statement that he was deeply saddened to learn of the blasts and shootings in the Indonesian capital (story here). “On behalf of the Royal Thai Government and the…
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Court sentences Myanmar men to death for murder of British backpackers
KOH SAMUI: A Thai court sentenced two migrant workers from Myanmar to death today after finding them guilty of the 2014 murders of two British tourists on a holiday island. The verdict follows an investigation and trial that was mired in controversy, including allegations of policeincompetence, mishandling of evidence and torture of the suspects. Backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller…
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Thai seafood exports not affected by slavery reports
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thai seafood exports not affected by slavery reports Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Thailand said on Monday seafood exports to the United States, Europe and Australia have not been hit by reports of slavery and forced labour by campaign groups and media. The comments come as…
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More than a dozen tourists dead in Chiang Mai bus crash
CHIANG MAI: At least 14 Malaysian tourists were killed and many others injured when their tour bus hit a power pole and ran off a mountainous road in Chiang Mai’s Doi Saket district yesterday. Police said that the bus was on national highway 118 through Ban Pang Fan village between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai provinces when the driver lost…
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Gen Paween’s allegations cause stir among officials
PHUKET: Supervisors of the former chief investigator probing a high-profile human-trafficking case reacted angrily on Friday to his accusation that he received no protection from them despite facing death threats. Maj Gen Paween Pongsirin quit the police force last month and is now seeking political asylum in Australia. He told Australian media that he feared for his life because influential…
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Former Thai General seeks asylum in Australia
BANGKOK: A former high-ranking police officer, who headed a human-trafficking investigation that led to the arrests of state officials, is seeking political asylum in Australia, he disclosed yesterday. Maj Gen Paween Pongsirin said he was seeking asylum, as he felt unsafe in Thailand. “If I remained in the police force, I would be in danger. I sought help from my…
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Thailand spared from EU’s blacklist of airlines
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – National news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thailand spared from EU’s blacklist of airlines Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: BRUSSELS, Dec 10 The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) expressed concern about Thailand’s air safety oversight on Thursday but not did include any Thai carriers in an updated list of airlines banned from flying…
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More than 8,000 illegal boats forced to stop fishing
BANGKOK: To deal with issues regarding illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing vessels, authorities have terminated the operation of more than 8,000 illegal fishing trawlers, the Command Center for Combating Illegal Fishing (CCCIF) said on Friday. The CCCIF also noted that it settled a conflict between a local fishing community and big commercial trawlers by marking out borders for them.…
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Thailand says looking for four Syrians amid Islamic State warning
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thailand says looking for four Syrians amid Islamic State warning Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Thailand said on Sunday it was looking for four Syrian nationals who have overstayed their visas, as the country is on high alert after a Russian warning of possible attacks by…
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Syrians linked to Islamic State in Thailand ‘to attack Russian interests’
BANGKOK: Ten Syrians linked to Islamic State (IS) entered Thailand in October to attack Russian interests, Thai police said in a leaked document citing information from the Russian Federal Security Service. In the document, Special Branch police urged an intensification of security around ‘target areas that Russian authorities are concerned about’, including venues associated with allies that have taken part…
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Interpol arrests couple wanted for Bangkok bombing
BANGKOK: Interpol has arrested Thai and foreign suspects for their alleged role in the Bangkok bombings in August, which claimed 20 lives and injured many others, Deputy Police Chief Gen Srivara Ransibrahmanakul said yesterday. While Gen Srivara declined to reveal the names of the suspects, reliable police sources identified the suspects as Phang Nga native Wanna Suansan and her Turkish…
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Thailand draws nearer to China with rail, rice and rubber deals
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thailand draws nearer to China with rail, rice and rubber deals Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: China and Thailand agreed to build an ambitious 900 km (559 mile) railway line on Thursday in the latest sign of closer ties between them after Bangkok’s links with Washington…
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Educator dreams up hydropower plant
BANGKOK: Vocational teachers and students have joined forces with local people to construct a hydropower plant at the foot of Doi Luang Chiang Dao Mountain in Chiang Mai. Manus Daomanee, president of the Toyota Automotive Technological College, is credited with starting the innovative project in the remote location. Mr Manus hopes his charity-funded project will provide free electricity for a…
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Border patrols to closely monitor infectious diseases
RANONG: The Public Health Ministry has ordered that three contagious diseases be closely monitored along the border region in Ranong province as the establishment of the Asean Community will encourage movement of more people. Dr Sopon Mekthon, permanent secretary of the Public Health Ministry, said the ministry has asked hospitals and clinics in the Thai-Myanmar border area at Ranong to…
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Security beef-up ordered for Loy Krathong, festive season
BANGKOK: Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered security agencies and related ministries to beef up security during the Loy Krathong and New Year festivals. Government spokesman Maj General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said PM Prayut had instructed security agencies and the ministries of Tourism and Sport, Transport and Culture to be extra vigilant. The prime minister has instructed the Department of…
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Young minds tackle global issues at One Young World Summit 2015
BANGKOK: The ‘One Young World Summit 2015’ kicked off at Sanam Luang in Bangkok on Wednesday. About 1,300 delegates from 196 countries are participating in the event, which brings together young leaders from all over the world to discuss critical global issues. Participants were warmly welcomed on a flotilla of boats and then taken to the venue located on the…
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Bangkok bomb suspects set to be indicted
BANGKOK: The Military Court’s prosecutors are expected to indict the two suspects accused of involvement in the two bomb explosions in Bangkok in August, the lawyer for one of the suspects said yesterday. Kanchai Choochart, representing Bilal Muhammed, 24, said he would outline the defense plan once his client had been indicted. He was speaking at the Military Court after…
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Man happily bears weight of devotion
PHUKET: We all have burdens to bear, but rarely can they be so accurately measured in weight as the 109 amulets that a Samut Prakarn man wears around his neck every day. It is with these more than three kilograms of amulets that 46-year-old Damrong Jeerayuchaiwattana pays his respects to a monk named Luang Phor Khun, reports Sanook.com. Mr Damrong’s…
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