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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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UPDATE: East Euro tourists charged for begging, at it again in Patong… and Krabi
PHOTOS: Tourist Police/Newshawk The Phuket Tourist Police yesterday (Thursday) arrested two tourists at a Phuket market after begging for donations so they could continue their travelling. The Phuket Tourist police and the Phuket City Police found the two tourists at the Boat Plaza Market in Samkong yesterday (August 23) – a 21 year old Ukrainian man and a 30 year…
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Everything old is new again – the plastic ban in Krabi marine park
With thousands of tourists heading out to islands around Phuket and Phang Nga Bay every day, all with their lunches and snacks packed up in plastic bags and polystyrene, you can imagine how much waste is produced. So Thais online have been full of praise for tourists using traditional “pinto thao” food containers instead of plastic bags to take their…
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Land expropriation for new Chiang Mai airport expected to start next month
PHOTO: chiangmaicitylife.com Chiang Mai’s second airport is progressing with the expropriation of private land set to start in September. Chiang Mai City Life reports that, following the Airports of Thailand approval of new airport projects in Chiang Mai and Phuket with the budget of 125 billion baht, the board will be proceeding on the expropriation of private land. Story about…
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Prem turns 98, pays visit to Supreme Patriarch
General Prem Tinsulanonda, the president of the Privy Council and chief royal adviser, has marked his 98th birthday Sunday by calling on the Supreme Patriarch at Ratchabophit Temple. Despite being only two years short of a century in age, Prem appeared to be in good health, and was able to walk without assistance. He made merit by providing a meal…
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Samui Times responds to Police accusations of ‘fake news’
The media has become its own story today after Surat Thani, Koh Tao and Koh Phangan police and officials have accused Samui Times of spreading ‘fake news’, apparently the latest go-to explanation for any news that you disagree with. Samui Times responds to allegations of spreading ‘Fake News’ and having a ‘Vendetta’ against Koh Tao Sanook has reported that the…
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100,000 methamphetamine pills seized in Krabi
Krabi police have seized more than 100,000 methamphetamine pills and a Mercedes Benz car. The total items seized are valued at more than 20 million baht. Krabi Police this week have arrested three suspects, 34 year old Somchai ‘Mhee’ Krueawang with his wife 30 year old Panumart Rakmueang, and 39 year old Anan Jindawong. Police seized 120,317 methamphetamine pills and 949.3…
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Separate tests, different licenses for big and small motorbike riders
PHOTO: The Thai PM tries his hand at big-bike riding in promotions for the Buriram MotoGP – Daily News Daily News reports that a senior government spokesman says the cabinet agrees with the idea of treating big bikes and other bikes separately in terms of education and licensing. A proposal says that in order to lessen road accidents those riding big…
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Serious reforms needed to solve problem of Thailand’s stateless people
by Pratch Rujivanarom In the wake of the publicity raised by the four stateless Mu Pa team members and the decade-long struggle of paper airplane maestro Mong Thongdee, the issue of Thailand’s stateless people is getting some much-needed government attention. A seminar into the issues say that reforms are needed in the nationality verification process to ease complicated bureaucratic procedures…
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Accusations fly between foreigner and Thai over bottle attack on Koh Phangan
PHOTOS & VIDEO: Facebook/Natthicha Yachana Accusations are being fired thick and fast on social media after various clips have been aired online of the aftermath of an altercation in front of a pharmacy on Koh Phangan. Thai Rath reports that a female foreign tourist was hit over the head with a bottle in a scuffle between here and the owner of…
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More arrests in Phoenix boat tragedy
More nominees, involved in the company that ‘owned’ the Phoenix, have been arrested and charged. Financial record shows that the money was being transferred to a Chinese owner. A press conference was held yesterday (August 27) at the Phuket Provincial Police Station led by Deputy Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police Gen Rungroj Saengkram, Deputy Chief of the Tourist Police…
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Thaiger Radio News – Tuesday
Listen to the daily news from The Thaiger, anytime, anywhere.
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Ban military conscription, sell the submarines – Pheu Thai
The Pheu Thai Party, the political party who won elections under Thaksin, then Yingluck Shinawatra, will abolish compulsory military conscription if it is returned to power after the next election. The former ruling party also says it will sell the Navy’s submarines and use the money to fund the construction of hospitals, the source added. The party came up with…
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Police find 15 stalls selling illegal ‘libido booster’ drug in Khlong Toey Nua
Police, in an operation to search for an illegal “libido booster” drug in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit area on Sunday night, found 15 law-breaking stalls although the vendors managed to escape arrest, deputy national police chief Pol General Weerachai Songmetta said on Monday. Weerachai led the team that searched Soi Sukhumvit 7/1-13 in Khlong Toey Nua following a tip-off that a large…
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SHOW DC to host “Dance Battle Revolution 2018”
Dance competition with three categories – B-Boy, Hip Hop and Cover Dance. Prizes worth more than 100,000 baht. SHOW DC invites dance lovers from all over Thailand to showcase their dancing talent at “Dance Battle Revolution 2018”. An all-new dance competition hosted by SHOW DC, it’s open for three dance styles – B-Boy, Hip Hop and Cover Dance. Dancers will have…
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Animal welfare role-play at Ban Konaka school with Soi Dog
Soi Dog Foundation recently arranged a fun activity, ‘Animal Lover Family’ with the students, teachers and parents at the Ban Konaka School. This activity is the result of the project ‘Humans Love Animals; Animals Love Environment’. A workshop was held two months ago with local school teacher representatives to give them the knowledge about animal welfare and let them plan…
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Mango Tree hosts educational tour to train global chefs in the art of Isan cuisine
Leading Asian restaurant operator, Mango Tree Worldwide, recently conducted a major educational trip to Northeast Thailand to teach its international chefs about the exquisite art of Isan cuisine. Isan is the vast, largely rural region of Thailand bordering Laos, Cambodia and the Mekong River. Sometimes referred to as the “Rice Bowl of Thailand” and the heart of the country’s culinary…
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The monthly Full Moon Party still popular
PHOTO: RTW Backpackers More than 10,000 foreign tourists joined the Full Moon Party on Koh Pha-Ngan last night (Sunday) and under the watchful eye of security officials. Pha-Ngan district chief Krirkkrai Songthani sent 120 troops, police and Interior Ministry officials to the Haad Rin Beach to maintain security and safety during the party. Krirkkrai said the beach was crowed with…
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Phuket’s first purpose-built school mindfulness centre opens at UWC Thailand
UWC Thailand (UWCT) welcomed its community back last week with a brand-new addition to its campus: a purpose-built, student-centric Mindfulness Centre. As the island’s leader in mindfulness-based education, the addition – intentionally situated at the school’s main entrance – has been well-received by students, staff and parents alike. “Mindfulness is integral to a UWCT education, and has been an ongoing…
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Thaiger Radio News – Monday
Listen to the daily news from The Thaiger, anytime, anywhere.
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One dead after ammonia leak at Phang Nga ice-factory
PHOTOS: Natthawut Plukmaidee / Newshawk Phuket The owner of an ice factory in Phang Nga has died after an ammonia gas leak was discovered in the factory in Kokkloi yesterday (August 26). Rescue workers were notified of the incident at 4pm Sunday afternoon. The owner of the factory fell unconscious after breathing ammonia gas in his efforts to control the situation.…
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The bitter legal battle to salvage Koh Poda
by Piyaporn Wongruang – The Nation Weekend (12 minute read) Worapoj Lomlim could barely sleep days before the Krabi provincial court was set to read the verdict of the Court of Appeals Region 8 on a land dispute over Poda, the renowned island. “It was epic. I just anxiously waited and hoped to win the case,” said Worapoj, recalling last week’s…
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One rescued, one missing after rescue at Karon Beach
PHOTOS: Karon Police An Indonesian man is missing whilst a female Ukranian friend has been pulled out from surf at Karon Beach yesterday (August 26) Karon Police were notified at 7.30pm that a tourist was missing while another tourist had been rescued from surf near the Karon roundabout. Emergency responders and police arrived at the scene to find that lifeguards…
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Koh Phangan police hit back at allegations of mishandled report
Surat Thani provincial police have hit back at allegations they’ve mishandled another possible rape case on Koh Tao. In fact they say there was no rape case on the holiday island involving a British backpacker as alleged in social and wider media, in Thailand and overseas. Koh Tao island has earned a reputation in recent years for a number of…
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Traveling tax dodgers – Immigration & Customs want you to pay import duty
If you travel overseas often and bring back luxury items to resell online, the Immigration Division has you on its radar. You have to pay import duties, it says. “We’ve had reports about people even taking orders in advance for goods to bring back,” Pol Colonel Choengron Rimpadee, the division’s deputy spokesman, said on Sunday. He said Immigration officials would…
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Call centre gang in Vietnam raided – 16 Thais arrested
Tourist Police Bureau deputy commissioner Pol Maj Gen Surachate Hakparn has announced a trans-national raid in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Thai PBS reports that sixteen Thai and two Taiwanese nationals were arrested in a raid on a condominium by Thai and Vietnamese police where a so-called “call centre” gang had been operating. Pol Maj Gen Surachate said the raid was…
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Trang Moon Festival 2018 – cultural shows, food stalls, contests
The ‘Trang Moon Festival’ has long been observed by Chinese people in Thung Yao in Trang province’s Palian district. The 2018 Trang Moon Festival is scheduled for September 22-24. Through the staging of this traditional festival, the Chinese commemorate the fight for their nation against the Mongols. Trang province was one of Thailand’s trading ports and trade with the Chinese…
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Krabi pair finger 39 year old drug smuggler
Krabi police have arrested three suspects, including one they believe may be a major smuggler, and seized 120,317 methamphetamine pills along with nearly a kilogram of crystal meth. Pol Colonel Piyaphan Anantho, commander of subdivision 2 of the Narcotics Suppression Division 4, held a press conference at Border Patrol Police Company 426 to announce the arrests that may include a major…
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Thaiger Radio News – Sunday
Listen to the daily news from The Thaiger, anytime, anywhere.
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Thai woman drugs, then steals from two tourists – one of them is dead
Chiang Mai police are on the hunt for a Thai woman they believe has been responsible for the drugging and robbery of two foreigners – one of them has died as a consequence of her crimes. An Indian and US tourist were independently drugged and robbed by a “pretty, short-haired” Thai woman. The Nation is reporting that the Chiang Mai…
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Visitors flooding back to the Pa La-U waterfall
Pa La-U waterfall, 60 kilometers west of Hua Hin, has reopened following weeks of closure due to the high volumes of water cascading, making it unsafe for visitors. News Talk Online reports that the waterfall, popular for both Thai and foreign tourists, was closed during the bad weather in the region. Authorities proudly announced that visitors to the scenic waterfall had…
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