News
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Sponsored Top 5 luxury villas in Phuket and Koh Samui for your next holiday
Ask people to name the most beautiful places in Thailand, and you'll often hear Phuket and Koh Samui being mentioned. Who would disagree? One is renowned for its bustling nightlife, vibrant culture, and lively beach scene, while the other is...
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Rohingya’s refugees suspicious of Myanmar’s assurances to allow them back
The plight of Myanmar’s Rohingya continues to be parlous despite aid agencies and the UN getting more access to the region and the flood of refugees flowing over the border into Bangladesh. But Rohingya Muslims, now in Bangladesh, remain sceptical about their chances of ever going back to Myanmar, even though the government there is offering assurances it will accept…
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How long does it take to repair a road?
Specifically, how long does it take to repair Kaw Sim Bee Road (the road up Rang Hill from Phuket Town, on the south side)? Two weeks ago we reported the cracks in the road, some up to 50 metres long. Road authorities have closed the road for ‘landslide protection’ which we’re going to read as reinforcing the cliff at the…
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Heavy rain periods in Phuket until Friday
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) is warning people in most parts of Thailand about “outbreaks of abundant rain and possible flash floods” from today until Friday. Isolated torrential downpours and gusty winds will especially affect the North, the Northeast and the Central regions, including Bangkok and its vicinity, the East and the South (that’s just about the whole of Thailand!).…
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Phuket struggles to find new lifeguards
There are still no lifeguards applying for the job, according to the OrBorJor. Following a meeting at the provincial hall today (October 3) OrBorJor Phuket representative, Satien Kaewpraprab, says that no one has applied for the lifeguard positions after an announcement of hiring for individual contracts. He explained that the main reasons are that some of them do not have…
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Phuket gets ready for the Late King’s local cremation ceremonies
During the meeting at Provincial Hall today (October 3), Phuket authorities have updated the progress for the Late King’s cremation ceremony in Phuket. The Phuket Provincial Offices of Public Works and Town & Country Planning officer, Tawee Homhuan, said that the royal funeral pyrotechnic model on the main stage of Sapan Hin Park is about 90% completed and 99% is…
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12 million people have visited Grand Palace to pay last respects
With two days remaining for citizens to pay their last respects to His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the Grand Palace in Bangkok, the number of people who have viewed the Royal Urn has topped 12 million. The Royal Household Bureau on Tuesday reported that 12,443,890 mourners had visited the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall in the past…
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THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, October 3
‘Trade talk’ between Prayut and Donald at White House | Police have issued a Blue Notice to Interpol over Yingluck’s disappearance | Thailand looking to revise it’s GDP predictions | Khon Kaen bus driver caught using his phone whilst driving.
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The Prayut and Donald Show – official meeting at the White House
Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha on Monday met US President Donald Trump in the White House’s Oval Office. Prayut began by offering his condolences to Trump on the disasters caused by hurricanes hitting Texas and Puerto Rico towards which the Thai government and the private sector had sent humanitarian assistance. The PM said Thailand was ready to do more, according…
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More kids sailing than ever at the Phuket Dinghy Series
ON DECK By Duncan Worthington I have been critical in this column on more than one occasion of the youth sailing apparatus in Thailand. Specifically, the lack of it and of what exists its closed door nature. I was at the Third Naval Area Command at Panwa Cape this weekend to check out the first of three events that make-up…
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Army warn groups stirring up trouble during Royal Funeral period
Army Chief General Chalermchai Sitthisart Breaking News from The Nation Security officials have detected signs on social media of intent to provoke a public disturbance during the week of the funeral for the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, and have issued warnings to those concerned about such an attempt. Army Chief General Chalermchai Sitthisart said on Monday that those seeking to…
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JetStar flight makes an emergency landing at Chiang Mai
A Jetstar Airways plane flying from Vietnam made an emergency landing at Chiang Mai International Airport at 11.46am on Monday, officials said. The flight had taken off from Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi heading to India, they said. The Chiang Mai airport received the emergency landing request at 11:20am, and the plane landed safely. The plane had 181 passengers…
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Solving Samui’s rubbish problem
Opinion by Su Buchanan, Samui Times Fully funded green energy project could solve Samui’s garbage problem but will the Surat Thani Governor allow it? The escalating garbage problem in Koh Samui is no secret. Since the incinerator broke down over 8 years ago the piles of untreated garbage now tops 300,000 tons. The damage to the environment is undeniable yet…
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Koh Racha gets a clean-up, on the beaches and underwater
Volunteer divers tackled the rubbish around Koh Racha over the weekend. They collected 2,291 pieces of trash with a total weight of 506 kilograms. Here’s a list of the rubbish they collected… 2,007 pieces of trash from beach activities 811 plastic bottles 150 glass bottles 51 drinking cans 265 bottle lids/corks 60 forks/spoons 5 toys 290 plastic glass 171 clothes…
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Things you need to know if you’re travelling to Thailand and Bangkok in October
During this month there will be a lot of small and larger changes as Thailand gets ready to bid a sad, final farewell to the much-loved and revered HM King Bhumibol who passed on October 13 last year. Most of the changes will be around Bangkok, especially the Sanam Luang Park area around the Grand Palace. But there will also…
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Missing Chinese tourist found drowned at Kata Beach
The body of a Chinese tourist, 23 year old Shi Yieing, who disappeared on September 30, has been found washed up ashore last night at Kata Beach. On September 30, her friend, Zhang Lei, reported to Karon police that at about 3pm, that he and four others, including Shi, went swimming at Karon beach before she went missing in the…
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PM Prayut meets US President Trump today
While Thai Government officials have said they will focus on economic matters during a top-level Thailand-US meeting at the White House today, it is security concerns, particularly relating to Thailand’s logistics role regarding the US on rising tensions in East Asia, that should be watched closely, academics believe. Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha leads a Thai delegation, dominated by high-level…
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Three foreign overstayers arrested
3 foreigners have been arrested on Bangla Road, Patong, including 33 year old Khurram Rasheed from Pakistan, 23 year old Riasat Ali from Pakistan, and 21 year old Ratnakar Reddy Singireddy from India. The police made a patrol in the area yesterday evening (September 30) following the current crackdown on illegal immigrants. Police noticed the three men looking suspicious so…
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Phuket officials get behind the ‘Run 2Gether’ in Phuket Town
Early this morning (October 1), Phuket Governor, Norapat Plodthong, hosted the “Run 2Gether Phuket Town” event, the first ever running event that gathered 1,000 runners and disabled people to join the activity together. The Governor also joined the run, leading the way for participants in the event which started in front of Limelight Avenue mall. “I’m very glad that many…
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Phang Nga family pleas for Bangkok bombing suspect to be sent back for trial
The family of Wanna Suansan, from Phang Nga, (Wanna is a suspect in the Ratchaprasong/Erawan Shrine bomb case), is calling for her return to Thailand after she has given birth and raised 2 children in Turkey’s immigration prison over the past 2 years. Right before the bomb, which happened in the middle of Bangkok at Ratchaprasong intersection on August 17,…
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Business as usual – Phuket’s beaches under lifeguard patrol
The Phuket Governor held a meeting yesterday (Saturday) bringing together all the beach lifeguard resources to prepare for the end of the lifeguard company contract which finished at 6.30 pm last night. Several local officials from the areas across Phuket joined the meeting to finalise preparations to send beach guards to each beach on the island today. There are 4…
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Where’s Yingluck? CNN report contradicts Thai PM
Thailand’s former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is in London and seeking political asylum in the United Kingdom, a source in her Pheu Thai Party told CNN on Thursday. The Supreme Court convicted Yingluck on Wednesday of dereliction of duty over a controversial rice subsidy program and sentenced her to five years in prison. The scheme cost Thailand billions of dollars.…
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Chinese tour bus catches fire – no injuries
We’re used to seeing smoke come out of the back of the hundreds of tour buses moving around Phuket’s roads, but not like this. 22 Chinese tourists and their 50 year old bus driver, Khunchai Pinyo, had a scare yesterday. “I was driving the bus with 22 Chinese tourists coming back from Thalang to a birds nest shop in Koh…
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Suspect confesses to fatal Pattani bombing
One of the six detainees who were allegedly involved in a bomb attack that killed fours rangers in Pattani’s Sai Buri district last week, has confessed to the crime, Pattani Taskforce commander Maj-General Jatuporn Klampasut told a press conference on Friday. Following the September 22 attack that also wounded six others including a civilian, Jatuporn led a 500-strong manhunt at…
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250,000 expected to attend the Royal Cremation next month
About 250,000 Thai citizens are expected to attend the Royal Cremation of His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej at Sanam Luang in Bangkok on October 26, Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan said on Friday. If Sanam Luang becomes overcrowded, the authorities will seek the cooperation of mourners to place funeral flowers at replicas of the royal crematorium at…
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Ao Sane luxury villa being investigated by the DSI
The 12 metre high beach villa project on the cliff at Ao Sane has been proven to be illegal according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The owners were instructed to demolish the upper structure to meet the legal height of 6 metres back in August. In the meantime DSI (Department of Special Investigations) officials have been on…
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Punching above its weight – Rayong, Thailand
Singapore has been crowned as the Asia-Pacific city of the future by the Financial Times. The city/state was able to attract the largest share of investment in the region in the period 2012 – 2016, putting on top of the Economic Potential category. Asia-Pacific Cities of the Future, by Economic Potential: 1. Singapore 2. Tokyo 3. Shanghai 4. Hong Kong 5.…
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THAIGER TODAY Friday, September 29
Phuket OrBorJor says it will continue the existing contract until a new contract is negotiated for Phuket’s Lifeguards | Custard Pie led police to the ATM bomber | May Bay to be closed next year | Two men arrested over rape of a woman in Ubon Ratchathani. Plus all the fun of the Cake & Coffee day at Kajonkiat International…
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Ao Sane and Nakkerd Mountain under DSI investigation for encroachment
The DSI deputy director-general, Pol Lt Col Prawut Wongsinil, along with his DSI team, Forestry officers and local authorities, visited two alleged encroached land plots including at Ao Sane Beach (Baan Laem Krating) near Nai Harn beach and Nakkerd Mountain in Karon. The first spot visited was Nakkerd Mountain following complaints about an illegal land deed covering 20 rai of…
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UPDATE: Phuket’s beach lifeguard emergency sorted, in the short-term
Phuket’s Governor Norapat Plodthong hosted a meeting at the provincial hall today (September 28), gathering all local authorities, including the Tambon administration organisation with defence volunteers and Royal Thai Navy area 3, to discuss about the beach security measures after the Phuket Lifeguard Company finishes its contract on Saturday night. The Governor says the team of defence volunteers, working with…
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Thailand unfurls National Flag Day
Citizens across the country united in singing the national anthem at 8am on Thursday to celebrate the centenary of the national flag. At 7.45am at Government House in Bangkok, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha formally presented the flag to a guard of honour to be flown in front of the Santi Maitree Building. He then led officials and members of…
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