News
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Scoot airline flight returns to Singapore after alleged bomb threat
File Photo Channel News Asia is reporting that budget carrier Scoot Airlines say that one of its flights bound for Thailand has returned safely to Singapore after an alleged bomb threat. Scoot say flight TR634, heading for Hat Yai, was escorted back by Singapore’s air force and that the airline was “working closely with the authorities” for necessary follow-up to ensure…
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Search is on for a new contractor to complete Phuket Provincial Hall construction
Phuket’s Vice Governor, Thavorn Kongkaew, has updated the media about the new Provincial Hall project after the previous contractor has had their contract cancelled. They are searching for a new contractor to complete the construction that is now way past it its projected completion date. “The previous contractor had their contract cancelled because they couldn’t work within the deadlines and…
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One dead, one injured in Kalim motorcycle/van crash
A crash between a van and a motorcycle in Kalim has resulted in one casualty and another critically injured. The accident occurred in front of Soi Phra Baramee 7 on Phra Baramee Road, Kalim yesterday. Police found the yellow plate van driver, Suthep Yoosuk, and a French man, Dault Julien Sebastian, who rode the motorcycle, and Lamprai Pako who sat…
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Chinese tourist drowns in Patong
A 56 year old Chinese man, Teng Yiding, has drowned in the waters off Patong Beach. Patong police received a report about the drowning yesterday (April 4) and rushed to the scene. He drowned near a hotel on Taweewong Road in Patong. His son, Yang Yongpeng, told the police that they are a family of 5 that arrived in Phuket…
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Transparent Government. Where does Thailand rank?
Japan has the most open government system in Asia, according to the recently released World Justice Project. Thailand leads countries like China and Malaysia when it comes to transparent government. Globally, Thailand ranks 68th in the ranking. The report measures whether country’s basic laws and information on legal rights are publicly available, presented in simple language and if there is…
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4th set of turtle eggs found on Miang Island, Similan National Park
More than 106 turtle eggs have been found on Nui Beach, Miang Island in the Similan National Park. This is the 4th time on Miang Island and the 2nd time at Nui Beach that turtles have chosen to lay their eggs there. Today, the Chief of Mo Koh Similan National Park in Kuraburi District, Ruamsin Manajongprasert, said that the forest…
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Myanmar robber arrested thanks to his tattoo
Ko Htwe Ovoen, from Myanmar, was arrested by Wichit police after robbing houses in the area. Police tracked him down partly due to the distinctive tattoo on his neck. After receiving a report about a robbery in Villa Doarung village on March 25 and at Phuket Villa California village on March 31, Wichit Police checked the CCTV camera footage in…
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Krabi vendors are revolting – Officials try to arrest beach vendors on Ao Nang beach
Officials from the Tambon Ao Nang Municipality had to call on other government agencies to send reinforcements to help crackdown on vendors hawking to foreign tourists at Ao Nang beach in Krabi’s Muang district. Video of vendors chasing Tambon officials from the beach shows vendors were not happy with officials walking into ‘their’ workplace and asking them to tone down…
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Narathiwat policeman shot whilst PM heads to Pattani in the south
A police captain has been shot dead in Narathiwat’s Sungai Padi district this morning in what is believed to be another insurgent attack. Pol Capt Wutthisak Poonsawat was killed behind the house of his mother-in-law in Tambon Sakor in Sungai Padi at 8am. Wutthisak, a deputy inspector of Sakor police, went to the house to take care of his fighting…
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Confidence riding high – Thai economy continues to surpass forecasts
Confidence is riding high according to the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking. They report that the private sector remains confident about Thailand’s economic growth of 4.5% being maintained as exports and tourism continue to rise. But the Committee warns that the private sector is being spooked by potential fall out from the ramping up of trade disputes…
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Arms smuggler or getting ready for a crime? Songkhla resident nabbed in Satun.
PHOTO: Thai PBS A 35 year old resident old has been arrested for being found in possession of a submachine gun and 4,500 rounds of ammunition. He was nabbed at a checkpoint in Satun. Police thought he was behaving suspiciously so checked the back of his pick-up and discovered the cache of ammunition hidden in the spare tyre compartment. Along…
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Python found after eating villager’s chickens in Krabi
A 4 metre long python has been found in the Lamtab District of Krabi yesterday (April 3) after it ate a few chickens that belong to a local man. Earlier, he said he also found a smaller python getting into his fishing trawl cage in a camel nearby. The Tek Ka Jee Kung Koh Lamtub Rescue Team received a report…
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Five things you need to know about the Phuket Smart Bus
It’s here, it’s the start of Phuket’s public transport revolution. It’s backed by people that have the resources and the ‘smarts’ to make the initiative a success. The initial route of Phuket Smart Bus will be followed up with new routes in the future. The organisers recognise that there are a few wrinkles to be ironed out. We’ll keep you…
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“Junta has a report card for each and every critic” – Vanchai
Veteran journalist Vanchai Tantivitayapitak posted on Facebook on Monday that the ruling junta has a “report card” for each and every critic who is influential on social media, and will pay them a visit after a certain limit was reached. The post came after his resignation at the end of March from news station PPTV, where he was a senior…
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Krabi military fixing bridge washed away in rain
Krabi military officers brought in machineries to Tupprik Sub-District yesterday (April 2) to fix Huay To Bridge after it has been damaged by flash flood. The damage of the bridge blocked a local community of 30 houses near Khao Panom Benja National Park as well as tourists from entering the national park. They had to walk through water to get to…
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Won’t lift the ban. Might amend it – PM Prayut
PM General Prayut Chan-o-cha has dismissed a concerted call by major political parties to lift a controversial junta order that prevents political activities. He said the directive “may be amended on certain issues” in order to help get rid of “administrative problems” raised by the various existing and new parties. Prayut, in his capacity as head of the National Council…
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Phuket green plate taxi arrested for drugs at Airport
Saku Police officers, Royal Thai Navy officers and Phuket International Airport officers arrested a green-plate taxi driver, 36 year old Warin Maithong, with amphetamine pills and methamphetamine. The officers set up a checkpoint to search for illegal items at the airport and at about midnight today (April 3), the taxi driver was stopped for a search. The officers found 10.5…
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Three die, three injured, in Bangkok apartment blaze
Three people have died and three others injured after a fire broke out in a Bangkok apartment early today (Tuesday), trapping 24 tenants. The fire started at the 15-storey Ratchathewi Apartment building on Soi Phetchaburi 18 off Phetchaburi Road in Ratchathewi district at about 2am. Ten fire engines responded to the emergency call. However, as the soi is…
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56 Rohingya found near Lanta Island have left for Malaysia
The 56 Rohingya boat people, including 19 men, 18 women, 8 boys and 11 girls, were brought by Royal Thai Navy Officers Area 3 and police to Sirilanta Bridge, the bridge linking Koh Lanta Noi and Koh Lanta Yai, for investigation after they were found at Koh Ha early on Sunday morning. After checking that they weren’t involved in any…
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Trucks and buses caught speeding more than 17 million times last year
Cargo trucks and public transport buses in Thailand were found to have been speeding beyond the legal limit on more than 17 million occasions last year, according to a GPS-based study by a Bangkok-based university. The study puts definitive proof at the feet of the Thai government and transport officials in the wake of several appalling weeks on Thai roads,…
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Football betting house crackdown in Phuket
A house in Soi Patchanee – Bangcheelao in Rassdada Sub-District was searched by police and military officers once they discovered it was used as a football gambling den over the weekend. On the ground floor police found the area for customers to write down their bet on the printed forms and the computers used to record the bets. Police say…
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Smart Bus takes the coastal route
Phuket’s new smart bus kicked off yesterday featuring two initial routes around the island. The route travels along Thepkasattri Road until it reaches Thalang where it takes a turn towards the coast through Cherngtalay and Bang Tao and on to Surin, Kamala and Patong. Then it continues along the coast to Karon and Kata, over the hill at Kata Noi…
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Thailand Event Round-Up – April
with The Sponsorship Experts – Paul Poole (South East Asia) Co. Ltd. The month of April is typically dominated by a slew of events related to Songkran, the Thai New Year, and this year is no different. One of our favourites is the Singha Songkran Night Run, which returns to Chiang Mai on 13 April. The run, which takes place…
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Nikki Beach to take over management of luxury Chiang Mai hotel
By Bill Barnett from c9hotelworks.com In a somewhat surprise announcement, Nikki Beach Worldwide has signed on as operator of Chiang Mai’s Dhara Dhevi hotel. Nikki has assumed management of the property and the rebranding process reportedly will be done by the middle of the year. Nikki Beach became known to Phuketians when they launched the Nikki Beach Club at the northern end…
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Outrigger Touch Rugby Season 2018 Finals
The 2018 Outrigger Touch Rugby Competition at Alan Cooke Cricket Ground The Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort once again hosted a well organised and incredibly competitive Touch Rugby tournament at the Alan Cooke Cricket Ground in Cherngtalay, during the month of March. Following on from the previous two successful seasons, five teams from Phuket battled it out on the playing…
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Jonathan Davies in Phuket for Charity
Welsh legend Jonathan Davies OBE in Phuket for Charity The Welsh former rugby football player, who represented his country in both codes, Rugby Union and Rugby League, is in Phuket – all in the name of charity. Jonathan Davies OBE, who was a goal kicking legend in both codes, also played club rugby in England and Australia. His love for…
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30,000 people line up for free herbal cancer ‘cure’
People will go to any lengths in desperation to find a cure for a life-threatening disease. When it comes to cancer, fear and mis-information are a dangerous combination and can lead to people taking risks with almost anything or anyone offering a remedy to their condition. An estimated 30,000 cancer patients and their relatives showed up yesterday (Sunday) outside the…
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‘Daeng’ on the mend after being shot with arrow in Udon Thani
A stray dog living in a public park in Udon Thani’s Muang district, which was seen with an arrow piercing its left eyebrow on Friday morning, was captured, sent for treatment at Bamrungraks Animal Hospital and now recovering from its adventures. The whole sad story of Daeng, the stray dog, was captured by Facebook user Napassorn JowYing Hodges. Napassorn, who…
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Border-bound train shot at by suspected militants
Gunman are reported to have opened fire at a train in Narathiwat last evening (March 31). No passengers have been reported as injured. At about 5.30 pm, the Surat Thani/Sungai Kolok train had just left Cho Airong district railway station. After approximately 500 metres from the station gunfire was heard by the driver and some passengers. The train driver didn’t…
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Abandoning the cap – Campaign to get rid of bottle cap seals starts today
By Pratch Rujivanarom Thai bottled water producers have responded well to a plan to stop using cap seals, which will not only decrease plastic waste but also reduce unnecessary production costs. In a campaign kicking off today, the Pollution Control Department plans to totally abandon the use of cap seals on bottled water by the end of 2019. Five giant…
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