News
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Great southern comforts – Narathiwat
by Pattarawadee Saengmanee The southern province of Narathiwat is a great place to chill, unspoilt by mass tourism and full of southern surprises. Narathiwat shares a border with Malaysia. A stone’s throw from the Narathiwat airport are the white sands of Ban Ton Beach where I stretch out while my media friends tuck into a Southern-style lunch in Chulabhorn marine camp’s…
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Man ties up mother, abducts 18 year old daughter in Hua Hin
PHOTO: Thai Rath Thai Rath is reporting that Police have arrested a man who tied up a Hua Hin cleaner then abducted her daughter from a foreigner’s house. The incident happened last Tuesday in Hua Hin. The mother and daughter were working as cleaners for the house but were confronted at knife point by the intruder. The man is reported to…
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Thai officials slam foreign media for interviewing Mu Pa boys
SCREENSHOT: ABC News report Whilst the opportunist American ABC TV reporter didn’t break any laws with his interview on Friday with the youngest of the Mu Pa Academy youngsters, he did break a pact between the Chiang Rai Governor, physicians and child psychologists who asked that the media leave the boys alone. Today CNN is reporting that Thailand is accusing…
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Machete-wielding BKK motorist jailed for threatening woman
The South Bangkok district court has handed down a sentence today on a male driver. He’s been sentenced to 2 months and 15 days behind bars. The sentence follows the man’s indiscretion caught on a dash cam (video and story below), threatening a female driver with a knife on July 18, after he drove against the traffic to cut in…
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Burmese maid returns bag containing $11,000 to tourist
Daily News is reporting that a tourist from the Netherlands has thanked a Burmese maid at his hotel on Koh Samui. 37 year old Sawee Let Mau showed it was not just the Thais who are high up in the honesty stakes. Sawee found the green bag under some stairs – it contained AUD$ to the tune of 280,000 baht –…
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Sangkhla Buri floods declared a disaster zone
Kanchanaburi Governor Jirasak Phumsawat has declared Sangkhla Buri a flood disaster zone to speed up help to affected villagers. The governor took the action after seven villages in Tambon Nong Lu and three villages in Tambon Laivo were hit by floods on Friday morning following heavy rains that hit 70 per cent of the district.The disaster-zone declaration allowed the provincial…
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The 21st century’s longest lunar eclipse next week
The moon is going to disappear for six hours next week in a mega lunar eclipse – the longest for the entire 21st century. In fact it will be this century’s longest lunar eclipse and will be able to be seen across Thailand on July 27-28 between 00.14-6.10 am. Thai PBS reports that the total phase of the eclipse –…
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Chiang Mai’s Doi Suthep housing protests ramping up for August
The protests against the construction of the Thai judge’s residences on the slopes of Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai has gone quiet over the past month. That’s all about to change. Activists from leading non-governmental organisations from eight northern provinces will next month join a massive protest against the special housing for judges on Doi Suthep. The Nation reports that…
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Phuket crocodile discovered on Kata Noi Beach
The crocodile was last seen resting on the shoreline of Kata Noi Beach early this morning (July 21). Swimmers have been banned from going into the water while the capture operation continues. Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos reported yesterday afternoon that the crocodile was heading to Kata Beach after spending two days taunting officials and professional crocodile hunters in the sea…
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Surat Thani croc-hunters to the rescue
(cue dramatic music and slow-motion shot of team walking down Nai Harn Beach, probably with their shirts off) The ‘Crocodile Hunters of the Tapi River Basin’ have arrived in Phuket to save the day as they help track down a 1, 2 or 3 metre reptile that’s been getting a lot of media and local authority attention but, so far,…
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Pattaya netizens blast marine safety photo-opportunity as PR stunt
Pattaya officials have conducted urgent marine safety checks following the Phuket boat tragedy where two boats sank and 47 Chinese tourists drowned on July 6. In yet another knee-jerk reaction to an incident, the Marine Department and municipal police checked licenses, boat seaworthiness and life-jacket use at Bali Hai Pier in Pattaya. The checks follow the sinking of the tour boats…
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Data of 1.5 million patients stolen, including the Singapore PM
PHOTO: Singaporean PM Lee Hsien Loong The personal data of 1.5 million patients, including the Singaporean PM Lee Hsien Loong and a few ministers, has been stolen. Some 160,000 people also had their outpatient prescriptions stolen. In Singapore’s worst cyber attack, hackers have stolen the personal particulars of 1.5 million patients. Of these, 160,000 people, including PM Lee Hsien…
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Water Park Wars – Phuket wettest battlefield
by Xinyi Liang-Pholsena of ttgasia.com ttgasia.com is reporting that the water park battle in Phuket is getting very intense as new players enter the marketplace. Among them Blue Tree Phuket, poised to open its doors early 2019 as an upscale family entertainment and lifestyle complex. The sprawling 22.5ha development, located around Cherngtalay, is the result of a joint venture comprising…
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Sattahip: 15 year old motorbike driver crashes with her 3 year old brother
Two children have been injured riding a motorbike in Sattahip, south of Pattaya. The pair were hurt when their motorbike slammed into a utility pole during heavy rain in Sattahip. The Pattaya Mail reports that 15 year old Umarin Chumchai suffered a broken leg July 10 while her 3 year old brother Thanakorn Charoenwong escaped with only scrapes and bruises.…
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Love Rawai FB page captures the actual crocodile, on video
https://www.facebook.com/loverawaicom/videos/2116049662007848/ Like and follow the Love Rawai Facebook page HERE. Rawai is the southern end of Phuket. Crocodiles are EXTREMELY rare (no swimmers have ever been attacked in Phuket), usually long sunny days with great beaches.
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Channel dredged between Nai Harn beach and lake to help with croc catching
A channel has been dredged to connect Nai Harn beach with Nai Harn Lake to allow the crocodile to move in, making it easier to catch (The Thaiger suspects the crocodile might be on to the officials’ Cunning Plan). More than 50 officials and a specialist crocodile catcher team from Surat Thani have been planning to catch the crocodile while…
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Thai PE teacher allegedly continued to rape students over three years
Sanook is reporting that a Thai PE teacher was effectively allowed to continue raping students after an initial complaint. A student complained three years ago that she was forced to the floor by the teacher who, the student claims, then tried to rape her. But the claims of the girl were not properly investigated or acted upon at the time. The teacher…
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AI company invests 350 million baht in SE Asia – opens office in Phuket
Invacio, an artificial intelligence company, are busy setting up their operations in Thailand as part of their global operations. They are investing up to 350 Million baht in south east Asia Invacio Research Analytics, a group subsidiary of Invacio founded by William J D West, has launched in Thailand, led by Linleeya West (Thai/Swiss educated) Linleeya West felt this was…
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Crocodile catchers waiting for conditions to moderate at Nai Harn beach
A specialist crocodile searching team from Surat Thani today (July 20) has joined the crocodile search operation along the shores of Nai Harn and nearby beaches, while battling with strong winds and waves. Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong paid a visit to the crocodile search operation centre at Nai Harn Beach this morning. The crocodile search team from Surat Thani is…
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Man arrested with 19,800 methamphetamine pills at checkpoint
Tha Chatchai Police have been conducting a crackdown on drugs at the Phuket Checkpoint and scored a major haul, arresting a man with 19,800 methamphetamine pills. The police arrested 37 year old Peerawat ‘Joke’ Bualoy from Pattalung. Police seized 10 packages of methamphetamine pills, a total of 19,800 pills at the Phuket Checkpoint while he coming through the road entry…
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Nong Khai woman hit by lightning – “Buddha amulet saved my life”
A woman in Nong Khai, right on the Laos border near Vientiane, claims the special power of her Buddha amulet helped her survive a lightning strike. The same lightning strike killed a worker. 50 year old Pornnipha Ratyothee says that she suffered a ‘mild burn’ on her neck when she was hit by lightning on July 12 and had to…
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Krabi crackdown on dodgy hostels – 99% illegal
Krabi’s Governor has ordered a deadline on the closure of illegal hostels after officials found that 99% of the businesses are illegal and don’t comply with regulations. Yesterday (July 19) officials ordered illegal hostel and hotel operators to meet with investigating officers at the Krabi administrative office next Monday (July 23) to face legal charges. Krabi’s Governor, Lt Col ML…
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More wind and rain predicted for the North and South
The Thai Meteorological Department is warning we still have some rain ahead, in the northern and southern ends of the country. They report that the active low-pressure system from tropical depression Son-tinh is still leading to torrential rain for the North and the North-east of Thailand. “People should beware of severe weather conditions and stay tuned for the weather forecast.…
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Cambodian couple demand Thai police probe
A Cambodian couple, engaged in a legal battle with relatives, yesterday filed a complaint against two Thai police officers in Bangkok. Baby-clothing exporter 43 year old Sing Thea and his wife Chean Kallyan say their previous accusation – that their relatives had embezzled 18 million baht – had been handled by the Thai officers in question. This had resulted in…
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Foreign tourism eclipses 20 million for first 6 months of 2018
Revenue from tourism up 15%. Tourist numbers up 12%, year-on-year. Could Thailand exceed 40 million tourists for 2018? Thai Visa reports the the number of foreign tourists visiting Thailand reached 20 million in the first half of 2018. This represents an increase on the same period last year of 12%, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. Tourism revenue…
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Up to 20,000 fake Thai visas being issued to Burmese
PHOTO: Thai Rath Thai Rath are reporting that an extensive network of fake visas for Thailand is emerging, being issued in Myanmar. Two men were arrested in Ayuthaya two days ago while attempting to extend their fake visas. They were found to have dodgy stamps but the two claimed it “was news to them”. They claim that they had gone to…
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Blessing ceremony dedicated to Saman Kunan. 11 Mu Pa team members poised to enter monkhood.
PHOTO: AP/Sakchai Lalit Thai PBS is reporting that members of the Mu Pa soccer team, along with their coach, attended a traditional blessing ceremony at a local temple in Mae Sai District, Chiang Rai this morning. Nine soldiers entered the monkhood as a dedication to former SEAL member Saman Gunan who died while taking part in the massive rescue operation…
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Stray dog adoptions on the rise
Phuket is seeing a positive trend in the number of adoptions from locals and Thai citizens over the years; encouraging as Thai people used to be only interested in pure breeds, sometimes even choosing dogs that are not comfortable in the climate of Thailand (like Huskies). Meet Kittipong Tongwon, nicknamed K. Aof, who recently adopted an 8 week old puppy…
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Swedish tourist dies in Pattaya motorcycle crash
PHOTO: Facebook A Swedish tourist was fatally injured when his motorcycle collided with another motorbike on a Pattaya road early yesterday (Wednesday), according to Pattaya police. The Pattaya police station was alerted of the accident on Jomtien 2 road in Tambon Nong Plue in Chon Buri’s Bang Lamung district at 12.30am. The tourist, 38 year old Tommi Nilson, died on his…
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Belgian motorcyclist found dead on Wiset Road, Rawai
Chalong Police arrived at the Chalong underpass roadworks construction control office on Wiset Road in Rawai at 6am this morning to find the body of a foreign man who was later identified as 39 year old Belgian Frederik Maes on the ground. Two serious wounds were found on his stomach, knees and left leg. Blood was found coming from his…
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